DIY: B6/B7 A4/S4 Sticky Brake Light Switch

[ALWAYS4UDI]

This is a skill level 1 task, but I figured I'd throw it up on here anyhoo. My brake light used to stick from time to time, especially if it was humid out, so I bought a replacement from JHM and threw it in tonight. Nothing worse than a nice car rolling around with its brake light on. lol

Must haves:
- Brakelamp Switch pt# 1K2 945 511 RDW (make purchase from our heros)
- 1/4" ratchet with 7mm socket
- 1/4" extension is handy as well
- an IQ of at least 10

If you've never taken your lower dash panel off before, it's 3 "screws" and two harnesses- one for your VAG port and the other for your floor light. You don't really need to take it all the way out, but it makes is easier. The following pics show you where all that junk is. A handy note, though: Don't mess with the light's harness, just push the end of the light in and wiggle it out of it's hole (shown below)...










Once you got the panel out the way, wiggle your big ass down there and look up at the universe of wiring (it pretty much covers everything).

This is what it looks like installed, held on by a bracket and a harness. Another NOTE: the harness release tabs on not on the outer-most sides as usual. As you can see I'm also missing a clutch pedal. lol





This is the important part. I have no idea why they made these things this way, but they seem to have some sort of "auto lock out" feature, so the next two pictures show you what I'm referring to. NOTE: the second picture is how it will need to be once installed!! If it's not "unlocked," the pin will not extend out which equals no brake lightness.

HOW IT LOOKS SHIPPED:


HOW IT NEEDS TO LOOK ONCE INSTALLED:




Once you put it in its bracket, rotate it CLOCK WISE UNTIL IT CLICKS, assuring it's "unlocked"
Plug the harness in and test your brake light.

Once golden, throw the panel back in, remember to slide the bottom [first] into its two tabs...



You done, son.

[bint2k]

Thanks a million for this write up - did it today but i guess my IQ is less then 10 cause i accidentally pulled out the clutch switch which broke in my hands =(. Anyway all working now..

[ALWAYS4UDI]

haha nice! glad it could help

[bint2k]

I would recommend to anyone doing the brake light switch to get a new clutch switch as well. Their common parts that break and its been redesigned anyway....

[richmeyer]

Thanks for the write up!

Just completed this morning, took all of 15 minutes. One thing to know; the new style switches look different and come with the plunger out already, no need to worry about getting it right the first time. They are much more forgiving.

[greenpelikan]

The part is $15 at the dealership!! Your friend is ripping you off at $19

[Audi_smash]

Nice write up. Apparently my car is throwing the ESP light occasionally due to the brake light switch going bad (thanks VCDS). I'm hoping to fix it tomorrow along with the clutch switch as mentioned above.

I have one question though. Can someone tell me what that little dial on the dash that has a "0" and "1" and what looks like a little clock symbol showing 7 o'clock? It appears on the sixth picture from the top....

[SlickFix]

Just a guess, but it looks to me like a dash light dimmer knob.

[Audi_smash]

Maybe.

This is a super simple job. You are going to need an 8mm socket, not a 7mm FWIW. Nice write up!

[gbackus]

Nice write up. Apparently my car is throwing the ESP light occasionally due to the brake light switch going bad (thanks VCDS). I'm hoping to fix it tomorrow along with the clutch switch as mentioned above.

I have one question though. Can someone tell me what that little dial on the dash that has a "0" and "1" and what looks like a little clock symbol showing 7 o'clock? It appears on the sixth picture from the top....

It's your "come home" switch, the 0 is off, the 1 is on. Basically it turns on your fog and backup lights for a few minutes when you lock your car.

[aschueler]

so i plugged in the new switch (its the new style one) and nothing is happening when i push in the plunger. The brake lights arent coming on at all. Also when i install it into the bracket and twist to the right it locks the plunger in place, anyone have any ideas?

[Perry Bullard]

Yeah start checking fuses

[WayneOB]

Thank you ALWAYS4UDI!

Following your instruction/photos made this a simple job, that actually took less than 15mins :)

As also instructed by tech at Audi spares centre, be gentle when clicking in, however, the new improved model is more robust (less fragile) than old one!!

[Goose]

Here are the installation instructions from the vendor. No need to unlock the plunger, once you install it and turn it into position it sets itself. Do not push in the plunger
before you install it. If you do your screwed. Hope this helps out.

http://www.fae.es/folletos/en/Descar...0-61-62-63.pdf

[Toasted Coastie]

Would the brake switch going bad cause the following all at once?

**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rear tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
**Transmission will not shift out of 1st gear unless I switch to tipronic manual mode
**esp light is on

[BCsniper]

....maybe, but those symptoms are a bit different than what many experience (lights staying on after you shut off the car)


I currently deal with the sticky brake pedal issue with my car. I park on a hill so I am always on the brakes when I am getting home and parking the car. Often I will just take my foot of the pedal and get out of the car not giving it any thought. This often leads me to wake up at 6am and see that my brake lights are on. Usually people notice this as soon as they leave their car and walk away but mine lights don't come on until much later. I was already well aware of the sticky brake pedal issue, I've just been to lazy to deal with it so far. For now I have just been sure the depress the pedal a few times after I get home to make sure the car doesn't still think the pedal is engaged.

