C3 Brake Light Switch

[Guest GSBXXAAXSYNC3]

Could someone advise please on the location and replacement of the brake light switch on the C3. finally figured out why the Cruise control wasn't working when I came home in the dark - with brake lights blazing. Looking online the switches seem standard across different ranges. On larger cars - old Picasso etc it is above the brake pedal but I cannot see it. On other cars it entails removal of a part of the facia but do not know where to start pulling bits off. The actual part looks to be a cheap unit. Also seen some advice about better ways to secure it than the supplied circlip. Any advice gratefully received!

[PLURIEL123]

Could someone advise please on the location and replacement of the brake light switch on the C3. finally figured out why the Cruise control wasn't working when I came home in the dark - with brake lights blazing. Looking online the switches seem standard across different ranges. On larger cars - old Picasso etc it is above the brake pedal but I cannot see it. On other cars it entails removal of a part of the facia but do not know where to start pulling bits off. The actual part looks to be a cheap unit. Also seen some advice about better ways to secure it than the supplied circlip. Any advice gratefully received!

 

After investigating a similar fault on my wifes C3 Pluriel, i realised the brake switch is actually in the passengers footwell under the glove box, just turn it 90 degrees and out it comes...........item 7 below

 

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr128/5gordini83/C3BRAKESWITCH-1.jpg

[kfk]

Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your contribution

[OnOffPT]

After investigating a similar fault on my wifes C3 Pluriel, i realised the brake switch is actually in the passengers footwell under the glove box, just turn it 90 degrees and out it comes...........item 7 below

 

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr128/5gordini83/C3BRAKESWITCH-1.jpg

 

Thank you so much for this valuable info. I was about to quit after 30 minutes looking around the brake pedal.

 

Let me add some more info.

To check the brake lights without any external help just use some sheets of paper jammed with the boot door.

 

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/OnOffPT/IMG_5771.jpg

 

 

Some photos about the location of the sensor.

The sensor, instead of being directly attached to the pedal (for those models with right hand drive) is located under the glove box as PLURIEL123 just mentioned (Thanks).

 

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/OnOffPT/IMG_5774.jpg

 

 

This is accomplished using a iron tube as illustrated in the following image.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/OnOffPT/IMG_5772.jpg

 

The sensor is finally at the other end of the tube

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/OnOffPT/IMG_5776.jpg

 

Remove the sensor by pulling strongly away from the white ring.

Before buying a replacement just check if the sensor is jammed by pressing several times and checking the brake lights at the same time.

If this works fine and the lights react to the pressing of the sensor then the sensor is ok and just needs to refitted properly. Just push it into the white ring until de brake lights turn off.

 

This 15 min job took 2 days at the main dealer in Colchester and a bill of 130 pounds (30 for the sensor and 100 for one hour labour). Same problem 4 months after but this time I solved it.

[paul.h]

Thanks for the photos and the tip re checking the brake lights. Your last photo also clearly shows the passenger foot brake which was in the news recently. Apparently if you push the lever at the end of the steel tube through the carpet it will apply the brakes and Citroen are meant to be investigating and maybe there will be a recall. It also applies to some of their other models.