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[omega2018]

checked the bulbs and the fuse, all seem ok.  Plus the high level light is out and the display says 'brake light check', permanently.  any ideas?  may coincide with 4 new tyres being fitted. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Does the cruise control work?

[Andy B]

brake light switch on/above the pedal 

[omega2018]

cruise still works.  does that mean the stop lamp switch is working?

i can see the stop lamp switch on the epc diagrams is it simple to remove and test?

if not that then i'm wondering if any cables were damaged when they jacked the car up at each corner for the new tyres this week

[iliak]

cruise still works.  does that mean the stop lamp switch is working?

Brake light switch has 2 pairs of contacts; one controls stop lamps, another disengages cruise control. 
Why don't you try simply short-circuit these contacts on the switch plug and see what happens?

[iliak]

i can see the stop lamp switch on the epc diagrams is it simple to remove and test?

Quite simple. It's right behind your brake pedal, hard to miss   Remove the cover on top on footwell first.

[Doctor Gollum]

cruise still works.  does that mean the stop lamp switch is working?

i can see the stop lamp switch on the epc diagrams is it simple to remove and test?

if not that then i'm wondering if any cables were damaged when they jacked the car up at each corner for the new tyres this week

Jacking the car up will have done absolutely nothing to the wiring.

Be careful removing the switch as it is possible to break the fitting.

[omega2018]

ok what i did was remove and check every fuse in the cabin box (all OK) then removed the soft  trim, heater duct and hinged large solid trim.  i managed to unplug stop light switch but couldn't work out how to remove the switch itself without destroying it. looking at the diagram it has 2 fins on it on the plunger end that you must have to break off?  so anyway i pulled the plunger around a bit and plugged it back in and now the brake lights work!

but now i get fault code p0571 "Cruise control/brake switch "A" circuit malfunction". i'm pretty sure i put the plug back on the same  way it came off.

i'll take it out later and see if that goes away (and if the cruise still works).

[Andy B]

.... but couldn't work out how to remove the switch itself without destroying it. ....

it's been a while since I replaced mine, but I seem to remember it's a bit like a bayonet light bulb  ..... that's what my Smart's is like.

[omega2018]

update on this i bought a new swtitch when it arrived it became clear how these attach.  a red (new one) or white (old one) sliding collar needs to be pulled out over the plastic piston before fitting, then, when snugly fitted, push the collar back in, it pushes out the side lugs and they fix the switch in position.  in theory you could take the old one out by sliding out the collar and fiddling with the lugs, trying to push them in, but in practice easier to just rip it out, breaking the lugs.