2001 Tacoma double cab prerunner, 5vz, automatic. The brakes work great. However, the brake light won't activate until I press quite hard on the brakes. I can completely stop without the brake lights ever coming on if I stop lightly. You can imaging this is quite dangerous. I just noticed this problem last night and I haven't even looked at how to fix it yet. Anybody know where or how to adjust when the taillights come on?

 

The switch is on a bracket being held against the brake pedal linkage .

I would need to look to be 100 % sure but most are held against the upper part of the pedal

It may have vibrated loose .

Not really much adjustment get your head under there you will be able to figure it out.

The way it works the switch closes as soon as the brake pedal moves some less then a inch.

The switch is open when it is held in just like a door switch.

Either it is loose in the bracket

Poor electrical connection

The switch is just about ready to be replaced like a few months ago .

 

I sort of figured this out. My passenger rear brake was missing a c clip that held on the star wheel adjuster arm thing. This caused one side to be midadjusted and dragging the brakes all the time. Also caused brake pedal to be very high. So high that the brake light never came on unless I was braking quite hard. After fixing rear brakes, the pedal activates much further down and the lights function properly. Fixed, I guess??

 

That is a strange one.

You never smelled the hot brake??

 

Actually after using the parking brakes a few times in the last few weeks driveability got worse to the point of "ok, somethings up" and I finally did notice a smell. This kind of coiecidentally fix the brake light issue. With a turbo 5vz with a 3" exhaust there are plenty of smells at any given time LOL