my brake lights are out and no fuses are busted

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
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2004 VW GTI VR6

All my brake lights are out, while the rest of the lights work fine. I checked all the fuses and none of them seem to be burned out. At this point I'll probably take it to the mechanic on monday, but I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Could be as simply as the switch on the pedal. I have had this happen to me in the past. Some cars use a hydraulic switch in the brake line. I do not know specifically about your car.
 

WT

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2000
4,816
60
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VW ? Hell yea, its a switch under the pedal. Happened in my '97 Passat .... got rid of that nickel and dimer finally.
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
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Originally posted by: WT
VW ? Hell yea, its a switch under the pedal. Happened in my '97 Passat .... got rid of that nickel and dimer finally.

where is it? I searched just now and couldn't find anything.

I stuck my finger everywhere and in all the cracks too :p
 

JasonCoder

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2005
1,893
1
81
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Probably your brake light switch on the brake pedal. And of course check the bulbs

I had a car where if one went they all went. What a pain in the ass that was.
 

WT

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2000
4,816
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By under the pedal, I don't mean within visible range .. thats the was it was explained to me by the VW mechanic. Dumbest thing I have ever heard of since I was not a lifelong VW owner, but anybody who has had multiple VWs with years on them knows about this oddball malady.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,690
15,092
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First (and easiest) is to double check the fuses, (not all blown fuses LOOK blown on a casual glance), then, check all the bulbs. Finally, most likely, it's your Brake Light Switch.
which will be mounted fairly high up on the brake pedal lever.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
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Originally posted by: WT
By under the pedal, I don't mean within visible range .. thats the was it was explained to me by the VW mechanic. Dumbest thing I have ever heard of since I was not a lifelong VW owner, but anybody who has had multiple VWs with years on them knows about this oddball malady.

Most cars have their switch behind the pedal.

Since their inception they have been problematic in certain models of all makes.