No brake lights on my 2000 Solara. Fuse seems fine, bulbs look okay, but I haven’t tested them electrically. My friend thinks it’s the brake switch under the dash. I’ve read that if the switch is bad, the car wouldn’t shift out of park—but mine shifts fine. Does that mean the switch is working?
The Neutral Safety Switch is on the transmission, but the brake light switch is on the pedal. You might want to check that first.
eucabeth said:
The Neutral Safety Switch is on the transmission, but the brake light switch is on the pedal. You might want to check that first.
Got it, thanks for explaining. I’ll go ahead and order a brake switch.
Before ordering parts, have you tried adjusting the switch under the dash? Sometimes it’s just a small adjustment.
Vic said:
Before ordering parts, have you tried adjusting the switch under the dash? Sometimes it’s just a small adjustment.
Good point, I’ll check under the dash and see if it needs adjusting first. Thanks!
Do you have a multimeter? Try testing the switch first instead of just replacing it. You can check the voltage when it’s pressed.
Lex said:
Do you have a multimeter? Try testing the switch first instead of just replacing it. You can check the voltage when it’s pressed.
Yeah, I’ve got a multimeter. Which wires should I test, and what voltage should I be looking for?
@Kade
Test the wires coming out of the switch when you press the brake. I’d check for voltage at the brake light switch connector.
Does your Solara have cruise control? If it does, try running the car with the cruise on, then tap the brake pedal. If the cruise disengages, your brake switch might still be working fine.
Hollis said:
Does your Solara have cruise control? If it does, try running the car with the cruise on, then tap the brake pedal. If the cruise disengages, your brake switch might still be working fine.
That’s a good test! Can I just turn on the cruise button while parked, or do I need to actually drive?
@Kade
You’ll need to actually drive it with cruise on to see if tapping the brake turns it off.
If the cruise test works but the lights still don’t come on, there might be a Light Failure Sensor module involved. It’s located behind the rear left wheel, maybe in the trunk panels.
Fin said:
If the cruise test works but the lights still don’t come on, there might be a Light Failure Sensor module involved. It’s located behind the rear left wheel, maybe in the trunk panels.
Good to know! If the switch doesn’t fix it, I’ll check that module next. Thanks!