[Guest]

80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around the
brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
dealer so they can fix it permanently.
Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn off
(after this cable jumper).

Any idea?

 

[Guest]

I had the exact same problem on my 98 Taurus SE. It was a $2 part replaced
by the dealer. Sorry I can't give you details, don't have the work order in
front of me. It was a little electronic switch somewhere up in the dash. I
don't know that's your problem, but that was mine.

MW

"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
> move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around the
> brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
> dealer so they can fix it permanently.
> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn
off
> (after this cable jumper).
>
> Any idea?
>
>

 

[Guest]

M White wrote:
> I had the exact same problem on my 98 Taurus SE. It was a $2 part replaced
> by the dealer. Sorry I can't give you details, don't have the work order in
> front of me. It was a little electronic switch somewhere up in the dash. I
> don't know that's your problem, but that was mine.
>
> MW
>
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
>
>>80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
>>move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around the
>>brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
>>dealer so they can fix it permanently.
>>Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn
>
> off
>
>>(after this cable jumper).
>>
>>Any idea?
>>
>>
>
>
>
The problem is in the brake lamp switch circuit. It's possible that the switch
failed and the folks a Meineke just jumpered the connector. The more common problem is
that the wire(s) break right at the switch connector. Follow the brake pedal arm up to
the switch, their "repair" will be obvious as will the necessary repair.

 

[Guest]

Hmmm...I guess it's a relay or something...


"M White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
>I had the exact same problem on my 98 Taurus SE. It was a $2 part replaced
> by the dealer. Sorry I can't give you details, don't have the work order
> in
> front of me. It was a little electronic switch somewhere up in the dash. I
> don't know that's your problem, but that was mine.
>
> MW
>
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
>> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
>> move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around
>> the
>> brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
>> dealer so they can fix it permanently.
>> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn
> off
>> (after this cable jumper).
>>
>> Any idea?
>>
>>
>
>

 

[Guest]

John wrote:
> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
> move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around the
> brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
> dealer so they can fix it permanently.

BOO switch. The Brake On Off switch on the pedal arm is faulty, replace it.

To start the car without the "jumper" in place, turn the key to the
first postion(unlock) - the position before ANY lights come on in the
dash, shift to neutral, start the car, then shift & go. Until then,
realize your brake lights aren't working...

> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn off
> (after this cable jumper).

Hence "he told us to go to a Ford dealer so they can fix it permanently".

Rob

 

[Guest]

OK guy, thanks for your replies.

BOO it was.

Aparently (my wife didn't see) the wire broke out from the connector and
when the Meinke guy took the switch he didn't bring the connector back, so I
didn't even know there was a connector, I only saw the BOO with two separate
wires connected to it.
This morning with better light I noticed a little pin that looks like it is
there to hold an electrical connector.
Went to the local Ford, they didn't have the BOO but they checked at another
dealer and they had one. Then the guy (at parts) sent me to the shop to
check if there is a recall on this thing. There was a recall, but on later
models. He also told me that there should be a connector. So I did buy the
connector from them and he told me to check the parts store accross the
street instead of going to a different town for the part, since most
electrical parts are not even manufactured by Ford any more, they are all
OEM (including the connector).
So sure enough, the guy accreoss the street had it for $12.99 ($23 from
Ford...), plus the connector ($9.40), plus some wire shoes for $2 = around
$23.
If I had my wife drive to Ford with the problem they would have told her to
come next week and would charge 4 hours just to look at it...

Thanks for your help!!



"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and doesn't
> move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a wire around the
> brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he told us to go to a Ford
> dealer so they can fix it permanently.
> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't turn
> off (after this cable jumper).
>
> Any idea?
>

 

[Guest]

Well, you got screwed... if the Meineke guy had kludged it PROPERLY.. yes
there is a right and wrong way.. he would have stripped and stuck the one
wire that was broken into the connector and pushed it back on the BOO. So
that the BOO contact was holding the wire.

I wonder if Ford ever has fixed that problem... been several instance on
here of that wire breaking, almost all on Taurus and Windstar IIRC,..
including on my 95 Taurus.


There probably is nothing at all wrong with your original switch.

