Hey guys. Strange problem here and I'm hoping this has happened to someone before so you know how to fix it.

My rear brake lights stay on even when the car is turned off. The key is out of the ignition and they just stay on, thus leading to my battery dying quickly. Any suggestions? I actually pulled the tail light fuse and they still stayed on! Any suggestions would be great. Thanks guys!

Well did you try pulling the fuse that actually matters, the one labeled stop lamp (STOP L)?

Do they turn off when you disconnect the brake light switch?

Did you search?
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...o-off-wtf.html
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ht-always.html

probably something with the brake light switch on the brake pedal. try pulling up on the brake pedal and if the lights go off, then you can probably adjust the switch. if the lights stay on then you'll have to get down under the steerring column and check the switch for being broken. having a volt-ohm meter to check the switch would be extreemly helpful. there's 2 switches on the brake pedal, the brake light switch and the cruise control disengage switch. i THINK the brake light switch is the one on the left, can't remember for sure.

Also that brake lights stay on if you leave your headlights on too

hmmmmm....nope, that's the tail lights. but if the "brake lights" come on/stay on just because the headlight switch is on...that's a problem.

That happened to my 2000 maxima. Took it to my mechacis right away so my battery wouldn't drain and he fixed it in 10 minutes for $10. It was a rubber seal he had to replace. He said it was common for my make of car.

same thing happened on my 1st gen.the brake pedal itself has a little rubber peice in it that brake light switch contacts and over time it dries up and breaks and falls out. i dont know if nissan sales it seperate or comes as a whole pedal. you can probably find something to put in the hole so the switch has something to rest on when the pedal comes back up.i used a little push tab thing that holds plastic trim on.hope this helps

They're pretty cheap from the dealer:

95/96

97-99

exactly what i was talking about my local deal could not seem to find them when i needed some so i impervised.

Yeah, look on the ground and your going to find the broken round rubber piece. I taped a penny back there and i was good to go minutes later.

A penny with electrical tape worked for me.

This happend to me as well. I tapped a penny with electrical tape to my brake pedal were the plastic button use to be for the brake light switch.

thats funny mine messed up to it was the rubber thing in the pedal broke fell off...whats the name of this parts? i tapped a penny for now haha.

:my neighbor gave me one of those self-adhesive felt circles, about the size of a penny, and it worked. This was just an hour ago, so tomorrow I will affix it better with tape. Thank you, everyone for the great suggestions.

The local Nissan dealership told me it's simply called a 'brake-stop,' and costs <$6 each. Just a rubber stopper with a nipple on the back, you just plug it in the one or both of the 2 gaps. From driving position, the left gap is for the brake lights, the right gap is for cruise-control stop, when brake is applied.

Yep. Found both the brake light and cruise control rubber pads on my floorboard. O'Reilly sells rubber bumpers for $2.49 that fit perfectly. Part Number 456230BP.

where exactly in the break pedal does this plastic button goes, so i can tape something there to replace it? thank you!

Get down in the footwell and look at the brake pedal. Follow it up and you will see a piece of metal welded to it, horizontally like a letter t. This is where the plastic bumper goes. One end is for the brake lights and the other end is for the cruise control.

you can actually take a push pin that hold some of the plastics down on cars and put it in there. I just had to do this the other day. I didn't realize it had happened until my battery was dead.

I think my mechanic took a piece of wood and wedged it in there, but this happened to me and it turns out the damn thing disintegrated when i picked it up off the floor.

This post about the cause of this problem was very helpful. I also found the little plugs to the brakes and cruise control on the floor and am using the tape and penny trick until I can get the plugs from O'Reilly's. Thanks a bunch for the tip!!!

Thanks to all of you who helped in the thread. I ran into the same issue with a 1996 model. I took a before and after (duct tape with penny in the middle) to those who's trying to get visual.

Hope this help.

