Solving Brake Light Switch Problems, 93 Acura Integra

[maniaustralian]

exelento



[Narkafet]

Fixed my car cause of you. Now i pray the battery is still useful. THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

[TheThefounded1990]

i have a problem my break lights dont turn ON i have a 92 toyota corolla any ideas ????/

[ziggy7360]

Thats exactly what happend to me and thats the exact solution i used but it happend to both my clutch and brake at the same time..

[hangshan1]

Hey, This happened to my acura legend I fixed it buy gluing some nickels to the brake pedal part. Is this a good fix?

[witchdoctur]

@ericthecarguy

[witchdoctur]

ive got 2 questions for you, 1st is... would this replacement be the same in a 92 suzuki swift. the 2nd is.... my problem is the exact opposite, i hit the brakes and i get no brake light unless i hit the brakes fairly hard, do u think it is the switch that needs to be replaced

[tqadir007]

hey eric. me and you think alike. i would ahve done the same thing and i was about to make a comment just put a 10mm bolt and nut on it lol. I too work on alot of hondas. but for myself i do somewhat high performance motors. by that i mean a stock d16 making 3x the power it makes from the factory. I love your videos man. where is your shop located by the way

[AnuDamiana]

Hi Mr. Eric!

My fella replaced the brake booster in his 89 Jeep Cherokee, and now his brake lights don't come on...any suggestions?  Thanks! :-)

[livelife2015]

great video. but i have a question in my integra i just cant seem to find this connector for the brake switch. were does it come from? and i dont see any wire harness cuts or anything like that at all. But now that i think of it shouldnt my brake lights also be on constantly? because their not

[EricTheCarGuy]

@livelife2015 You might want to watch the video again as you may not be looking in the right place, the switch and it's connector should be located above the brake pedal itself as in this video.

[livelife2015]

@EricTheCarGuy i got it. i have a dc2 with cruse control . its a blue plug. thanks

[tapemasteriscool]

i have the exact problem. except the little rubber piece was on the ground next to the car, and i had a clutch switch. im on the hunt for a small bolt and nut.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@tapemasteriscool Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[missorangeappled]

I had that car for 15 years! it was a trooper! :)

[armani9300]

Hi ,Great information mate ,but what if i have other problem like my tail lights stay on all the time ,what should i do?

Please let me know.

Thanks

[EricTheCarGuy]

@armani9300 Tail lights are a different issue and you would need to consult the wiring diagram for the vehicle you're working on in order to find the source of that problem.

[armani9300]

@EricTheCarGuy Thanks for the reply ,i thing it is because i had a small accident & i took the car to the garage & they did something wrong when they fix the tail lights,Thanks again

[EricTheCarGuy]

@armani9300 Perhaps that is the case, I often find that after a collision that electrical components can be damaged especially the wiring.

[armani9300]

@EricTheCarGuy I will check that out & let you know for sure.

Cheers

[Jx1x3]

@etcg oh I see, when ever you hear someone needing a new dizzy it's because one of those sensors failed to being exposed to oil, they cannot be replaces because they're mounted with shear head screws

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Jx1x3 Unfortunately it seems that many of them get replaced with aftermarket units because the engine won't start, instead of figuring out if it's a coil or igniter issue they just replace the distributor, not long after that they often set a check engine light for a crank or cam sensor code.

[azn1221]

haha... "im also lookin at deez nutz"

[noriceformeplz]

Nice video as always. I've had problems before with the rubber bushing for the brake switch, we was riding one night and the same thing happened to me, i knew what it was after looking at the assembly so i just took a few penny's and some tape and rigged it up till i could get one from the dealership.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@noriceformeplz That would work too. Thanks for the comment.

[FirstLadyFire]

Thank you!!! Very helpful video I was able to fix my 2003 Hyundai Elantra I'm a female college student 5hrs away from home. i didn't want to be ripped off for a simple problem. God bless you and your mechanical gift! LoL : )

[EricTheCarGuy]

@FirstLadyFire I love comments like this. I'm very happy my video helped you, thanks very much for your comment.

