200 sx or Sentra - Brake Lights Stay On or Car Won't Start
So I'm basically posting this to help out anyone who has these same problems. I have a 96 200sx SER, but I'm sure its similar on the other models. I searched and searched and didn't see the fixes to my problems anywhere, so I want to have them posted somewhere so people don't have to go through the trouble I did only to find out it was super easy to fix.
First off - I had a problem with my brake lights staying on a while back - I would unhook the battery whenever I stopped anywhere and then hook it back up when I was going to leave. I knew it was something to do with the brake sensor, but after about a week I finally took a look and realized what it was. On the brake pedal is a plate with a plastic plug that pushes down the brake sensor button, take a look and you'll find it pretty easily. Its a square piece of metal on the pedal with a hole in the center. The plastic plug is in the hole. Well basically the "plug" had broken out so I took a small piece of metal from my work and covered the hole using double sided tape. Ta da!!! Fixed! And a hell of a lot easier that replacing your brake sensor - so if you're having problems check that first!
Well about a month later, I stop at walmart and get back in my car only for nothing to happen when I turn the key. No clicks to indicate a dead battery or the starter. So I get it push starter, take it home and do some research. Everywhere suggested either replacing the starter or just the solenoid. Either way is like $400 from a mechanic. So I finally take out the starter (which is a major pain in my car) and take it to pepboys for them to test. Well the starter is fine? So I check all the cables, all the connections, everything. Finally I find out there is a switch on the clutch (the neutral safety switch) that can sometimes go out and the car won't start. So I take a look at it, and its the same problem I had with the brake pedal only a month before... I put a bottle cap over the switch and the car starts up first try.
So basically after all that, my suggestion for any problems like mine is to check your pedals, because its highly likely the crap pieces of plastic shattered on you and they are super easy to fix.
First off - I had a problem with my brake lights staying on a while back - I would unhook the battery whenever I stopped anywhere and then hook it back up when I was going to leave. I knew it was something to do with the brake sensor, but after about a week I finally took a look and realized what it was. On the brake pedal is a plate with a plastic plug that pushes down the brake sensor button, take a look and you'll find it pretty easily. Its a square piece of metal on the pedal with a hole in the center. The plastic plug is in the hole. Well basically the "plug" had broken out so I took a small piece of metal from my work and covered the hole using double sided tape. Ta da!!! Fixed! And a hell of a lot easier that replacing your brake sensor - so if you're having problems check that first!
Well about a month later, I stop at walmart and get back in my car only for nothing to happen when I turn the key. No clicks to indicate a dead battery or the starter. So I get it push starter, take it home and do some research. Everywhere suggested either replacing the starter or just the solenoid. Either way is like $400 from a mechanic. So I finally take out the starter (which is a major pain in my car) and take it to pepboys for them to test. Well the starter is fine? So I check all the cables, all the connections, everything. Finally I find out there is a switch on the clutch (the neutral safety switch) that can sometimes go out and the car won't start. So I take a look at it, and its the same problem I had with the brake pedal only a month before... I put a bottle cap over the switch and the car starts up first try.
So basically after all that, my suggestion for any problems like mine is to check your pedals, because its highly likely the crap pieces of plastic shattered on you and they are super easy to fix.
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