Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

49ermike <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:

> My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
> plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
> but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
> came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
> between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
> dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
> adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?



What happens when you push the brake pedal down by hand and hold it? Is
there then enough room?


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

On Nov 17, 6:13 am, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
> 49ermike <49erm...@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
> 37defac11...@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:
>
> > My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
> > plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
> > but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
> > came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
> > between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
> > dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
> > adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?
>
> What happens when you push the brake pedal down by hand and hold it? Is
> there then enough room?
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Not enough room. I've thought about shaving the plastic part some, to
get it to squeeze in, but I'm afraid it will only pop out (and perhaps
drain my battery at an inopportune time).

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

Tegger wrote:
> 49ermike <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
> 37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:
>
>> My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
>> plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
>> but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
>> came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
>> between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
>> dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
>> adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?
>



Would removing the switch make enough room? Don't modify the new part,
there has to be a way to get it in.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

49ermike <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in news:978b70f1-e6a7-4240-a41d-
66f3b5fdced5@a29g2000pra.googlegroups.com:

> On Nov 17, 6:13 am, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>> 49ermike <49erm...@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
>> 37defac11...@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:
>>
>> > My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
>> > plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
>> > but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
>> > came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
>> > between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
>> > dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
>> > adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?
>>
>> What happens when you push the brake pedal down by hand and hold it? Is
>> there then enough room?
>>
>>
>>
>
> Not enough room. I've thought about shaving the plastic part some, to
> get it to squeeze in, but I'm afraid it will only pop out (and perhaps
> drain my battery at an inopportune time).
>



Push a /lot/ harder on the brake pedal. Don't be afraid to really shove it
down; your leg is a lot stronger than your arm!

And use a bit of spit or dish detergent to help the new button slip in
place.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

Tegger wrote:
> 49ermike <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in news:978b70f1-e6a7-4240-a41d-
> 66f3b5fdced5@a29g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
>
>> On Nov 17, 6:13 am, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>>> 49ermike <49erm...@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
>>> 37defac11...@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:
>>>
>>>> My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
>>>> plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
>>>> but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
>>>> came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
>>>> between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
>>>> dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
>>>> adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?
>>> What happens when you push the brake pedal down by hand and hold it? Is
>>> there then enough room?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Not enough room. I've thought about shaving the plastic part some, to
>> get it to squeeze in, but I'm afraid it will only pop out (and perhaps
>> drain my battery at an inopportune time).
>>
>
>
>
> Push a /lot/ harder on the brake pedal. Don't be afraid to really shove it
> down; your leg is a lot stronger than your arm!
>
> And use a bit of spit or dish detergent to help the new button slip in
> place.
>
>


Or start the engine so that the vacuum booster is working, that makes a
big difference. Get an assistant to push the pedal with their foot if
there's room.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

He should take it to a local mechanic as he apparently does not have the
skills to determine how to do it. It would probably be cheaper than ruining
the new part.


"James Sweet" <jamessweet1@trashmail.net> wrote in message
news:gfse05$r94$3@news.albasani.net...
> Tegger wrote:
>> 49ermike <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-
>> 37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:
>>
>>> My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
>>> plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
>>> but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
>>> came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
>>> between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
>>> dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
>>> adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?
>>
>
>
>
> Would removing the switch make enough room? Don't modify the new part,
> there has to be a way to get it in.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

Woody wrote:
> He should take it to a local mechanic as he apparently does not have the
> skills to determine how to do it. It would probably be cheaper than ruining
> the new part.
>


Depends, with what it costs to take a car to a mechanic these days, he
may very well be able to break half a dozen new parts and still come up
ahead. Besides, each time you figure out how to do something yourself,
that's one more thing you learned and know how to do next time.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

James Sweet <jamessweet1@trashmail.net> wrote in
news:gft1mu$k5n$1@news.albasani.net:

> Woody wrote:
>> He should take it to a local mechanic as he apparently does not have
>> the skills to determine how to do it. It would probably be cheaper
>> than ruining the new part.
>>
>
>
> Depends, with what it costs to take a car to a mechanic these days, he
> may very well be able to break half a dozen new parts and still come
> up ahead. Besides, each time you figure out how to do something
> yourself, that's one more thing you learned and know how to do next
> time.



You could at least give the OP credit for not simply attempting to force
things when he couldn't figure it out the first time; that's how things get
broken.

