Hyundai Repair: 2002 Hyudai Elantra brake lights, brake pads and rotors, rubber bumper

Question
My brake lights and high mountged stop light won't turn off even with the car off.  The brake fluid is full.  The brake pads and rotors were replaced within the last year.  What might be the problem?

Answer
Hi, Brian.  The brake lamps are triggered using a switch with a plunger activated by the brake pedal.  With your foot off the pedal, the plunger is held in, causing the lamps to be turned off.  When you depress the brake pedal, the plunger comes out, closing the circuit and activating the lamps.  I've seen all the following causes of your issue:

1.  Brake lamp switch came unattached from bracket, causing there to be nothing holding the plunger in.  (I've seen this sometimes caused by a brake switch being installed that doesn't fit properly).
2.  Hole worn in rubber bumper designed to depress switch plunger.
3.  Switch misadjusted so that the plunger sticks out too far even when the brake pedal is not depressed.
4.  Switch shorted-- i.e., the circuit is closed even though the plunger is being held in.