how do change my brake switch...?

Question

in a ford 89 tempo. everytime i drive at night and i hit the brakes my car stales and needs a jump to restart. i have a brand new alternator starter and battery. i think the brake switch is shorting everything else out because when i hit the brakes the lights dont go on, but once i tap a little wire next to the pedal with my other foot then the lights go on. also with this problem when the wire connects it makes a funny noise.i can only go about a mile or so before the car goes out and needs another jump.

Answer 1

This sounds like a strange problem. If a short in the braking circuit, it should blow a fuse. Also, a dead short in the wiring without a fuse would more likely result in the wire overheating and the car catching fire, rather than it disabling the electrical system. There are only two things I could think that is causing this. 1) A bad earth somewhere in the wiring is causing a large voltage drop, in the circuit wired in with the engine management computer. The computer will shut the engine down immediately.
2) Another long shot possibility is that the brake booster is shot, and allowing air into the inlet manifold. The car would splutter and die, and the brakes would not work properly.

My money is on a faulty earth connections. Remove, clean and reconnect all earthing wiring from the negative post of the battery to the engine, and all wiring conencting to earthing points in the chassis. Your car is at an age where this problem is likely to happen. I had to do this on an 92 Corolla recently

Answer 2

THe switch is located behind the brake pedal below the pivot point. This means it's under the dash. To fix the wire, you can use electrician's tape if the insulator is cracked or the wire is exposed. You can get a replacement part from the dealer.

Answer 3

you brake light switch should cost around $10.00
they are pretty easy to replace, find the brake pedal and look up. it'll be under the dash.

what I would also do is do a very thorough inspection of the wires becasue it sounds like potentially someone was cutting and pasting wires under the dash at one point and didn't know what they were doing or looking at. the brake light switch simply turns the rear stop lights on, if you have cruise control, it disengages the cruise if on as well.

wouldn't surprise me if the ignition switch wires are banging around underneath and when you put your foot under the dash you are grounding out the wires to the ignition switch.

Answer 4

I don't think it's your switch, I think it's a more serious problem. Check the wires around the top of the brake pedal - it could be fouling some ignition wires and causing the car to switch off.

Answer 5

first of all , its an 89 , get rid of it . otherwise remove one of the battery cable, so you will not cause elecrical any shorts while you doing this little job. if you get down on the floor, and look under your brake pedel, you will see the swtch , up near the top , and behind the pedel. remove the wirring plug from the switch, remove the switch it self , then repeat the same process in putty the new swich in, after witch, you can put the battery cable back on , and tighen it

Answer 6

wow get that wire fixed the funny noise is it shorting out could cause a fire get it fixed fast its not the switch its that wire id disconect the battery if u dont get it fixed it could burn anytime be carefull if ur not near it disconnect the neg cable from the battery asap

Answer 7

Always Fords with electrical problems.

Answer 8

i think you need another car sweetie!!!!!