brake pedal noise

[Allied]

I have a vauxhall vectra 1.8 ls T reg which drives beautifully. I have now notice when you put your foot on the brake pedal with the engine off there is a click. What is this?

[oldhamfan]

Could well be the switch which operates the brake lights, mine has a faint click.

[derekpara]

Most brake lihjts (and switches) do not operate with the engine (ignition) switched off. One exception to this is VW vehicles.

The click which you describe could be the sound of the brake caliper piston coming into contact with the pad, or even the pad itself moving in the caliper, especially if ithe pads are not main dealer parts. Either way, it's nothing to worry about.

[Allied]

Thank you both -hope you are right - someone told me it might be the transmission but I would have thought it would have other symptoms such as noise when it changes gear or something.

[JimmyK]

I suspect that the noise may just be the sound of a spring attached to the pedal, to return the pedal: it probably makes this noise with the engine running you just don't hear it then.
As for the switch not operating when the ignition is off, the mechanical part (the part that it likely to make a click) DOES operate with the ignition off, but the electrical (silent) part does not. And suggesting it may be the pads coming into contact with the disk is flawed, the pads dont get retracted so as there is a gap, and you wouldnt be lilely to hear them even if they did.

[markja]

the sound is the ejector seat arming it's self. if you then press the button on top of the gear lever you can wave bye-bye to the wife,mother in law, hubby.
alternatively, it is the brake light switch. most cars have a simple switch that the brake lever releases when the pedal goes down and even when the ignition is off the switch still operates. ( just no electic goes through. ) just like turning the mains off in your house and operating a light switch, it still clicks.

[Allied]

Thanks all for all your help - I had it MOT'd to check there was nothing else wrong with it (only recently bought it) and the noise is normal for the car apparently.