2004 Limited - brake pedal sensor?

A

amheck

New member
Hi gang, got into my truck yesterday and couldn't shift out of park. I did a little reading and found the little bypass on the console (I never knew what that little cover was for) and now I can shift, but I also still don't have any brake lights.

So from doing some reading, this is a brake sensor. Is this the same or different than the ABS sensor? I get hits on both when trying to search for a part.

I'm not a mechanic. I can do simple stuff, but any major usually goes to the dealer. Is this something the normal dad at home can do, or is this something I'll want to take into the dealer to diagnose?

thanks!
 
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Sounds like a bad brake switch, had the same thing happen on my 2008. It's located behind the brake pedal - cheap part and simple swap.

Let me know if you need more info, it's been several years since I replaced mine.
 
thanks - I'm going to try that. I was having a hard time finding a "brake light switch" but it seems now that I tried "stoplight switch" I'm getting a lot of results. Looks to be a $30 part at Advanced Auto. Fingers crossed.....
 
Well, the new switched worked for a drive and now the issue appears to be back again. Is it possible I have electrical issues which are shorting out this switch?
 
The stop light switch can throw CELs (check engine light codes) but it sounds like you're not throwing any codes, right? That switch is a very simple switch and one that's hard to mess up. So it sounds like something is amiss downstream from the switch. Since you swapped it out, and your troubles went away temporarily, which means that wiring harness was moved during this process. So, perhaps this harness area is making a poor connection?

This is a general question for others, when we step on our brake pedal, is there a discernible "click" that we can hear? I can't recall at the moment.
 
I'm going to try and mess around with it today - maybe take it back out and reinstall and jiggle it around a bit.

I'm not sure if the truck is throwing codes or not. I do now see, however, that I have a few lights on the dash like "ABS, VSC Track, Track Off". I guess this means something bigger is going on.

Would a trip to Autozone, etc possibly point me in the right direction? I think they will plug in a code reader for you for free?

Edit to add - took it into Advanced Auto and they said no codes are being sent and that the check engine light had to be on for that to happen. Which is not the case in my truck. I just have several lights on on the right side of my instrument cluster as mentioned above. Guess I'm going to need a mechanic to look a little further at this.
 
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Well, after driving around with no brake lights for a while, I finally took the truck in. They charge a $59.99 diagnostic fee, but its waived if they do the repair.

So they tell me the stoplight switch is bad. Go figure. Maybe I got a bum one from the auto parts store, maybe something else is going on. they said the continuity to the switch wiring is fine, so the only other thing they can think of is that the ABS sensor needs to be adjusted. So, for $169 they are installing another switch and "adjusting the ABS sensor" whatever that means.

I sure hope the switch doesn't go bad again in a day. I'll be curious.
 
amheck said:
Well, after driving around with no brake lights for a while, I finally took the truck in. They charge a $59.99 diagnostic fee, but its waived if they do the repair.

So they tell me the stoplight switch is bad. Go figure. Maybe I got a bum one from the auto parts store, maybe something else is going on. they said the continuity to the switch wiring is fine, so the only other thing they can think of is that the ABS sensor needs to be adjusted. So, for $169 they are installing another switch and "adjusting the ABS sensor" whatever that means.

I sure hope the switch doesn't go bad again in a day. I'll be curious.
Click to expand...

Well if it does go bad again take it back and tell them they didn't get it right and now they can try again and for no charge to you!!
 
if it does go bad, the brake sensor switch is cheap and easy to swap out. I picked mine up from autozone for under $20 if i'm remembering correctly.

Did your abs and vcs lights come on?


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Standard(R) - Toyota FJ Cruiser 2008 Intermotor™ Brake Light Switch

this is non adjustable correct?

and to test, you jump the two larger tabs with each other and toggle the switch

same with the smaller two > ? some say the smaller two are for cruise control?

In any case, on mine, the larger tabs are working proper but the smaller two are open/not working - Trying to figure out if the switch itself is bad or if it just needs adjustment....but this appears to be non adjustable (4th gen 4runnerV6) ?

the problem came to attention due to not being able to get out of park
 
Roddy p said:
Standard(R) - Toyota FJ Cruiser 2008 Intermotor™ Brake Light Switch

this is non adjustable correct?

and to test, you jump the two larger tabs with each other and toggle the switch

same with the smaller two > ? some say the smaller two are for cruise control?

In any case, on mine, the larger tabs are working proper but the smaller two are open/not working - Trying to figure out if the switch itself is bad or if it just needs adjustment....but this appears to be non adjustable (4th gen 4runnerV6) ?

the problem came to attention due to not being able to get out of park
Click to expand...

The switch you linked appears to be adjustable via the retaining nut.
 
Roddy p said:
Standard(R) - Toyota FJ Cruiser 2008 Intermotor™ Brake Light Switch

this is non adjustable correct?

and to test, you jump the two larger tabs with each other and toggle the switch

same with the smaller two > ? some say the smaller two are for cruise control?

In any case, on mine, the larger tabs are working proper but the smaller two are open/not working - Trying to figure out if the switch itself is bad or if it just needs adjustment....but this appears to be non adjustable (4th gen 4runnerV6) ?

the problem came to attention due to not being able to get out of park
Click to expand...



Sounds like you're on the right track amigo. If it were me, I'd take the whole thing out, then take it apart. These are stupid simple things to figure out. I bet you have a dirty contact from years of opening/closing. Just clean the contacts using a emory file or similar, then re-check continuity. I bet that's all you'll need.
 
amheck said:
I'm going to try and mess around with it today - maybe take it back out and reinstall and jiggle it around a bit.

I'm not sure if the truck is throwing codes or not. I do now see, however, that I have a few lights on the dash like "ABS, VSC Track, Track Off". I guess this means something bigger is going on.

Would a trip to Autozone, etc possibly point me in the right direction? I think they will plug in a code reader for you for free?

Edit to add - took it into Advanced Auto and they said no codes are being sent and that the check engine light had to be on for that to happen. Which is not the case in my truck. I just have several lights on on the right side of my instrument cluster as mentioned above. Guess I'm going to need a mechanic to look a little further at this.
Click to expand...

I doubt the switch is bad twice and it's easily tested. It's most likely out of adjustment. F_ck a mechanic you'll waste money and never get anywhere. They'll probably try to say you need a new 2000$ skid control assembly The brake light switch is a skid control ECU input. It's been disabled due to your brake issue. That's why you have all the traction and stability features disabled. This will be a VSC code that auto zone scanners won't read. You need all the codes anyways so pull them manually via DLC. I reckon you'll wanna adjust the plunger, hopefully
 
amheck said:
Well, the new switched worked for a drive and now the issue appears to be back again. Is it possible I have electrical issues which are shorting out this switch?
Click to expand...

As others have said, I would bet it is the switch mount. Had similar but different issue with brake lights on all the time and cruise control randomly disengaging. Removed switch and reinstalled and all working fine now. Nothing was wrong with the switch itself.
 
Buckaroo said:
As others have said, I would bet it is the switch mount. Had similar but different issue with brake lights on all the time and cruise control randomly disengaging. Removed switch and reinstalled and all working fine now. Nothing was wrong with the switch itself.
Click to expand...

That's correct as cruise control is disabled also along with all VSC and traction controls involved with the skid ECU.
 
This may seem dumb and just a coincidence.. but my third brake light went out at the same time my brake switch failed. Not sure if there would be any correlation.. not likely but hey
 
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