[Jx1x3]

@EricThrCarGuy, I know. it's kinda like Honda designed it to fail causing a dead battery, same as the dizzy o-ring failing and burning out the crank angle sensor and tdc sensor, they knew about these issues and design then to happen bagahahaha

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Jx1x3 Honda's don't have issues with the crank angle sensors or TDC sensors in my experience, I only see that with aftermarket distributors. Distributor 'o' rings are an issue but easily fixed. Honda's are not without fault but overall I think they are reliable cars and easy to work on. Thanks for your input.

[1994lebaron]

eric, i have a 1994 chrysler lebaron and the brake lights don't work. my turn signals, and when i have the light switch engaged work, but my brake lights don't work at all. do you have any idea what could be wrong? maybe a bad fuse? please help, i don't want to get pulled over for not having brake lights.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@1994lebaron Without looking at it myself I can't say what the issue is but since both brake lights are out you might start by checking the brake light switch as that is one place where both circuits connect. Good luck.

[yagger72]

Eric....thanks for making the vid look easy. However, I have a similiar issue with my 1997 nissan pathfinder where the left brake light would not turn on. The right brake light does work. I assumed it was the light bulb and replaced it but that didn't work. I checked the switch based on your vid, but the switch is ok.

If you would please let me know what is going on, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@yagger72 Well without looking at it for myself it's impossible for me to say what the problem is however you may want to check the tail light assembly as I've seen them short out from time to time causing a similar condition. A good wiring diagram and a test light would be your best friend here. Good luck.

[Boostedb20b]

I got A 91 LS love my car =)

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Boostedb20b I've had 3, I love them too.

[MaxHPep]

Gotta love a simple fix. Thanks Eric!

[EricTheCarGuy]

@MaxHPep KISS is the rule.

[solman182]

if i had to do that fix, i'd totally shove the customers face up there to see how awesome i was at solving that. Great video eric!

[EricTheCarGuy]

@solman182 Well remember you're shoving their face where they put their feet so perhaps use a mirror or some other method. :)

[marsL001]

liked,favorite,8stars,playlist­ed

BEST TEACHER EVERRRR

STILL DIRTY

[EricTheCarGuy]

@marsL001 I always know when it's you that's making the comment. Thanks as always.

[iituklawii]

great vid man. how i wish you can help me solving my break problem.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@iituklawii I've got lots of videos on brakes that might help. Good luck.

[tma450]

my mechanic would have told me it was the head gasket and charge me $1500 to put tht bolt and nut in. carefull who u trust.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@tma450 Yea perhaps find another mechanic.

[25darsh]

Good video dude

[Jx1x3]

same thing happen to my 96 integra one week ago!! 10mm nut and bolt and a dead battery! also the same thing happen to my moms 88 civic

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Jx1x3 It's actually a common problem with Hondas, thanks for the comment.

[RoberTastic]

Ur brother disliked this vid twice

[EricTheCarGuy]

@RoberTastic That bastard.

[goodbro]

OK so, the switch is "fail-safe" right? meaning when it fails...the brake lights stay on. My chevy truck loses brake lights when the switch fails...bad engineering. The switch was a different size and shape but was still correct for application? Probably an updated design... Great detective work figuring out there was a missing piece to the puzzle (the broken missing piece) That problem alone can mess up many people with older cars. GREAT VIDEO

[EricTheCarGuy]

@goodbro Yea there's a lot of things that need to be taken into account when dealing with mechanical issues, thanks for your comment.

[Bushougoma]

@goodbro No mechanical devices like switches are unpredictable. They can fail open, closed, or more commonly become intermittent.

When the brake light switch failed on my Accord it was intermittent. You had to pump the brake pedal multiple times (cycle the switch) for it to function. This was evident because the vehicle has an automatic transmission and the shift interlock solenoid won't energize and allow you to shift unless the brake switch completes the circuit.