[WolfS4]

Would the brake switch going bad cause the following all at once?

**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rear tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
**Transmission will not shift out of 1st gear unless I switch to tipronic manual mode
**esp light is on

Scan for codes first. That should give you a better idea.

[Jake@JHM]

Would the brake switch going bad cause the following all at once?

**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rear tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
n

This one is surely possible and I have seen it before.

Jake

[faraaz]

Using the current OEM replacement part (1K2 945 511 RDW) there don't appear to be any of the issue with locking the brake light switch. I got the part, removed the panel, replaced the part (as shown in the original DIY), and was lucky to have no problems at all. This has been a problem I've had for a year; finally fixed... Thanks. By the way, I got the OEM part from Audi of Oakland for less than 11 buck, shipped! http://audiofoaklandparts.com/audiPa...17804&makeid=2

[BTRAIN]

really good thread

[SquiddyB6S4]

Would the brake switch going bad cause the following all at once?

**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rear tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
**Transmission will not shift out of 1st gear unless I switch to tipronic manual mode
**esp light is on

If you still have this issue, check the pedal arm itself - most cars have a plunger (like shown above) that pushes on a little rubbery pad, which sets into a hole in the brake pedal arm. Over time, the little rubbery pad gets hard and starts to crack, and eventually crumbles to bits. When this happens, the plunger just protrudes into the hole in the arm, and never gets tripped by anything. I have solved this in many a parking lot or garage with a quarter and some duct tape, but sometimes you can get an OE part number for the little bugger, or find something useful at your local hardware store once you know the correct hole size you need to fill.

That would cause all of your issues at once, if it were the case, so I would check that before ordering up parts.

[Cottonmouth]

Has anyone had the symptom of brake lights staying on overnight? I came out to my car this morning and found the brake lights on.

[subdave]

Great post, many thanks. My '05 B6 had all the symptoms described above.

"**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rear tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
**Transmission will not shift out of 1st gear unless I switch to tipronic manual mode
**esp light is on"

Just replaced switch with $15 part from dealer, fingers crossed.

[j172]

Do you depress the brake when you install? Does the harness go on the right or left? I think mine is not set correctly. If it's installed wrong, can I reuse it or do I need another switch?

[Rdiddy986]

Hey guys I have the same problem and I have the newer version switch I put it in and the lights are out but when I press on the brake it does nothing. Suggestions? I can get it out of park because the car isn't sensing the brake. Also I see on the old one I took out the locking mech. but I didn't see the same thing on this new one.

[ncardare]

Bump.

So if I'm understanding this correctly. When the switch is on its way out the door you can get random intermittent ESP light?

Also, is the pic of the switch above the current new version of the switch ?

[custom53]

Has anyone had the symptom of brake lights staying on overnight? I came out to my car this morning and found the brake lights on.

Thanks for the information.. Mine sticks when it gets cold out. Below 15 degrees. Very irritating to look outside in the morning and see my brake lights on....

[Asinine]

My switch malfunctioned causing the ESP to come on. Only took 15 minutes to replace with these instructions, thanks a bunch!

[vtraudt]

To remove, turn the entire assembly counter clockwise?

[B7girl]

Sorry to revive a dead thread but I'm trying to fix my brake light switch that's stuck to show I'm always braking but Photobucket is showing me a p500 error. OP do you have the photos I could look at for reference?

[Terry.Reese]

There are extensions to add to your browser to fix that Photobucket issue. I think there is one for Exploder, Firefox and Chrome

Sent from my XT1650 using Audizine mobile app

[obaka]

have to do this, here is the updated link with the instructions (multilanguage):

http://www.fae.es/files/product/pdf/...ell-web-34.pdf

[K1196A]

There are extensions to add to your browser to fix that Photobucket issue. I think there is one for Exploder, Firefox and Chrome

Sent from my XT1650 using Audizine mobile app

I haven't found one for explorer, but you're correct that Firefox and Chrome both do (both better browsers anyway).

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

[CT Bay]

My brake switch looks identical to the one described at the top of the thread. 3B0945511. I just had a new clutch go in. JHM Lightweight flywheel, RS4 clutch. When I got it back I was getting random ESP lights that went away after reboot. If I turn the ESP off I didn’t get errors. Thought maybe it was the clutch so was in communication with JHM about it. It went away. I have been trying to get it to kick the light so I can pull the code but of course it won’t when I want it to. I got a brake light error in the dash on the way home last I drove it. Today I replaced both brake light bulbs and nothing. Dash error still present. So I test the bulbs with a bench supply and they are fine. Bright! So I check the fuses. Light and server fuse are good. So I check the forum and read about this switch. I think it could be the fault. What is the part number for the new updated switch? Ill throw one in and see if it works.

Anyone know why they fail? I took it apart and found no fault other than a plunger that was a wee bit stiff. Makes me wonder if my part dart is gunna miss.