Brake lights went out in my 2008 Tacoma. Checked fuse in smaller compartment & brake switch.

Don't want to accept it's the wiring yet. Automatic shifter was stuck in park a few weeks ago, I've been forcing it into gear ever since until I read about the button today. So that was pretty cool, I never knew what the hell that thing was, but yeah, been reading how lights and the shifter and such are tied together for lack of a better description of what I'm trying to explain. Not ready to get crazy on the wiring just yet,,or pay out the ass for Toyota dealership to handle it. Why did my brake lights just stop working? This hella sucks. And I'm not familiar with fuse box under hood but Is there a brake light fuse in there? I only checked and replaced the fuse in smaller compartment inside the truck on drivers side. Ok,,, I'm ready, advice ? Oh and I carefully cleaned the brake switch under pedal.

 

Replace the brake light switch.

 

I'll do that, just thought that would be too easy. I'll buy a new one tomorrow.

 

Might be a 10a fuse in the engine bay labeled "tail".

Im not 100% about that.... lemme go look

 

Is there a brake light fuse in fuse box under hood that may need to be replaced?

 

10 amp. On the diagram in the picture, it is below the spare fuses, says STOP.

 

Thanx, its not easy getting to mine right now.

 

Brake light switches can be intermittent....
A fuse, well ive never seen an intermittent one personally.

Messing with the switch may get u by for a day, week, hours, or minutes.

 

There are a few here who have had intermittent fuse failures. Hairline crack that opens up as it heats up, but doesn't show issues when no load.
Anyways, swap the fuse out to see if that fixes the brake lights and shifter lock. If it doesn't, change out the switch. If I remember right from others swapping theirs, it isn't that expensive and is easy to do.
Also, if you have any other stuff going on, check IGN1 & IGN1 No.2 under the dash.

 

Pretty sure i paid 30bux tops at dealership.... and yeah, its like a 30 second job.

 

Sub'd

 

Or you can try what I did. I pulled the switch out and took it apart and sanded the contacts and the prongs that slide into the contacts. Applied a little die electric grease, reassembled, reinstalled and it works now. I could see a small spot on one of the contacts that looked a bit burnt which is the one I focused on when sanding it down with emery cloth. I put a zip tie around the case to make sure that I didn't come apart over time. We'll see how long it last, but it saved me $30 and a trip to the store for now.