Woox and brake lights?...I'm stumped!

[divera]

I ran across something really odd this past weekend. After installing a Kenwood Woox to add a bit of bass response, my brake lights turned on and now won't turn off. As some of the guys on here have done, I tapped into the stock speaker wiring for the audio signal, routed to the battery for power and grounded it under a screw attached to the frame. The OEM radio turned on with no problems, all speakers worked and the Woox sounded great. All was good with the world. Then I realized that the rear lights wouldn't turn off. I had the headlights off and the rears still stayed on. I returned the radio back to stock form (no Woox) and they still stayed on. I finally disconnected the battery and reconnected and while the clock did reset, the lights came right back on. I even did the 2 diagnostic tests and they both came up with no error codes. I'm stumped. The only I can think of is that I tapped into the "run-acc" connection on the radio as the "switched" power source for the Woox, but it's already back to stock. Any ideas? Did I totally miss something?

dave

[quicksilverdon]

Seems more likely to me that while you were attaching to the radio you dislodged the brake switch - right at the top of the brake pedal. I can't see how it's wiring-related.

[tpscruiser]

Guessing all that extra bass knocked something loose or out of line.
Have to go along with QSD, can't see how the problem is related to the Woox wiring install but maybe to brake light switch was dislodged while you were working under the dash.

[Espresso]

It could just be a bad light switch, or like stated you knocked it loose.
You do have a 2003. Do you know for certain that the lights were not on before the install?

[divera]

I was definitely around the pedal area trying to run the power wire through the rubber grommet in the firewall, so maybe I did knock it loose. Are we talking a mechanical switch or an electrical/wire switch at the top of the brake pedal? Is there anything else I should look for behind the dash area? And I couldn't see how it could be wire related either.

Espresso, I first noticed it right after the install when I washed the car. If they had been on for 14 hours straight while my car was parked before the install, I would think the battery would've drained, but maybe they don't draw enough power...not sure.

And yeah, it's a 2K3 GT. Thanks for the responses.

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by divera

I was definitely around the pedal area trying to run the power wire through the rubber grommet in the firewall, so maybe I did knock it loose. Are we talking a mechanical switch or an electrical/wire switch at the top of the brake pedal? Is there anything else I should look for behind the dash area? And I couldn't see how it could be wire related either.

Espresso, I first noticed it right after the install when I washed the car. If they had been on for 14 hours straight while my car was parked before the install, I would think the battery would've drained, but maybe they don't draw enough power...not sure.

And yeah, it's a 2K3 GT. Thanks for the responses.

Should be a mechanical switch - push-button type - right on arm of brake pedal. When you push on brake, button pops out & brake lights come on.

[Espresso]

I just went out & snapped a pic for you.
This is the brake switch. It is very easy to knock out of place or alignment, if you dont know its there( not being gentle in the area & just moving around, ect..). You could have easy done so.

[divera]

I'm gonna take a look at that after work today to see if anything looks bent out of shape. I'm assuming that the button is currently popped out which is keeping the brake lights on. Thanks again.

[divera]

OMG, I remember knocking that thing out of place, but I didn't know where it came from so I just shoved it behind the dash. I can even see the rubber seal I went through to get through the engine bay in the pic too! I know exactly what to look for now. Thanks for the info and thanks for taking that pic Espresso. Very much appreciated! And here I thought my GT was possessed.

[quicksilverdon]

And I correctly diagnose another one!!![?][?]