[wiltshirenichols]

My Teg went through the same ordeal. Putting a bolt in the top clutch hole was the hardest, the car won't start unless you 'press' the clutch. Pedal Stoppers were $1 each from the dealership, one on the brake and two on the clutch. Problem solved for the next 14 years.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@wiltshirenichols That works just fine, thanks for the comment.

[GoneBadKiwi]

Whoo that was weird, when Eric was thinking about what to put in that hole I thought a bolt would do work, and wadya know - Eric was thinking the same lol.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@GoneBadKiwi Get out of my head dude.

[nomotiv99]

i just glued a penny under my clutch for the switch so my cruise control would work again on a 93' teg also.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@nomotiv99 Nice idea, thanks for the comment.

[somenutjob]

keep it up

[bcompany6]

Love it when you talk about your nutz Eric lol.

[afjrotc20041]

i have a dirty mind, sorry Eric, a lot of talk about nuts, tightening nuts, touching nuts, screwing nuts lol, me and my dad always have lots of fun working on cars

[antoniobzdotcom]

At 4:20... "I'm also looking at deez nutz" lol. Sorry couldn't help it. Eric you the man!! :D

[denelvo]

I remember Duane from realfixesrealfast pointing this out a while ato.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@denelvo Duane is awesome, I love his channel.

[pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR]

Your brother needs a new car. Problem solved hahaha jk :D

[EricTheCarGuy]

@pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR I think you underestimate the power of the Integra, they last forever if you take care of them correctly.

[pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR]

@EricTheCarGuy haha they do. Any car actually as long as they're taken care of correctly and regularly. I'm getting a Nissan 240sx S13 and they seem to work fine despite the age. Your brother's Teggy is Honda technically. And Hondas are easy fix :)

[eleeter]

Eric needs to get a helmut cam, or a hat cam as it were.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@eleeter Not sure if it would work in this instance. I'm actually hoping to get one of those cameras 'on a stick' to help with shots like this one.

[SuperSueno]

break out the multimeters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spooky2315]

lol i love your vids but i just had to throw this out "im also lookin at these NUTS" lol im laughing so hard,, immature i know :p

[beton10mix]

Seriously Eric, i have learn more in your videos than in my school

[EricTheCarGuy]

@beton10mix Perhaps they should show my videos in school. :)

[93dajjdg]

great video, thanks again eric

[COCOT20]

Does your brother pays??? hahaha

[EricTheCarGuy]

@COCOT20 Just for parts.

[SOrtega1988]

Anyone else not able subscribed because your on a iPhone.

[Michiganborn1969]

Super vided to Eric! I had the exact same problem on an Escort ZX2 I use to own. I sorta rednecked fix before I sold it with some black electric tape and a few washers.

I wonder why Rob didn't bring this issue to you i the first place instead of trying to fix it himself? Perhaps he's as inspired by your how-to videos as I am? lol

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Michiganborn1969 Well now that my shop is across town from where he live it's harder for him to get to me and having a battery dead every morning needs immediate attention.

[fastxsam]

Great job Eric, seemed like an obvious solution for anyone handy with a wrench. Is your brother really that auto incompetent? But thank you for another useful video. :thumbup:

[EricTheCarGuy]

@fastxsam He has different skills than I do.

[632428]

To christbrunok: ur lowbeam is dead get a new light bulb

[chrisbrunok]

this is kind of different but when i turn on my lights only one light works but when i turn on my brights the light that doesn't work comes on. any clues to why this happens? thanks

[EricTheCarGuy]

@chrisbrunok High beams are on a separate circuit and filament in the bulb, if you replaced the bulb already you may have a grounding issue. You'll need a wiring diagram and some circuit testing equipment to track that down.

[daviedee123]

i never fix any family or friends cars always get blame if something doesnt work

[EricTheCarGuy]

@daviedee123 I don't, thanks for the comment. :)

[AnthonyThaX]

my battery keeps going dead on my civic..every thing is off in the car that i can tell do you have a video about that already or can you make one? or tell me what i should be looking for?

