Suddenly my trans has locked, meaning that you have to insert the key in the sahifter to shift to neutral, then start the car and shift back. Also, the brake lights seem to have simultaneously gone out. Someone told me that there is a sensor switch located somewhere on the brake pedal that has likely gone out. Can anyone confirm this? Any comments would be grealty appreaciated.

It's been a bad week, as I already had an attempted break-in this week and the car "immolized" itself and had to be towed to the garage.

 

You just need to replace the fuse for the brake lights. It's happened to me before on my 04 TL.

 

Thanks for the reply. However, after searching (which i should have done first) it appears that its the brake switch, which has become stuck in the open position. When I get back to the car tonight I'll have to try to WD40 it, as a member receommended.

 

Its a safety interlock for the automatic trans
This is the gen2 DIY on the switch- check yours should be close to the same
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155302

 

well actually my girl has the car and won't be back until tomorrow. I'll check the switch and then go this route. Much thanks for the info!!!!! =) Doubt that I'd ever have found this!

 

DO NOT let her drive with no brake lights, unless you have both your girls heavily insured, but even then- your car didnt have required equipment.....

 

If it wont go out of park, tell her the little tab thing to the right of the shifter, on the shifter plate- use a nail file to remove that by popping it out- and of all things- the key is designed to fit in there- push down gently and it will unlock the safety- put in Nuetral and start car
Do make sure - by watching on wall in mirror- that brake lights work

 

Found the Gen1 diagram and its similar. Bonus is that the part is only $43!! thanks again. really appreciate it!

 

just saw your previous posts. thanks for the concern. she just has to drive back here in the AM so it'll be ok (mostly desolate highway driving).

The car will go into drive with the aid of the key I'm ordering the part in the AM and hopefully have it all good again in a day or so. thanks again. this forum is so very helpful!

 

So I ordered and installed a new brake sensor w/ no results. Trans is till locked and no brake lights and no cruise. Any other ideas? I'm guessing that the harness is bad or that there is a basic wire short somewhere? I should be able to simply pop in the sensor and it should work, correct? No reset or anything of that nature is necessary, correct? thanks

 

I just snapped in the sensor and pushed the button with my finger, which didn't work. Does it take a great deal of pressure to activate it?

 

Brake light switch works in reverse. It closes contacts when it springs open (brake pedal is pushed) and opens contacts when fully pushed in (brake pedal fully up).

I would check for electrical power (12V) to the brake light switch (Wht/Yel). If no power then fuse is bad or wiring problem. If switch is working then power out wire (grn/wht) will be hot when brake pedal is pressed. If no brake lights, then wiring problem is in brake light circuit; broken wire or damaged connector. There is a brake light warning module on LH taillight that could be faulty (not likely but possible).

good luck

 

Well it would appear as though I'm a complete moron for not knowing this. Chances are that I was trying to do things backwards. =) Car will be back at my house tongiht so I'll give it a try. Much thanks!!!

Also,
Do you know which fuse it is (color,size) for the brake lights? Does anyone have a fuse diagram?