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Thread: All Brake Lights remain ON after NEW Brake Light switch

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    S. Florida
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    Default All Brake Lights remain ON after NEW Brake Light switch

    Hi All,

    I replaced the aging brake light switch on my E34 (M50) today and now all the brake lights (both rear and the third on the trunk) remain on when I turn on the car.

    There was only one way for the new switch to go in. and I had to break the older one to get it out. Did I do something wrong while installing it?

    Thanks
    SB

  2. #2
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    did the brake lights stay on before this adventure?
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by 632 Regal View Post
    did the brake lights stay on before this adventure?
    Nope, it was fine. I had the intermittent "Brake Light Circuit" message and on researching found out that it was most likely due to the brake light switch going bad.

    Is there a way to get the switch out without breaking it?

    Thanks

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    East Brunswick, New Jersey
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    879

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    You can confirm this but I think the brake light circuit is always hot. Press the brake pedal a few times hard. It should seat the stem of the brake light switch in the correct position. Either that or you may not have seated the body of the switch correctly. The latter seems less likely.

    Picture of the brake light switch seated in the bracket below,


    I don't know if I have described it correctly in the prior description. It's either one of the two. Either the previously described. Or when you press the brake pedal. The contact/stem of the switch extends to close the circuit.
    Last edited by yaofeng; 05-05-2009 at 02:27 PM.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by yaofeng View Post
    You can confirm this but I think the brake light circuit is always hot. Press the brake pedal a few times hard. It should seat the stem of the brake light switch in the correct position. Either that or you may not have seated the body of the switch correctly. The latter seems less likely.

    Picture of the brake light switch seated in the bracket below,


    I don't know if I have described it correctly in the prior description. It's either one of the two. Either the previously described. Or when you press the brake pedal. The contact/stem of the switch extends to close the circuit.
    Ok. Will take it apart this weekend and see whats going on.

    Thanks

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    the above pics shows fairly clearly that tyhe switch is self seating.DO NOT push the red stalk home when installing the switch.Let the switch find its own position.I put in a new switch then immediately destroyed it somehow,and had to get another one
    Gone but not forgotten

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Paul in NZ View Post
    the above pics shows fairly clearly that tyhe switch is self seating.DO NOT push the red stalk home when installing the switch.Let the switch find its own position.I put in a new switch then immediately destroyed it somehow,and had to get another one
    I think thats exactly what I did. I pushed the RED stalk down along with the white one. I will try to get it out of the car this weekend and check.

    Thanks

  8. #8
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    Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCCA1 View Post
    Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.
    Yup, that's probably it.


    Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCCA1 View Post
    Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.
    That sounds simple enough. Will give it a shot before I attempt to take it out

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