Brake light failure

[SAH]

I've recently noticed that when I brake my brake lights aren't working, if I press on the brake pedal really hard they come on, where as if I just lightly touch the brake pedal they don't work. Any ideas what the problem could be?

[Hippy]

You have not said what sort of car, but here goes. Two types of switch. One is operated by movement of pedal arm and is attached near fulcrum of lever. The switch is kept open by the spring holding the lever arm in normal position but closes the circuit when foot moves pedal arm. Thjs seems unlikely to be the case in your car as you say lots of pressure = lights on.

Second sort work from hydraulic pressure and are located on the brake pedal cylinder or more likely on the vacuum servo box. You cannot fix these switches when they go wrong, you have to replace them. Not expensive, but may require brake bleeding after fitting new one. They look like mini spark plugs that screw in and have two wires (sometimes only one) attached at the top.

You can confirm that you have located the right gizmo by unplugging then shorting out the wires briefly with the ignition on (no need for engine running) and see if brake lights come on. Mirror handy for checking this! If only one wire then connect it to metal of car briefly.

[SAH]

Thanks for the info Hippy! ....just for the record I have a 1998 Ford Escort.

[peanut]

it sounds to me like the switch has been pushed away from the pedal, look under there behind the pedal , you will see it. you may be able to bend the bracket back toward the pedal. dont pull on the switch cuz you may break it. if it cant be bent, you might be able to unplug the switch and screw the switch in toward the pedal. then plug it back in.