I have replaced the brake light switch in my 71 Cutlass repeatedly. First couple times it was after someone told me I had no brake lights, but the last couple years I would find it after car was stored for the winter, it seems after car sitting for 3-4 months switch will stick causing no brake lights. I'll bet I have went thru 4 or 5 switches since I've owned car. I have also made sure I bought "name brand" or good quality switches the last 2 times at least. So this spring I checked brake lights and , of course, they don't work. Back to the local CarQuest store and bought another Standard brand switch. I'm pretty sure that was what I bought last time also. The counterman said it was the best one they carried. You guys have problems with this also?

 

You must be mounting it wrong or something. I've never had a problem with the brake light switch in any car I've owned. My '77 Toronado still has its original, now 44-year-old switch. At least, it looks that old. Sitting in the garage for a few months should not cause it to stick. Did you take it apart to see what's sticking? There's no lubricant or anything that can thicken or get gummy over time. My '78 Toro sat outdoors undriven for 13 years, and the brake light switch worked fine the first time I connected a battery and stepped on the brake pedal. I would look for some other cause than just repeatedly bad switches. One bad switch, ok, but multiple times? Seems unlikely.

 

Yep, I agree with you Jaunty. It sure seems something else must be wrong, but it is all factory, nothing has been changed. I also have had many other cars and trucks that use this switch and never a problem except this car. I even have the same switch on my 56 F100 that actually is the pedal assembly from a 85 F150. There must have been millions of these used over the years! Yesterday when checking the lights I crawled under the dash and watched the switch as I pressed on pedal with my hand. I saw the plunger go out but I was alone and couldn't see if lights came on. Then found they still didn't work so sticking (or bad contacts) must be in switch as plunger does come out. Having car running so power brakes work make no difference. I got lights to come on once by actually kicking the pedal down really hard. Problem is you have to take the a/c duct below dash off to really see and replace switch... Not a huge job but it is a job to avoid when out on a road trip (which is where it always happens, it seems). Today I will replace switch and recheck mounting, etc.

 

I checked it out yesterday and found the problem, I hope. I hooked up the new switch to the wiring and left it loose. I could then operate it with my thumb. I found that the switch operates about 1/4" to 1/2" out from the bottomed out position. I had installed the the switch as I always remembered doing and pushing the brake pedal would not operate the switch. The way I remembered doing it was to put the switch in the clicking mount and pulling back on pedal until switch stopped in mount and it was set. But that is wrong. So anyway I took out "old" (about 1 year) switch and checked it in my hand and it works just as the new one. So put in new switch and adjusted and seems to work fine.. DOH!! I'll keep a eye on it.