Brake Switch!!! Will FORD cover it???

Today I had two chassis electrical glitches rear their ugly faces one after the other.

The first was the "Low Coolant" light on the dash. I would turn the engine off and then on again and it would go away for a while then come back. The coolant reservoir was full. Does the reservoir have a switch somewhere? Can going up and down the steep hills of San Francisco for the first time be the culprit? If the coolant becomes low on one end of the container from going up and down a steep hill/cliff can this set off the sensor?

The next problem was more of a concern because it made the car NOT street legal and unsafe to drive. The brake light switch seemes to have gotten stuck in the ON or CLOSED position and so the brake light is stuck ON even when the car is parked and turned off the brake light is still ON and shining bright red. Not only that but it will drain the battery if left on like that 24/7.

AAA was full of shit and wouldn't help me. I wanted to call the CHP but I only got a machine on the other end of the line. I had wishfull thinking that I could get special permission this night to drive that sucker home 215 miles. I already got 2 other traffic tickets by the CHP that are still pending and I don't wish to add a 3rd.

But the most important question remains. Will FORD pay for the replacement/repair? This was a safety recall. While the car was still under warrantee the brake switch had been replaced. But now the car is no longer under warrantee. It's a 2002 with over 40,000 miles. But it's a TSB right??? If it's a TSB is it mandated that they repair it regaurdless of the fact that they have already tried to do preventative maintainance?

BTW - San Francisco ---- although beautifull is the #1 most impractical city in America. Cable cars that block/impede the flow of traffic that only go 15 mph, neighborhoods streets built with a GRID pattern over clifts and hilly terrain. Little streets everywhere that are 2 way and not 1 way to increase the flow of traffic.

A sea port was built beside a busy highway. Today cars were double parked everywhere with traffic cops. Can you imagine putting something beside a major throughway that belongs in a large parking lot so it won't be so hectic to drop people off?

$600,000 to buy a studio condo. And that doesn't include tax or anything else.

They were selling bottled drinks for $5 each. Worse than what I saw at 6 flags magic mountain.

Many odd shaped intersections that had anywhere from 2 to 6 different streets that came together.

Plus they try to squeez a shitload of traffic through bridges that collect toll revenue. Many of the drivers were shitty and looked like they wanted to run over as many pedestrains as possible.

The whole city is a fekin tourist trap. It's one of those places that are best for visiting and not for living. SF is not known to be a very livable city with the high cost of living and low wages in comparison. + It won the award of being the #1 most undrivable cities in the USA.

Cars double parked everywhere where they shouldn't be including in front of fire hydrants, red zones, double fine zones. Most of them were trucks too making it even more difficult to squeeze by.

To sum it all up. Anyone who lives in that crazy hell hole of a city probably ends up buying a new car EVERY YEAR. In one year your car is TRASHED already from other cars side swiping it or bumping it from tight parallel parking. The transmission becomes overworked and overheats from the steep grades that are like as if you are driving straight up a vertical wall. The radiator too would be put under additional strain. So are the suspension from driving over so many ruts and bumps. Tires also would wear out fast from that type of driving. Not to mention the brakes! San Franciscans who drive probably replace their brake pads and rotors every month. With all of those hills, all of those pedestrians, all of those tourists, all of those crazy drivers.....every time you hit your brakes that hard it all starts to add up in wear and tear very quickly. At least it makes the brake mechanic specialists happy with their pockets full of money.

With many cars if your car rolls backwards while in "Drive" you instantly tear up your transmission. That will happen more often than not on those stupid hills. There is no reason why they couldn't have found a more gradual way to go up the hills. Instead the stupid city engineers of the 1800s thought it was wise to use the grid layout so now the city is stuck with it for good. Cars are strugling to climb those hills in present times, how much more during the 1800s using horses and carriages? Obviously there were many accidents. Plus it's not fair to the horse to pull a load up a steep gradient like that.

I don't like visiting San Francisco honestly. I hate how there is never any parking anywhere. It costs $20 to park your car in public parking for 1 hour. It's not fair that you can't just park and find something to do. Plus the crime has got to be a lot worse than San Antonio. I wonder why San Antonio TX was rated highest crime rate? I would imagine SF has crime 50 times worse.

Pluse once again San Francisco driving tears up my car. I can feel the added damage - wear and tear done to it directly afterwards. The brake light switch on my car was perfectly fine until I had to deal with 4 hours of SF traffic in both downtown and in the steep residential hils.

It's pretty - but underneath all of that glitter you find foul raw sewage backing up into the streets. Seriously, that's what happened today.

I can't see myself spending more time in that crazy city. Only, I think next time I'll leave the car at somebodies house in Fremont and take BART.

All in all, everyone has got to see SF at least ONCE in their lifetime. It's worth a look being so unique. It makes you appreciate what you already have a lot better!

Reply to
Eastward Bound
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Yes.

Yes. But once you are on the level, the light should go off.

No, the most important question is what can you do to fix this dangerous condition?

Read your statement that came with the repair. Usually they extend the warranty on the part to 80,000 mi or so. Regardless, the reason why CHP gave you tickets is that the car was dangerous driving that way. Get it replaced.

(...) Rant about SF deleted.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

If this is a Taurus or Sable, there are at least TWO recalls involving the brake switch and the connector/wiring. The main problem is that grease from the brake pedal pivots and (if you have the option) adjustable pedal guides melts and runs into the switch. This causes arcing which then melts the plastic inside, causing the switch to stick open or closed. I've had mine replaced TWICE because it stuck closed. I have since bought a spare and keep it in the car. I also clamped a small paper towel above the switch to help catch and absorb any melted grease/oil.

The switch is easy to replace and not very expensive. They really need to replace it with a better sealed version, or pack it with dielectric silicone or similar so that the grease can't get at the contacts.

Reply to
Andrew Rossmann

UPDATE!

Today I called in the morning and got an appointment for around 11 o' clock.

Ford covered the repair free of charge. The replacement part (brake light switch) was covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles.

I am one happy camper!

(Now I feel like sueing the City of San Francisco for poor road design.)

Reply to
Eastward Bound

FLASH!!!

San Francisco came before the motor car, go figure.

Reply to
Matt

So..... I guess you don't care much for SF? :)

Reply to
Scott M

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