Brake lights do not turn off even when I am not using the brakes

1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
110,000 MILES
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KAYONAWINK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi. My brake lights stay illuminated when I'm not using the brakes. I have removed the brake light switch but they are still illuminated to replace it but they are still illuminated so I'm not sure that's the problem. What do you think?
Dec 17, 2012 at 11:24 PM
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CADIEMAN
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 3,544 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
did the lights stay on when you unplug to switch?
Dec 17, 2012 at 11:33 PM
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KAYONAWINK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
yes they did. does that mean its a different problem?
Dec 17, 2012 at 11:41 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,194 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi,

If the brake lights stay on all the time, chances are you have a short to power. Basically, that means there is a wire that has power at all times making contact with the wire for the brake lights.

To confirm this is the issue, what I suggest is to simply remove the fuse responsible for powering the brake lights. I attached a pic below of it. Remove the fuse and see if they are still on. If they are, then we know the short to power exists.

At that point, you can try removing one fuse at a time to see if the lights go out. If they do, we then will know which circuit is causing the problem and narrow things down.

Try this and let me know the results.

Take care,
Joe
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