Thank you all for your help. I have not fixed the problem yet, but I now see what I have to do.
I got in the car the other day and the battery was stone dead. The big mystery was the numerous pieces of what looked to be some kind of broken plastic button lying under the steering wheel. Sort of looked like butterscotch candy. Had no idea what it was or how it got there. Went and charged the battery overnight, and all was well....until next day when car was stone dead again. Paid over $100 for a new battery, and all is well again. Except.....that I noticed the brake lights were on as car sat in driveway. Nothing else was on and I could not get them to go out without disconnecting the battery.....again. I'm assuming the cost of this fix will be duct tape, a penny.....and a broken back.

Butterscotch candy is EXACTLY what it looks like. SO far the best description yet. However the color may differ. Mine was green when it broke. Like Jolly Rancher green. lol.

Yes, butterscotch candy with a raised green dot in the middle. About the size of a thick nickel.

Hi All:

I finally got the part and fixed the problem.

The part number for the 1996 model is 46584-S0100. I would recommand bring your vin number to local dealer to make sure you got the right part. I said this because for rubber-stopper replacemnt, there is another part number: 46584-5P010. It's in black color with much smaller end and it doesn't fit my 1996 model.


The part is $7.00, but likely a 30 cents cost

Here are the some pics that I hope would help you folks.

My car is on the charger for the second time in a week and a half. Wouldn't even know about the brake lights had it not been for the lady across the street. I checked after the first charge and they were on. Battery dead this morning and no lights on last night.

Can the brake pedal slowly go back down???

I had found out about the cruise control fix just hadn't got upside down to try and fix it. Oh well, maybe kill 2 birds with 1 stone now.

The link to Courtesy Parts says I need 2 stoppers. Is that correct?

I have a 96 Nissan Maxima.

Yes, there are 2 stoppers - one for the brake light switch and the other for the cruise control disconnect switch. The two switches have nothing to do with the other one.

I suppose the brake pedal could go down by itself, but if it did, the brake lights would be on. Maybe wear and tear on things have the switch right on the edge of operating. The switch position is adjustable, though.

Thanks, this happened to me yesterday and I was able to get it fixed for about $11

Just ran across this problem in my car after I changed the ascd brake switch.


In my rush I installed the switch way to far threaded in came out for a smoke several hours later and saw my brake lights stuck on.... probably explains the blinking cruise light too.... Fml re did that pain in the a** job.

Will road test again to try cruise fix.

just had this problem as well . i came out to go get some advil cause my head was killing me . my battery was completely dead noticed once i jumped it that the lights were stuck on . i almost screamed until i saw this post lol thank you little plastic snap in trim screw lol . thanks for the help guys gotta love the form

Hello can you help?

I have a 2017 maxima and I’m having and issue with the gas pedal not accelerating. It happens randomly. I’ve also noticed once it happens my brake lights stay on after the car is completely off. Took it to Nissan 3 times and of course it never happens when I take it to them. But when I drive sometimes it happens. They have claimed to replace my stop lamp switch because they said that could be the issue but it’s still happening. Not sure what else it could be. It’s a safety issue not to mention embarrassing. Anyone reading this please help! Not sure what else could be wrong with it.

Unfortunately, you posted to a thread that is about 1995 to 1999 Maximas. (4th Generation) And the last time anyone talked about this in this thread was 6 years ago. You probably will do better in the area for 2017 Maximas. (8th Generation)

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...axima-2016-88/

Good luck!

Had the same issue after getting home from supply run before tropical storm Hilary hits my area. Removed fuse for time being and lights went off. Battery should be safe until I can get underneath without rain have no garage. Not much of a car guy so hoping pulling the fuse which then killed the break lights will save my battery until I can replace things. Should be good for time being?

Buy one of these on Amazon. Fast delivery and all will be well!
Found out the hard way in May with a ZERO volts battery when it fell out 36 hours before during daylight after backing in and going in the house past the front of the car. Thankfully, my Viking Battery reconditioner saved my AGM battery!