Brake lights staying on.....

Got a 2003 with a tow package. NEVER a problem. Noticed today that the brake lights are staying on. The trailer brakes show 1.4 even though there is no pressure on the brake pedal (and no trailer attached). Stepping on and off on the pedal does nothing.... First thing I am checking is the brake switch at the pedal, but when have you heard of a brake switch going out??? Not sure what to check next. Any ideas?

SOLVED: It was actually solved quite ingeniously several times in this thread, but after it happening to three of our trucks within about a month, this is the part we are using and have an extra of in the glove box. https://www.tundras.com/threads/brake-lights-staying-on.93538/page-2#post-2404466

 

Does your cruise control work? If it doesn't work, then I believe the brake light switch you've already checked is at fault.

@FirstGenVol had a similar issue with his brake lights. Turns out it was the switch

 

Prior to it happening to me, I had never heard of it. In my case, the brake lights were not working at all. Replacing that switch fixed the issue.

And to clarify, my cruise would still work but the light would randomly flash. I found out later I probably didn't have brake lights working for a long time.

 

Interesting. I'll check it out. That would make sense. Thanks for the tip.

 

Are the brake lights on your truck staying lit? Not sure if you meant on the truck or on the trailer.

You can make an adjustment where the pedal and brake switch meet. I had to fiddle with that when I replaced my brake booster. My lights were stuck on as well. I can't imagine how it would fall out of adjustment but I would start there.

 

There are two types of rake light switches. Once that are naturally open, others naturally closed. One where the pedal pushes forward to depress the switch and engage the lights, the other where the pedal constantly depresses the switch, and pushing the pedal forward allows the switch to rise out.

I've never had mine go bad so not sure which Toyota used. But that would be my first culprit. First to check which type of those two it is. The second to make sure the pedal is engaging or disengaging the switch plunger correctly.

Like, some Honda S2000s have a stupid little spacer that crumbles and doesn't allow the pedal to engage with the plunger correctly. All it takes is a slight misalingment or bad adjustment to make it fail.

 

Not sure if it's better to fail ON or fail OFF.... There is still no indication of braking. Fail OFF and you wouldn't notice it. Fail ON and it could kill your battery or melt your lenses.

 

No trailer attached and lights remaining ON. Seems everything is pointing to the switch.

 

Interesting. Hope I can figure it out and get the part installed by noon tomorrow..... THANKS!

 

If you do decide to replace the switch the OEM part was pricey so I got mine from Advance Auto.

 

Often. Fairly easy and inexpensive fix. Try it first.

 

$70 +10 to ship...... Amazon has one for about $50 but it takes a WEEK to get here.

 

To add to this great point, out of the dozens of cars I've owned during my lifetime, I've had brake light issues related to the switch on no less than half a dozen cars.

Only one had a bad switch, though, lucky me. All the others were a matter of misalignment, the switch shifting out of place, the nut holding it on coming loose, rubber or plastic pads falling off a flat part of the pedal causing the switch not to engage/disengage, etc.

9 times outta 10, if you have a DMM (multimeter), you can easily test the switch. Set it to test for continuity. Put the red lead on one side of the switch, black lead on the other. Push the plunger in/out. If the multimeter reading jumps, switch is good - you have an alignment issue.

 

Have tow package but never needed to install/purchase brake controller. For my own knowledge, what does 1.4 refer to, pressure ?

 

Oh yeah! $26! And I might even be able to get it today! THANKS!

 

Have you tried adjusting it?

Also, you may want to disconnect your battery while it is parked. When I found out mine was off it was because my battery died overnight.

 

Yeah. It's a measurement of how much braking is happening at the trailer brakes. It's adjustable so you can add more braking depending on what you are pulling. Pulling the aluminum surfing trailer needs hardly any additional braking. Pulling the steel horse trailer with two thoroughbreds requires much more trailer braking.

 

THANKS ALL!!! We have things to do and places to be tonight so we are dropping it off at our favorite mechanic with a link to this thread to his phone! (This one is my wife's truck so we do what she says......) I appreciate all the FAST responses and advice!!!!

 

Happy Wife, Happy Life !

 

Could very well be THE most profound words ever written in this forum......

 

I had a faulty brake controller do exactly this. When I disconnected the main power to the controller, it was still activating the brake lights, so it stumped me at first. When I cut the line from the un powered controller to the brake wire, problem solved. The brake light switch is powered with koeo. So somehow the controller failed closed circuit and was activating the brake lights and draining my battery. Got a new controller, used all the same wiring, no issues for 18 months.

 

That is a pricy fix. Hopefully this is just a brake switch.

 

Brake light switch =$70
Brake Controller = $70

 

SOLVED! There is a little rubber/plastic "button" on the brake pedal assembly that contacts the brake switch helping to push it closed/off. It can get old and brittle and break off or it can get hit by something and break off. Without it, the gap between the brake pedal bar and the brake switch is bigger than usual and it doesn't allow the bar to fully close/mash the brake switch....and the brake lights never shut off. A new switch won't help. The little "button" part is only available as part of the brake pedal assembly. But, a good mechanic can fashion a new "button" and fix the problem. We shall see.....

 

LOL! Yeah, not bad. I was thinking the ABS controller...... We had to replace that a few years back and it was spendy!

 

Ah the ol’ brittle pedal button…
Some auto part stores carry those. Amazon too!

 

Grab you a bottle of wine and enjoy the evening !

 

HA! I WIN!!

 

LOL!! Is there ANYTHING Tundra related that isn't known to this forum??? This is an amazing place!

 

GREAT idea! Now I have to go look to see what he actually did!