Instead, conscious of his own limitations, he was cautious and came here
for advice.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

"James Sweet" <jamessweet1@trashmail.net> wrote
> Depends, with what it costs to take a car to a mechanic
> these days, he may very well be able to break half a dozen
> new parts and still come up ahead. Besides, each time you
> figure out how to do something yourself, that's one more
> thing you learned and know how to do next time.

I quote this all the time: "Having a job is expensive. If
you spend all your time working for someone else, you don't
have any time to learn to do things yourself." -- Charlie
Groden in the 2003 film "Off the Map."

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

Looking at my daughter's '93 Accord, it appears the brake light switch has
to be backed way out or unmounted altogether to get enough room. My
experience (yes, I've had to replace the same part in a Volvo and a Nissan!)
the forward nut, the one you need to loosen to get the room you need, is not
accessible by any reasonable tool. Instead, back off the rear nut half a
turn or so to relieve the jam on the front nut and unscrew the front one
with your fingers. The switch will have to be readjusted anyway, and that is
easy as long as you have somebody to watch the brake lights.

Mike

"49ermike" <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
> plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
> but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
> came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
> between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
> dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
> adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

On Nov 18, 8:39 am, "Michael Pardee" <n...@null.org> wrote:
> Looking at my daughter's '93 Accord, it appears the brake light switch has
> to be backed way out or unmounted altogether to get enough room. My
> experience (yes, I've had to replace the same part in a Volvo and a Nissan!)
> the forward nut, the one you need to loosen to get the room you need, is not
> accessible by any reasonable tool. Instead, back off the rear nut half a
> turn or so to relieve the jam on the front nut and unscrew the front one
> with your fingers. The switch will have to be readjusted anyway, and thatis
> easy as long as you have somebody to watch the brake lights.
>
> Mike
>
> "49ermike" <49erm...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
>
> > My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
> > plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
> > but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
> > came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
> > between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
> > dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
> > adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?

Thanks for the input guys, I was able to finally put in last night. I
had to push the brake pedal much harder than expected to fit it thru
(and it still took multiple efforts).

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

On Nov 18, 8:39 am, "Michael Pardee" <n...@null.org> wrote:
> Looking at my daughter's '93 Accord, it appears the brake light switch has
> to be backed way out or unmounted altogether to get enough room. My
> experience (yes, I've had to replace the same part in a Volvo and a Nissan!)
> the forward nut, the one you need to loosen to get the room you need, is not
> accessible by any reasonable tool. Instead, back off the rear nut half a
> turn or so to relieve the jam on the front nut and unscrew the front one
> with your fingers. The switch will have to be readjusted anyway, and thatis
> easy as long as you have somebody to watch the brake lights.
>
> Mike
>
> "49ermike" <49erm...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:693ed731-c0ec-4358-b3b7-37defac11c84@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
>
> > My brake lights were remaining on, and found out I needed a little
> > plastic stopper for my '93 Accord. I bought the part from the dealer,
> > but for the life of me I can't figure out how the stopper goes in (it
> > came with no instructions). There doesn't seem to be enough space
> > between the switch and the hole to push it in. The service guys at the
> > dealer were no help. Am I missing something? Am I supposed to remove/
> > adjust something to put in the little plastic piece?

Thanks for the input Mike (and everybody else), I was able to put the
part in this morning.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

"49ermike" <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ca971e57-41a1-4822-aec9-
Thanks for the input guys, I was able to finally put in last night. I
had to push the brake pedal much harder than expected to fit it thru
(and it still took multiple efforts).

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the feedback - it will help the next guy.

Re: Plastic stopper for brake light switch
 

"Michael Pardee" <null@null.org> wrote in
news:TrednWjunYj8h77UnZ2dnUVZ_i2dnZ2d@sedona.net:

> "49ermike" <49ermike@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ca971e57-41a1-4822-aec9-
> Thanks for the input guys, I was able to finally put in last night. I
> had to push the brake pedal much harder than expected to fit it thru
> (and it still took multiple efforts).
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the feedback - it will help the next guy.
>
>
>

it seems like every job I did on my Integra was like that;
never went easy,always had some snafu or hangup....

like the starter job;two bolts holding it on,bottom one was frozen in,not
enough room for a bigger wrench/breaker bar.
It looked like they didn't use any anti-seize compound on the threads,and
the threads were a lot longer than the other bolt.
there was a lot of cursing and stomping around that day.(while waiting for
my back to straighten out!)

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net