[EricTheCarGuy]

@AnthonyThaX I don't have a video yet but google 'parasitic draw test' as that is what you need to do.

[malucyk]

Great video, hope none of those exoctic wild animals on the loose are near by. It would be kind of kewl to see a monkey or lion on the street.

[neoholland]

Eric you should make a video on the POWER PROBE!!! that would be GREAATTT!!!

[EricTheCarGuy]

@neoholland I hope to someday I love that tool.

[DrJerryrigger]

You did a good job with that, I would have started with tape and a stack of nickles.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@DrJerryrigger I'm sure that would have worked too. Thanks for the comment.

[Anatoliy911]

Eric can you please make a video on how to replace a ball joint, if you already have video of that, can i get a link? thanx in advance Eric.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@Anatoliy911 Yea, head ove to the ETCG website on the videos page and look under suspension OR just type in your question in the search box.

[hondannyboy]

I have a Del Sol and my mother has a Civic and this happened in both cars.

[hobieslug45]

the reason I didn't go with the original plastic plug is because the honda dealership is about a hole days drive away. but I would suggest if your at a dealer get one and put it in the glove box along with crush washers for the oil plug and tranny plug

[hobieslug45]

a lot of people are concerned with the metal bolt . I used this on all five of the hondas in my family . must be at least 500k on those switches with out a problem. but like posts have mentioned there must be a reason they put that plastic plug in . just can't figure out why . maybe longevity but I have an accord with 300k on that switch with a bolt .maybe Soichiro Honda took the answer to his grave

[EricTheCarGuy]

@hobieslug45 Yea it's longevity as it would help 'cousin' the impact as the switch makes contact. Thanks for the comment.

[tomaszstochmal]

I would put rubber cover on top of that nut

[hondadna93]

Oddly enough I watched this video a day or so ago and thought right away "wait the rubber thing is missing" just a few seconds before you caught it. Then tonight as I pull in a friends drive I feel something hit my leg as I step on the brake to park. I get out of the car and the brake lights are still on and instantly I look at the floor board to see that in fact what hit my leg was the dried up rubber thing lol....

[EricTheCarGuy]

@hondadna93 I love it when a plan comes together.

[akcessdenied]

I have the same kind of car and the exact same thing happened to me. I also put small nut and bolt.

[texan176]

The plug that goes in that space is Honda part # 46505-SA5-000

Any Honda/Acura dealer will have it in stock for about $3-5. Pretty much all Honda cars from the late 80s to late 90s used that for the brake and clutch pedal.

No tools are required to install it....push on the pedal with one hand and push the rubber plug into the hole when you have clearance. That's it.

I had the same problem and almost bought the OEM switch for $60. The OEM switch almost NEVER goes bad.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@texan176 I agree, that's why I put the old switch back in rather than the new aftermarket one my brother bought. Thanks for your input.

[yt1180]

When I saw the missing piece and the hole, my thought was a nylon license plate bolt/nut. Maybe Honda wanted that striker for the switch to be non-metallic. They went to the trouble of making the hole?

[EricTheCarGuy]

@yt1180 It will help with wear on the switch as it does provide more 'cushion' than just metal.

[viperz888]

What does a clutch switch do? I've never heard of one.

[4G63PWR]

@viperz888 Prevents you from starting the car without the clutch.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@viperz888 It disables the starter until you depress the clutch and also cancels the cruse when you depress it.

[cupnoodles2]

Hello eric i own a honda crv 2000 and non of my three brake light will light up when i brake i tried to find the fuse but im not sure where it is because the little sticker on my fuse box wont say "brake lights" anywhere i also tried to find the switch but i couldnt could it be a fuse or something ? thanks

[EricTheCarGuy]

@cupnoodles2 Brake light switches are a common issue on Hondas, you might consider just unplugging yours to see if you have power and ground to it, if you do then replace the switch and adjust it correctly and see if you still have an issue.

