I came home and parked the car and later was told by our kid that my lights were on in the back of the car. I went out, checked it and immediately had zero power. Put a jumper box on it, started up but the rear lights and third light were on. I pressed the brake pedal and they aren't lighting up.

I pulled the STOP fuse and the lights cut off. Fuse looks fine though. Considering this was 2am, I wasn't able to really go over solutions. I've read about the pedal switch grommet and to check the tail light fuse behind the battery which I'll certainly do in the morning. Any other things I should try?

Short of that, with the STOP fuse pulled, I'm assuming it's something brake related. I can't drive around with no brake lights obviously. Just wondering if this is common and a simple fix before I start tearing into the car.

2009 G37xS
Thanks for any help/suggestions.

 

Are you able to recreate the problem? Does it occur if you turn the switch on the steering wheel switch on and off manually vs. set to auto? If you lock the car using your keyfob, do all the lights go off? Is it possible that the rear lights left on are the brake lights vs the tailights?

 

It won't recreate. Fuse is fine for the STOP in the kick panel. Just constant on lights if I put the fuse back in. Arming the alarm, lights stayed on again.

 

Because you are confusing your PARKING LIGHTS with the BRAKE LIGHTS. If the 3rd brake light is ON then your brakes are "applied." The parking lights are a lot dimmer than the brake lights.

And you checked the brake pedal switches?

 

Funny you said that I just noticed that the little grommet that pushes in to engage the brake pedal switch was basically hanging off to the side a little bit and smushed. I'm not sure what the official name for it is but I'm on my way right now to the auto parts store to try to get another one because I can't even put the car in drive.

 

Here is what you need: Rubber Stopper. The chain stores might have something similar/ or useful.

Why not just glue your old pad back onto the tab?

 

This one wasn't rubber it was very hard plastic and forever reason it was bent sideways where it looks like the clip broke off on one side. I don't know how it got that mangled

 

You would be surprised, my friend, lol...

If you can rig up any solution so that when the brake pedal is released the plunger on the switch is pressed in, everything will return to normal.

 

I was trying to be creative but I'm in a hurry cuz I'm supposed to be at an appointment 45 minutes ago so unfortunately I'm heading over to the dealership to see if they've got that stupid little part and if not do you have any ideas of what I could get at like home Depot maybe because mine was hard plastic and not rubber and it was very very small compared to the ones that they sell at the auto store

 

I ended up having to go to the dealership and paid $15 for the grommet for the brake pedal. I tried Autozone and NAPA. Napa had one that I bought for $6 but it didn't fit. I'm back to driving thankfully.
I appreciate those who chimed in. Thank you very much.

 

Amazing this was $15 with a retail of $25.36, I got 15% off so like $12 and change. Dealership is such a ripoff but I had no choice I guess.

 

You are lucky that the part was even available at your dealership let alone on a Saturday.

Either way, glad to hear you are up and running.

 

I feel fortunate, for sure. Amazing that such a small part can literally disable a vehicle. Unreal. Thank you.