hessianben Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I've been driving the 521 for a few months now as my daily. (my girl is driving my Frontier until I can fix her SE-R) Today, we took a day off and went to the beach. when I got ready to leave, I noticed that the tail lights were on. Headlight position: off Ignition: off Brakes: off I had my girlfriend then sit in the truck and pump the brakes, turn the lights on and off, ect... No change whatsoever in the fully illuminated brake lights. they did not get brighter when she touched the brakes, so I'm pretty sure that it's the brake lights and not the tail lights I'm having issues with... I had to disconnect the battery just to keep it from dying in the driveway. I was fiddling with the switch on the pedal assembly that activates the lights, but with no change... Any suggestions on how to begin to troubleshoot this one? Thanks guys/gals! :D Quote Link to comment
moparvwfreak Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 2 words. bad switch! replace it. Quote Link to comment
hessianben Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 as in, the switch/button that is mounted on the brake pedal itself? any way to test it? Quote Link to comment
zerow Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 What if the switch backed out of the threads? A way to check is to get up under the dash and check at the end of the pedal. With the pedal depressed, the switch would extend out from the housing and the lights would be on. With the pedal not depressed, it holds the switch closed, and the lights stay off. If the switch is stripped or came unscrewed for any reason, it would stay on all the time (as you describe). Disconnect the switch before twisting it back into the threads, otherwise the wires get tangled up (or crossed, causing the lights to come on unexpectedly...:eek: Check the switch for operation, then rule it out (sometimes the contacts get all fubar, and they stay on...) Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 there is a plate that pushes the switch plunger when the pedal is all the way out. Sometimes they fall off and the plunger in the switch ust goes thru the hole and the plunger isnt getting pressed. I got a Penny and JB weld it on there. other wise pull the wirew and OHM it out with a meter. if shorted all the time (pushed in or out)then I guess its bad.( i dont bleieve it ) Quote Link to comment
Bugeye Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 there is a plate that pushes the switch plunger when the pedal is all the way out. Sometimes they fall off and the plunger in the switch ust goes thru the hole and the plunger isnt getting pressed. I got a Penny and JB weld it on there. other wise pull the wirew and OHM it out with a meter. if shorted all the time (pushed in or out)then I guess its bad.( i dont bleieve it ) My 620 was the same way. I fixed the problem by jb welding a bolt into the brake pedal. Quote Link to comment
hessianben Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 aaah so..... I go make fix. tell yaal what I find. Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment
dat521kid Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 happened to me, once i changed the break master cylinder the problem went away Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 just some FYI for the other 521 guys...... by '71, they had switches on the pedal. Mid '70 and earlier used the pressure switch mounted to the firewall. It's a nice safetly upgrade to change to the pedal version....brake lights come on as soon as you press the pedal...instead of after some pressure has built up. :) Quote Link to comment
hessianben Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 UPDATE: Thanks everyone- Just as predicted, the plunger of the switch was passing directly through a hole in what used to be a plastic plate on the pedal. ( I don't know why they wouldn't have made it metal in the first place, but whatever...) I simply slid a 10mm bolt and a washer into the hole, with a nylock nut on the back, and BINGO! back in business! Thanks everyone! This is why I love Ratsun- :D You guys don't fill a page with stupid sarcastic replies (unless they're really funny...) or make fun of stupid questions; you all just give lend your expertise and experiences, and honestly try to help members here. Thanks! good stuff... Quote Link to comment
Guest DatsuNoob Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Uhhhhh... huh huh... cool. Quote Link to comment
deafbob Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 holy cow, my 720 does the same thing, the plastic plug fell apart in the oklahoma heat. so i had to use what i had on my truck. crushed can lol, i will try the 10 mm bolts. thanks for the idea :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
moparvwfreak Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 cool. i have been known to be wrong. at least it was an easy fix. Quote Link to comment
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