Volkswagen Repair: 2004 passat wagon brake lights wont turn off, brake light switch, hidden fasteners

Question
The brake light and rear lights will not turn off when the car is off.  This is what is making the battery go dead.  Any ideas on why the lights will not turn off?

Thanks for your help.
Stefanie

Answer
Hi Stephanie;
Sure do!  I've got an idea!
It's the brake light switch.  Just replace that, and that will take care of the problem you are having.  The kick panel, under the dash.  Remove it, and the brake light switch is on the reinforcement in front of the brake pedal itself.  Be careful though.  It sounds like the car is a 5 speed manual transmission car, and the clutch assembly has a very similar looking switch, and they are NOT interchangeable, but they can be EASILY mistaken for one another, so don't pull out the wrong one.  Once the brake light switch is replaced, everything will be back to normal.  The kick panel has a couple of hidden fasteners, so just pull the ones you can see, and then pull down on the panel, to help locate where the other ones are.  There will be one behind a little plastic piece of trim, right up on the console, too.  Just be patient, and you should be fine.  The screws take a Torx bit...number 20, or number 25.  Good luck, Stephanie.  Hope this helps you out!