Brake lights do not turn off

1998 HONDA CRV
210,000 MILES • 0.5L • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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SUNTAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The brake lights stay on all the time.
Jul 17, 2019 at 10:35 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
There is often a plastic cap on the plunger part of the brake light switch. Look around on the floor to see if that cap cracked and fell off. If it did, you may be able to use an RTV gasket sealer to glue it back on. Without that cap, the brake pedal doesn't come back far enough to turn the switch off.

If your switch has a real small-diameter plunger and no cap, check if the mounting nut worked loose. That would allow the switch to move away from the brake pedal.

Push the brake pedal out of the way by hand, then try to press the plunger button in on the switch. If the brake lights still don't turn off, the switch is defective and must be replaced.
Dec 24, 2020 at 3:04 PM
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