Chrysler Repair: brake lights, mechanical position, fwd cars

Question
brake lights don't work.  bulbs are ok.  fuses are ok.  someone said maybe it's the swithc near the brake pedal.  any thoughts?  the model is '96 town and country van

Answer
Hi Chuck,
As I stated in my bio, I don't have specific knowledge of the vans, but based on the design used in the FWD cars are would offer the following:
Yes, it could be the brake switch, but if you have automatic cruise control and if it seems to sense when you touch the brake pedal (the cruise should releases), then I suspect that might not be the problem (at least not a problem with the mechanical position of the switch). The brake switch, if you have the cruise, actually has two sections, one for the cruise cancellation and one for the stop light. So I suppose the stop light part might not be working. If you don't have cruise, then the switch might either be mechanically not in the proper place relative to the pedal lever, or it could be electrically broken. So I guess it would be worthwhile finding that switch, under the dash and close to the brake pedal mechanical moving parts such as to be actuated when you step on the brake pedal. If that doesn't seem to be awry, then I would check at the multifunction (turn signal, emergency flasher switch) where the brake light signal is sent before it goes back to the lamps. The wire code colors that Chrysler uses are pretty standard across the model lines: at the brakes switch the 12V to run the stop light should arrive on the pink/dark blue, and the switch when activated should send that 12V on to the multifunction switch on the white/tan wire. So if you have a 12V glow light or a voltmeter you could verify the electrical function of the switch that way.
Roland