DON'T REPLACE YOUR BREAK LIGHT SWITCH YET...
the 98 frontier break arm (what the pedal is attached to) has a MANUFACTURED "hole" through it that will allow the plunger of the break light switch to pass right thru. There is supposed to be a rubber "button" snapped into this hole, however, over time, dry rot and age will cause it to fall out. When this "snap in" button falls out, your break lights will stay on till the battery dies. This is another shining example of DTF engineering. (design to fail) Most cars now are filled with these little parts and they're purpose is to generate revenue.
Your break switch probably works.
1. look in the floor board for the button that fell out, it's about the same size as a button off your shirt.
2 Slide your hand up the break pedal arm till you find the "hole" I'm referring to. (you'll know it when you feel it)
3 Tape the damn button back into the hole with electrical tape, or tape a shirt button over the hole. that will work for a little while.
** remember ** if you are driving with break lights in this condition (on all the time)...no one knows when you're really stopping!!!
you can get a snap in rubber grommet to replace it at most hardware stores (I don't even want to know what Nissan would charge for this little part.)
**note** replacing it is easy if you start the truck first (power breaks) and have someone hold the pedal while you work on it!
just like you said!! I'm on my way to the hardware store. thanks for this post!!!!
thank you for your knowledge, It was very helpful!
I wish I had read this before I worked on my 2000 Nissan Frontier. To get to the lock nut I had to take the dash out of the truck. I put the new switch in and found that the brake lights still stayed on. I looked up under the dash to where the switch was and found 2 holes in the brake pedal bracket that the buttons for the brake light and cruise control were going through. I looked on the internet to find if something was missing and I found this. I need 2 plugs. I wish I had seen this earlier.
I realize this post is a year old now, but I am just now experiencing this with my '01 Frontier. I just bought a replacement rubber stopper from my local Nissan dealer for $4.08. I was afraid it would be much higher that that. Anyway, I hope this helps someone in the future.
Its really a question of what it's worth to you. can you buy another truck that is compairable but in better condition for the same price as the repairs to you existing truck? I sold my 1998 Frontier when the transmission went out for $1500 and bought a '01 Ford ranger for $1200...that was about 3 years ago.Great deal for me but I never really look at my trucks as a money investment. My Ranger now needs about 1200 worth of front suspension work that is worth it to me to put in to it. I will, because the truck is worth it to me to keep. it would cost me 4000 to buy a truck that is compairable without the suspension issue, so the math is pretty simple there. Altho I love my Ford, I kinda wish I still had my Nissan... but like I said... just got to good of a deal on my '01 Ranger
and it would probably be smart to listen to wifey.... that way you can blame her if it wasnt the "right" decision!!! LOL
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Follow your brake pedal arm up, and you should see a switch that your brake pedal arm pushes against a small plunger like end piece when your foot is off the brake pedal.Push & release pedal with your hand & you'll see it. Usually held on with nuts that are usually adjustable, so you can try moving switch closer to arm, and see if lights go out.(plunger fully depressed into housing of switch.) If that works, adjust depth of switch so lights go out when pedal released, but come on when slightly pushed. If that doesn't do it, pull the wire connector off the switch, and they should go out, if they do, change switch. Ask for brake light switch at pedal from auto parts guys.
Check on the brake pedal stopper you'll find the switch. Remove the plug and by the way it's easy as well to renew the switch. You can as well remove the switch, plug the wire back and activate it by hand and ask somepone to check the light as you press and release it. Cheers.
All the above solutions are helpful, but you might also think about simply removing the brake light fuse. It's behind the pop-out access cover, on the dash, to the left of your steering wheel. Note "Brake Lamp" location on the reference diagram, and pull out the fuse. Keep it handy - you'll need to plug it back in when you've troubleshot your brake light switch. While the fuse is out, you'll have normal taillights, but no brake lights.
cant believe i didnt think of that. happened to my honda few yrs back and i didnt have tools to disconnect the battery. now that it happened to my 02 frontier i did have the tools, but my finger works just fine to pull the fuse out, instead of compromising my factory terminals by repeatedly disconnecting. friend of mine recognized the problem immediately coz it happened with his honda few yrs earlier, but no one I talked to suggested the fuse. brilliant!
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Part number 46512-h0101. $9.29 from Amazon. Poke a long sewing needle into the large side and hold it in place while pushing down on the brake pedal after starting the engine. Pull the brake pedal up to push the button into the hole.
I have a 2001 Frontier. I found a bolt w/ a tall enough head that would hit the switch and that I could slide through the hole where the missing "button" was and just put a nut on the back. Good as new?!
The one on left will keep your cruise from coming on because it thinks you touched the brake pedal one on right is for brake lights. dave
I had the same thing happen to my clutch pedal on my 98 Nissan Frontier. The rubber piece on the clutch pedal crumbled and I could not start my truck unless I held the button down and started it that way. So I got a grommet, nut and bolt to fit thru the grommet and thru the clutch pedal and it is working fine. I can now start my truck normally. Cost probably nothing since these pieces where in a coffee can full of odd collection of hardware I had gathered over time. . This also works on a 89 Nissan Sentra. Great Thread!
3/8 snap in grommet worked for me. 12 bucks versus 33cents
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