[cupnoodles2]

@EricTheCarGuy hey i forgot to tell you i fixed that the same day i asked u took it out jumped the plug and they were working fine so i drove to the store and got a replacement after i struggled to mount it i found out it wasnt clicking just like yours and i placed a bold and a nut and fixed it :D btw the bolt makes some sort of a clicking sound when it hits the switch even tho i followed ur advice and it barely pushes it, but its working!" :D thanks alot bro u have helped me once again.thanks:)

[Mendelivium2]

Another good one Eric ! Enjoyed that.

[adriannnf]

@EricTheCarGuy I just noticed that on the intake to my air filter the little clamp that keeps it closed itsnt on it do you think that has to do with my car shaking when not moving? Also kind of makes sense cause my check engine light is on with the error code P0446. Sorry for all these questions just thought I would ask someone that seems like they know a lot about cars

[EricTheCarGuy]

@adriannnf You might consider posting your question over at the forum on my website as I answer automotive questions there along with a lot of other people that might be able to help AND you would get a quicker answer.

[roseannmiller]

I like you're videos, Eric, because you're down to earth and keep things simple. I do have a question about brakes, but not the brake switch. My husband and I changed the brake pads on my 2000 Chevy S10 4wd V6. I drove the truck to the store and back (about 14 miles round trip) and noticed the brakes smelled like they were burning? We bled the lines, and I tried again. One side seems okay, the other still getting hot w/o much brake usage. What do you suggest we do?? Please HELP!!!!

[EricTheCarGuy]

@roseannmiller New brakes will 'smell' for a while till they brake in. All brakes make heat it's kind of what they do. As for the install however it's important to use the correct lubricants in the correct place for the calipers to work properly, you might want to refer to the videos I did on brake pad replacement for more info on that. Good luck.

[N8the2]

dude as always your the man......thanks to you I save a fortune when I need new brakes...Just wandering man about to trade my 96 acura integra for a 2005 toyota tacoma truck...please tell me you can tell me how to do these !??????....thank you...is it similar...thank you so very much man :)...oh and I am a noob w/ the car lingo

[hytgggg]

Is this car ever out of the workshop? ha ha

Keep up the good work Eric

[DMasterMensionz]

i dont know how you hold the camera and work at the same time lol

[EricTheCarGuy]

@DMasterMensionz I don't always do it that way but sometimes I have to, it can be a challenge that's for sure.

[firestormze]

As always, Fantastic Video! It always seems im learning something new with these. Thank you and keep them coming Eric.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@firestormze I try very hard to keep them interesting and accurate, it's always great when that actually works. Thanks for the comment.

[adriannnf]

Hey man its adrian I commented on your other video telling how much I love your videos! I'm starting school for auto tech in fall so I love working on my car. My car idles really hard and the hardest when its in reverse. Do you know why the car would do that? The only known problem is torn axles. Do you think that will make your car idle rough and shake? Thanks again

[EricTheCarGuy]

@adriannnf Most idle problems are mixture problems so start by looking for vacuum leaks and checking the tune up items. Good luck in school and thanks for your comment.

[Begbucks]

I appreciate the jury rigging tips.

[mazdalover93]

my friends 92 hatchback civic lost that thing too so i replaced it with a screw that had a big head and it work just fine

[GammaCruxis]

Nice.

I don't know how many times on how many cars that that little plastic doohikey has fallen out of. Most dealerships would just give them to me for free though.

[GortMcTabs]

Bravo. This just happened to my girlfriends '96 civic. This was a lot cheaper then the $35 that the shop would have charged. Thanks, Eric!

[EricTheCarGuy]

@GortMcTabs This is why I make these videos, thanks for the comment.

[noslack1964]

very helpful

[SER198503]

penny trick.

[IIGrayfoxII]

My parents car the brake light system is not a hot circuit wit the car off.

I take it this is a honda thing as my hondas brake lights are a hot circuit.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@IIGrayfoxII Just about every car I know of has brake lights that are hot with the key off, sounds like things are wired differently where you are.

