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A couple of weeks ago my cruise control stopped working on me. It had done this before, last summer-ish, but started up again on its own (I like when cars fix themselves...). So, I just figured I'd leave it and see if it would fix itself again.
A few days later, on my way to work, a guy stopped beside me and said that my brake lights had been on the entire time he was driving behind me (probably a five kilometres or more). At first, I thought I had made just been riding the brake, as it is a windy/hilly road and the person in front of me was driving cautiously, too. However, when I got home later on, with some help, I discovered that the lights are stuck on.
The strange part to me is that in PARK, the brake lights are off until I hit the brake pedal. But, as soon as it's out of PARK and into ANY other gear, the brake lights stay on.
So, I've been searching and scouring the internet for similar problems, I found a few that sounded like my problem, but the fix wasn't clear enough to me. It sounds like it's the brake light switch. After fiddling around with the switch, I realized that I didn't quite understand how it works (therefore, I didn't know what to do to hopefully fix my problem this way).
So, the switch is attached to a piece of metal under the steering wheel, it has a power supply and a little plunger sticking out that touches the brake pedal, how does/should it work from here? My first thought was that the plunger was touching the pedal, and as you press down on the pedal, the plunger is no longer touching, so the lights come on...but, that didn't seem to do it. Then, I thought maybe the plunger should always be in contact with the pedal, but as you press the brake, it just comes out of the switch and the lights go on. Also, one other thing about the switch, there's a black one and a green one...I only fiddled with the black one because I couldn't really get to the green one...what does the green one do?
Any other thoughts? I'm stumped and don't want to take my car to a mechanic just yet...this seems like something that could be fixed by me...
The only other thing that I did find, was when I opened the hatch, I checked the little bundle of wires, and one of them looked like it got stripped somehow, so a bit of bare wire showing, the wire was green (if I remember correctly).
Sorry for writing a novel...
Thanks,
Outerson
Last edited by Outerson; 06-25-2009 at 06:38 AM..
Reason: wasn't finished, hit enter and it submitted.
i was just wondering if you ever found the problem i have all the same symptoms as you do no cruise and stuck brake light i have been looking all ove the net and nothing were you able to get to the problem solved
The easiest and cheapest way is to replace the switches. Gray for brake lights, green for cruise. About $10.00 at the parts store. Just twist them out and replace. They only go in one way. This is only a diagnosis. You have to start somewhere.
Also, the wires in the hatch are a well known issue with the Focus hatchback. Seperate and repair insulation with electrical tape. Pull back the rubber boot and check them all.
you mentioned the wires on the hatch?????? whitch ones are those... im having dreams about this situation. i took it to an auto electric and he didnt find the problem..... he said he needed like three days but i cant leave my only form of transportation so i didnt leave it
The easiest and cheapest way is to replace the switches. Gray for brake lights, green for cruise. About $10.00 at the parts store. Just twist them out and replace. They only go in one way. This is only a diagnosis. You have to start somewhere.
Also, the wires in the hatch are a well known issue with the Focus hatchback. Seperate and repair insulation with electrical tape. Pull back the rubber boot and check them all.
Thanks for the reply TerryB!!! I'm going to give this a whirl! I'll let you know how it goes! Also, the picture is extremely helpful! Have you found an easy way to squeeze under there to do any work?
No I haven't. And I'm pretty thin too. All you can do is slide the seat back and make the best of it.
Ok, got it replaced. Still not functioning properly. I checked the wires in the hatch area, and I'm seeing some bare wire where the covering seems to have come off. So, I'm hoping this is the problem, according to that other thread you posted TerryB, it certainly could be.
Is it an easy fix with these wires? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to a mechanic?
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2002 Ford Focus ZX5 Brake Lights 
Linear Mode
