2004 A4 1.8T Brake Lights Remain On After Car Is Parked
Greetings:
My 2004 A4 brake lights (left, right, and center) turn on after the vehicle has been parked (appx. 3 hours or so) for the evening. I have to enter the vehicle, crank the ignition, and pump the brake pedal until the brake lights turn off. This could happen 2-3 times a night, and appears to occur more frequently in colder weather. I also notice that the brake application sensor - located to the immediate left of the shift lever - is sometimes NOT illuminated when the car is in PARK. The aforementioned sensor DOES illuminate only after pumping the brake pedal. Also, the right brake light fails intermittently (immediately on start up and also at times while driving). This problem sometimes resolves, if you turn off the ignition and turn it back on again.
I have a 2005 A4 1.8 T. Thank you for posting this problem. For the past month or so my car wouldn't start up a couple times a week. My battery was completely drained. I thought the problem was the battery, so I replaced it. However, the problem continued. I took the car to Audi service and they could not find any problem with the vehicle. After reading this post I remembered my neighbors mentioning to me that I left my brake lights on a few nights over the past month. I thought they were mistaken as they lights were off in the morning. Anyhow, seems like this posting has diagnosed my issue. Thanks!
I have a 2005 A4 1.8 T. Thank you for posting this problem. For the past month or so my car wouldn't start up a couple times a week. My battery was completely drained. I thought the problem was the battery, so I replaced it. However, the problem continued. I took the car to Audi service and they could not find any problem with the vehicle. After reading this post I remembered my neighbors mentioning to me that I left my brake lights on a few nights over the past month. I thought they were mistaken as they lights were off in the morning. Anyhow, seems like this posting has diagnosed my issue. Thanks!
Went to my local Audi shop with your solution in hand, and they agreed with the aforementioned. The defective switch was removed, a new one was installed, and I was out and on my way home in less than 1 hour.
It's been 2 weeks since the switch was installed (hence the delay in my repy...just wanted to be sure it was inded just the brake light switch) and I have had no additional instances of "LATE NIGHT BRAKE LIGHT!"
Thanks again!AFMtech...YOU ARE THE MAN!
Went to my local Audi shop with your solution in hand, and they agreed with the aforementioned. The defective switch was removed, a new one was installed, and I was out and on my way home in less than 1 hour.
It's been 2 weeks since the switch was installed (hence the delay in my repy...just wanted to be sure it was inded just the brake light switch) and I have had no additional instances of "LATE NIGHT BRAKE LIGHT!"
Thanks again!
AnonymousMar 21, 2014
when the brakes are applied the abs pump engages and when pedal is released all four wheels remain locked and vehicle will not movewhen the brakes are applied the abs pump engages and when pedal is released all four wheels remain locked and vehicle will not move
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Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Brake Lights Remain On After Car Is...
Sounds like your brake light switch is on its way out. Its a simple fix and a cheap part. It will need to be done immediately as not only can the lights staying on drain your battery but it can also cause lack of power and not put the brake lights on when braking. The switch is operated by the pedal itself and requires the drivers underdash trim to be removed. With this off the switch can be accessed and replaced. If you can get a vehicle technician to fit it, do so, as they are quite fragile and new switches can become useless if fitted incorrectly. Good luck
Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Brake Lights Remain On After Car Is...
This is the Brake Switch which is located under the steering wheel.You have to remove the panel to replace it. I had the same problem on my 2004 A4 Convertible.
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This is most likely a short in the instrument panel's(IP) logic chip. As long as you can start the car everyday, you can live with it or have the IP diagnosed and replace it. If you ever plan to leave it for a week or two. Disable the radio and nav systems if you have to, then remove the negative side of the battery. This light will drain the battery over time.
For those of you that have or occasionally borrow trailers and look at the wiring plugs with disdain (I mean face it they don't make sense, ground is white, +12vdc is black, etc), this is for you.
This will show you how to wire trailers with seven, six and four pin connectors
Plug Types/Application 7 Way - RV Trailers, Horse and Utility Trailers 6 Way - Horse, Stock and Utility 4 Way - Utility Trailers
Columns are: Color, Function, Mark on the plug.
