When I release the brake pedal on my '59 Olds, it takes anywhere from 10 to 25 seconds for the brake lights to go off. I have adjusted the brake light switch to where they go off immediately, but the problem re-occurs the next time I use the car. Is this just a defective stop light switch, or something vacuum related? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

If the pedal comes up immediately when you release it, sticky contacts or mechanics in the brake switch would be my suspect.

 

Squirt it with WD-40, and move it with your finger a few times!!
Let the dust out!

 

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. I sprayed a generous amount of WD40 in the stop light switch yesterday afternoon, and upon checking the brake lights last night, and again this evening, everything seems to be working well. This car sat for 9 years before I got it operational a couple of months ago, and good old WD40 has brought a lot of things back to life, including the headlight switch, dome light, door locks, etc.

Terry

 

Keep in mind that after so many years, most grease that was applied at the factory has solidified and turned into a sticky, hard mess.
While WD40 can dissolve some of that old grease, Try to strip away all the old stuff if possible. Might take scrapers to do so.. Then relube with fresh grease. That should last another 30 years or more...

 

Everybody already said it.

There are a few forklifts in work that do that. The problem is the brake pedal doesn't come back up all the way. I was also going to say a sticky or broken brake switch