|
|
Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Jan 18, 2022, 4:29 PM
Post #1 of 7
(2135 views)
|
|
Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
While working under the dash of my 2008 Chrysler Town and Country on another project today, I managed to knock the brake light switch (Mopar 56045043AG) off its bracket. It's stamped "DO NOT RE-INSTALL" so I guess I need a new one now but thought I'd ask if there was a way to recalibrate the thing and get it working again. When I put it back in place, the brake lights come on and stay on. Comments on a YouTube video mention a certain install procedure for a new switch, and also something about a smaller switch has to be thrown during install (opposite end from plunger, looks like a little paddle switch in the photo here).
Thoughts?
2008 Chrysler Town and Country Touring
3.8L V6
106K miles
-
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 18, 2022, 4:44 PM
Post #2 of 7
(2133 views)
|
|
Re: Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
Yeah, the piston has a one way ratchet that pushes it into the correct position on initial installation. I don't think there is any way to extend it back out after it's pushed in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Jan 19, 2022, 9:29 AM
Post #4 of 7
(2086 views)
|
|
Re: Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
I picked up a new brake light switch at AutoZone this morning but I'm having some issues getting it installed.
First, the instructions say not to depress the brake pedal when installing the new switch, but that's the only way I can get the switch to fit into the housing at its 45° angle. Is that okay?
But the main issue is that once inserted into the bracket at 45°, I can't rotate the switch into place. The switch has plastic arms that should hold the switch against the bracket after rotation, but the clearance between the arms and the switch body is much smaller on the new switch (.039") than on the old (.055"), and the old switch used rounded dimples that helped the switch bump over the bracket for a snug fit, where new switch doesn't have any sort of rounding at all on those plastic arms and the bracket thickness seems to be in the .140" neighborhood, so I don't see how this new switch would slip into place.
Does anyone have any experience with these switches? Is this Duralast part just not going to work? Should I try to force it and risk breaking it?
-
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 19, 2022, 9:38 AM
Post #5 of 7
(2084 views)
|
|
Re: Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
Those ears are a little flexible.
You may have to help them get started with a screwdriver or even file a little taper into the edge to help it get started.
You could try another brand but it's possible you'll get the same thing.
As far a depressing the pedal, the important thing is not to push that piston in too far. I see no problem with pulling the pedal away until you get it installed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 19, 2022, 9:40 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Jan 19, 2022, 10:55 AM
Post #6 of 7
(2067 views)
|
|
Re: Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
Well, that was embarrassing. I decided to return the Duralast part and order the Mopar switch (whose ears do seem to match my original switch), and when I took it back, I ran into the same AutoZone guy who sold it to me. He said "let me try it" and had the d*mned thing installed in two minutes.
I don't care how much you mechanics earn; it's not nearly enough. Thanks, HT.
-
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 19, 2022, 11:00 AM
Post #7 of 7
(2065 views)
|
|
Re: Reinstall Chrysler Town and Country Brake Light Switch?
|
Sign In
|
|
Hahaha........... you're right
You'd be shocked at some of the things we have to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