Seven wire Trailer plugs (Large trailers with a battery and electric brakes):
Horse, stock or utility trailers: White = Ground - 1 Blue = Electric Brakes - 2 Brown = Tail and clearance lights - 3 Black = Battery, aux power - 4 Yellow = Left turn/Brake - 5 Green = Right turn Brake - 6 Orange or Purple (not both) = Auxilliary or Reverse - 7
Recreational Vehicle: White = Ground - 1 Blue = Electric Brakes - 2 Green = Tail and clearance lights - 3 Black = Battery, aux power - 4 Red = Left turn/Brake - 5 Brown = Right turn Brake - 6 Yellow = Auxilliary or Reverse - 7
Six wire trailer plugs:
Horse, stock or utility trailers: White = Ground - GD Yellow = Left turn/Brake -LT Green = Right turn Brake -RT Brown = Tail and clearance lights - TM Red or Black (not both) = Battery, aux power - A Blue = Electric Brakes - S
Recreational Vehicle: (color, use, plug mark) White = Ground - GD Yellow = Not used - Brown = Right turn Brake - RT Green = Tail and clearance lights -TM Black = Battery, aux power - A Red = Left turn/Brake - LT Blue = Electric Brakes - S
Four wire plugs: White = Ground Yellow = Left turn/Brake Green = Right turn Brake Brown = Tail and clearance lights
If you're only blowing the fuse while the trailer is plugged in, the problem is in the trailer/wiring. This takes into account that the truck has a factory installed 7 way receptacle. If that's not the case, the problem can be in the incorrectly wired truck and the trailer is ok.
On the truck, looking into the 7 way receptacle should be as follows. Top left=Tail Lights Top right=12v steady source/charge line Left middle=Left turn/brake Right middle=Right turn/brake Left bottom=ground Right bottom=brake controller output Center=reverse lights if your trailer is equipped.
check under dash on steering column above brake pedal for the brake light switch, check for proper adjustment. Push in on switch and have someone check for lightt to turn off. if it goes off then adjust switch so it makes quicker contact with brake pedal bracket. If it wont turn off then i would expect the switch is bad. But remember i am not there to do a hands on inspection but this is the most common senario
Hello. The symptoms you are describing are likely due to a poor ground. Temporarily install a new ground wire by securing a piece of copper wire to the frame with a self tapping screw. Use this ground wire along with the hot wire to see if each of these lights works. If it does, trace the ground wire back to the frame, unscrew it and clean up the metal with emery cloth so you reestablish a good ground.
Plug Types/Application 7 Way - RV Trailers, Horse and Utility Trailers 6 Way - Horse, Stock and Utility 4 Way - Utility Trailers
Columns are Color, Function, Mark on the plug. Seven wire Trailer plugs:
Horse, stock or utility trailers: White = Ground - 1 Blue = Electric Brakes - 2 Brown = Tail and clearance lights - 3 Black = Battery, aux power - 4
Yellow = Left turn/Brake - 5
Green = Right turn Brake - 6
Orange or Purple (not both) = Auxilliary or Reverse - 7
Recreational Vehicle:
White = Ground - 1
Blue = Electric Brakes - 2
Green = Tail and clearance lights - 3
Black = Battery, aux power - 4 Red = Left turn/Brake - 5
Brown = Right turn Brake - 6
Yellow = Auxilliary or Reverse - 7
Six wire trailer plugs:
Horse, stock or utility trailers: White = Ground - GD Yellow = Left turn/Brake -LT Green = Right turn Brake -RT Brown = Tail and clearance lights - TM Red or Black (not both) = Battery, aux power - A Blue = Electric Brakes - S
Recreational Vehicle: (color, use, plug mark) White = Ground - GD Brown = Right turn Brake - RT Green
= Tail and clearance lights -TM Black = Battery, aux power - A Red = Left turn/Brake - LT
Blue = Electric Brakes - S
Four wire plugs: White = Ground Yellow = Left turn/Brake Green = Right turn Brake Brown = Tail and clearance lights
I have a 2005 A4 1.8 T. Thank you for posting this problem. For the past month or so my car wouldn't start up a couple times a week. My battery was completely drained. I thought the problem was the battery, so I replaced it. However, the problem continued. I took the car to Audi service and they could not find any problem with the vehicle. After reading this post I remembered my neighbors mentioning to me that I left my brake lights on a few nights over the past month. I thought they were mistaken as they lights were off in the morning. Anyhow, seems like this posting has diagnosed my issue. Thanks!
AFMtech...YOU ARE THE MAN!
Went to my local Audi shop with your solution in hand, and they agreed with the aforementioned. The defective switch was removed, a new one was installed, and I was out and on my way home in less than 1 hour.
It's been 2 weeks since the switch was installed (hence the delay in my repy...just wanted to be sure it was inded just the brake light switch) and I have had no additional instances of "LATE NIGHT BRAKE LIGHT!"
Thanks again!
when the brakes are applied the abs pump engages and when pedal is released all four wheels remain locked and vehicle will not move
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