"John" <[email protected]> wrote:

> OK guy, thanks for your replies.
>
> BOO it was.
>
> Aparently (my wife didn't see) the wire broke out from the connector
> and when the Meinke guy took the switch he didn't bring the connector
> back, so I didn't even know there was a connector, I only saw the BOO
> with two separate wires connected to it.
> This morning with better light I noticed a little pin that looks like
> it is there to hold an electrical connector.
> Went to the local Ford, they didn't have the BOO but they checked at
> another dealer and they had one. Then the guy (at parts) sent me to
> the shop to check if there is a recall on this thing. There was a
> recall, but on later models. He also told me that there should be a
> connector. So I did buy the connector from them and he told me to
> check the parts store accross the street instead of going to a
> different town for the part, since most electrical parts are not even
> manufactured by Ford any more, they are all OEM (including the
> connector). So sure enough, the guy accreoss the street had it for
> $12.99 ($23 from Ford...), plus the connector ($9.40), plus some wire
> shoes for $2 = around $23.
> If I had my wife drive to Ford with the problem they would have told
> her to come next week and would charge 4 hours just to look at it...
>
> Thanks for your help!!
>
>
>
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
>> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and
>> doesn't move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a
>> wire around the brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he
>> told us to go to a Ford dealer so they can fix it permanently.
>> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't
>> turn off (after this cable jumper).
>>
>> Any idea?
>>
>
>



--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

 

[Guest]

Yes, there was something wrong with the switch. You don't need the connector
for the BOO to work...the two wires were connected DIRECTLY (without the
connector) to the BOO and it still didn't work.



"Backyard Mechanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Well, you got screwed... if the Meineke guy had kludged it PROPERLY.. yes
> there is a right and wrong way.. he would have stripped and stuck the one
> wire that was broken into the connector and pushed it back on the BOO. So
> that the BOO contact was holding the wire.
>
> I wonder if Ford ever has fixed that problem... been several instance on
> here of that wire breaking, almost all on Taurus and Windstar IIRC,..
> including on my 95 Taurus.
>
>
> There probably is nothing at all wrong with your original switch.
>
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> OK guy, thanks for your replies.
>>
>> BOO it was.
>>
>> Aparently (my wife didn't see) the wire broke out from the connector
>> and when the Meinke guy took the switch he didn't bring the connector
>> back, so I didn't even know there was a connector, I only saw the BOO
>> with two separate wires connected to it.
>> This morning with better light I noticed a little pin that looks like
>> it is there to hold an electrical connector.
>> Went to the local Ford, they didn't have the BOO but they checked at
>> another dealer and they had one. Then the guy (at parts) sent me to
>> the shop to check if there is a recall on this thing. There was a
>> recall, but on later models. He also told me that there should be a
>> connector. So I did buy the connector from them and he told me to
>> check the parts store accross the street instead of going to a
>> different town for the part, since most electrical parts are not even
>> manufactured by Ford any more, they are all OEM (including the
>> connector). So sure enough, the guy accreoss the street had it for
>> $12.99 ($23 from Ford...), plus the connector ($9.40), plus some wire
>> shoes for $2 = around $23.
>> If I had my wife drive to Ford with the problem they would have told
>> her to come next week and would charge 4 hours just to look at it...
>>
>> Thanks for your help!!
>>
>>
>>
>> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]
>>> 80K miles on 97 Taurus GL, seems like the lever is stuck in P and
>>> doesn't move. We went to a nearby Meineke mechanic who shortened a
>>> wire around the brake pedal and it solved the problem. However he
>>> told us to go to a Ford dealer so they can fix it permanently.
>>> Also, when we got back home we noticed that the brake lights won't
>>> turn off (after this cable jumper).
>>>
>>> Any idea?
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
> you pay..DEAL with it!

 

[Guest]

Sorry, dunno how I could have misunderstood that... given that the guy
REMOVED THE CONNECTOR...

"John" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Yes, there was something wrong with the switch. You don't need the
> connector for the BOO to work...the two wires were connected DIRECTLY
> (without the connector) to the BOO and it still didn't work.
>
>> Aparently (my wife didn't see) the wire broke out from the connector
>> and when the Meinke guy took the switch he didn't bring the connector
>> back, so I didn't even know there was a connector, I only saw the BOO
>> with two separate wires connected to it.