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I have a 1998 Chevy Prizm with 155,000 miles on it. It is my beater car that I drive to work every day for the past 4 years. Just this week I have noticed the brake light stays on and also the cruise control doesn't work. I was able to get the brake light to turn off after tapping the pedal several times. I am guessing some sort of connector problem but not sure. Any ideas?
There should be a switch located above the pedal. When you press the brake a button either gets pushed in or released to activate the switch. Either the switch went bad or the switch has come loose from the bracket, or the connector is is bad/loose.
Grab a flashlight and peek up in there. Follow the brake pedal to the switch and do a visual inspection.
Most likely it's just the brake light switch. The problem is that it's a little tough to track that one down without somebody standing behind your car saying, "On. Off. On. Off..."
The good thing is that if it IS the brake light switch, it's an easy and cheap fix.
Your cruise control problem is probably vacuum related.
I'm going to guess his brake lights, on the rear end of the car, are staying on, and the brake lights staying on are going to cause the cruise to not work, because the cruise grounds into the brake lights, as a feature to make the cruise turn off if you touch the brakes.
It is probably a mechanical switch, it may be that a touch of silicone lube or Tri-Flon, etc, is all that you really need. Or you may need to replace the switch, which is usually pretty easy. Although it would be a tough job for a big guy to do in this small car, you end up laying on your back in the driver's footwell, using a flashlight to see what you are doing.
Remotely possible that this car has the hydraulic type brake light switch, in that case you have to replace it.
I guess budlight went back to budlight and will not honor us with better clarification?
LOL! Sorry, I meant the back brake lights bulbs stay on. I think you guys are right and it is a switch with a bad connector. I will trace this over the weekend and let you know what the results are. It makes sense that if the car thinks the brakes are on cruise control will not work. Thanks for all your input.
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