My 75K service, and also...

Mike did pass the time by typing:

Herk! $108? someone is blowing smoke up your arse. STOPLAMP SWITCH, All 97-06 $19.68

Sure it's not just loose or the little metal clip that keeps it in place has backed off?

But if someone is quoting you that much for a stoplamp switch I'd find another place to do buisness with.

PepBoys/Canadian Tire/ Get the highest CCA and longest warantee that will fit.

$230 if the rotors are still in good shape is too much. You can pick up good rotors and pads from almost any parts store that are every bit as good as OEM. Persoanlly I like Raybestos pads and Stillen rotors. Good combination and they last for ever.

Take it to PepBoys/Canadian Tire/etc they will check for free. Or just turn the ignition on-off-on-off-on and write down the codes that show up on your odometer.

For 93$ you could buy a low end scantool and check the codes yourself.

Are you planning to pay a dealer to do this work?

The reason I ask is that the prices you quote are so unrealistic as to make it hard to believe.

Brake Light Switch $25 Battery - $75

You would probably pay less than the amounts shown above at any decent parts store

Have you check the brake light fuse? As others have mentioned, the switches are cheap. An hour labor is a bit much for putting it in....

Have you cleaned the battery connections in 6 years or checked the fluid level in the battery? They do need a good clean now and then. That can extend the battery life by several years.

Brake price isn't too bad if it's pads, rotors and labor.

I would disconnect the battery to reset the check engine light and clean the connections while it was disconnected, then I would make sure the gas cap was on tight and see what happens when I hooked the battery back up.

There are places that will read the codes for free for you.

But yes, you are right about what can wait.

Mike

I got eleven years out of the battery that came with my Wrangler. I did clean the terminals a couple of times, and once or twice I drained it all the way by leaving the lights on. You hardly ever have to replace them in the summer, though.

Earle

Mike proclaimed:

In some states, it can cost a ticket. Is easy to fix, but first test to make sure that it is just the brake light switch. You can jumper across it to test. As likely to be a corroded ground or socket.

Sears Diehard SUV batteries are under a hundred dollars, installed. Optima Red batteries are just at a hundred dollars installed. A $140 battery isn't a battery, it is a ripofff.

Make sure your gas cap is tight.

? does this poor vehicle get regular maintenance?

all, thanks.

I park on a bump and then turn-on-off-on-off. the engine service light was off.

no code reading on my odometer.

And when you clean the battery, what kind of cleaning materials?

Thanks Mike Northern VA

Terminals: Battery wire brush, scraper, steel wool, or sandpaper

Battery Itself: Baking soda in water

Engine Codes:

Just be warned that the little bits that fly off with the wire brush are acid that will water activate. If they hit your clothes, you will have all these little holes after wash day.

They actually sell a battery cleaning tool. It has a round wire brush on one end for doing the clamp's hole and a hollow donut shaped wire brush for the post. Not expensive and really handy.

Mike

I drench the area with water from a garden hose afterwards. You are quite right that this stuff is acid. It is not good for paint either.

Earle