[AE86HachiRokuGTS]

your brother must be your number 1 customer, your always working on his car. Good video, you tune any cars Eric???

[EricTheCarGuy]

@AE86HachiRokuGTS It's always nice to use his car for my videos so I'm happy to see it when it shows up.

[dungeonhack420]

Did this one for a buddy over the summer. He was going to take it to the shop and pay like $400 for it but I said i'd look at it first. Like this one the lil plastic part broke.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@dungeonhack420 Auto repair sounds expensive where you live.

[michaelovitch]

What the purpose of a clutch switch ?

[AE86HachiRokuGTS]

@michaelovitch - so the car will start only if you step on the clutch, thats why old cars start without stepping on the clutch because they didnt have the switch then, i removed mine because i hate that switch.

[michaelovitch]

@AE86HachiRokuGTS

Thanks.

Ok, i see now.

Looks like this switch is useless and really annoying.

[AE86HachiRokuGTS]

@michaelovitch well.....its not useless, its so you wont start the car when its in gear, but its annoying for me. LOL

[michaelovitch]

@AE86HachiRokuGTS

I've a manual transmission and here 99.9% of the cars have it.

they learn you(when you learn to drive for your licence) to always check you're in neutral before to start a car.

I think it must be typical of the countries with majority of auto transmission to have this switch.

Thanks.

[IIGrayfoxII]

@michaelovitch

Disableing Cruise Control when you disengage, telling the ECU that the clutch is disengaged & a few other things

[michaelovitch]

@IIGrayfoxII

Ok

Thanks .

We have no really as much accessories as US cars like cruise control etc..

it's not really very common here.

We have more curves lol.

[IIGrayfoxII]

@michaelovitch

Or people that get up to make sandvichs and think cruise control also steers the car

[michaelovitch]

@IIGrayfoxII

hahahaha !

[EricTheCarGuy]

@michaelovitch It's a safety feature so that you need to depress the clutch in order to start the car in addition to disabling the cruse control like the brake light switch does.

[michaelovitch]

@EricTheCarGuy

Thanks.

[colormydays]

Awesome info. Was just figuring out what that switch was on my tc. I wasn't quite sure what you meant by the break pedal moving. Please explain more?

[EricTheCarGuy]

@colormydays I'm not sure I understand your question sorry.

[colormydays]

@EricTheCarGuy You kept saying make sure that the break pedal doesn't move at 7:41 right before tightening the bolt. I just wanted to know what you meant by that exactly. Thanks for your reply by the way!

[rgiaco777]

I rented a 2010 Chevy Spark in Europe a couple weeks ago. The car was so cheap that it didn't even have a clutch switch. I'm so used to turning the key and pressing the clutch slightly afterward in my car to start it (probably a bad habit, I know) that I almost went straight into a wall in the Spark. The starter even had enough torque to overcome the parking brake! Lesson learned.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@rgiaco777 Funny cause in the US those have been required for some time. Like you said, lesson learned.

[tearinox]

The door panels on hondas have a very similar plastic piece that you can use in place.

I had this same problem :)

[EricTheCarGuy]

@tearinox Someone else mentioned that also, I didn't think of that but it's a great suggestion, thanks.

[joshds25]

I was going to make a video just like this on the Nissan 240sx - but on the 240sx it is near impossable to anything on the holes where the rubber stoppers fell apart - so what you need to do remove the pedal from the car and fix it. This is on a 5 speed S13 240sx - the 5 speed brake pedal bracket is all in the way you can almost get to 1 side of it but there is no way to get to the other side without removing it completly

[EricTheCarGuy]

@joshds25 Yes clearance makes all the difference with jobs like this. Thanks for the input and comment.

[waddyprocess]

and here i wanted to use bondo as the grommet replacement.

[EricTheCarGuy]

@waddyprocess I think that would work too but take longer.

[waddyprocess]

@EricTheCarGuy which is why I'm watching your vids and you're not watching mine. . . . if I were to make vids. . . .