Brake Pedal Height Adjustment - anyone been through it?

No, the push-rod is adjustable the pedal height is fixed. Backing off the push-rod could upset switch setting and will not lower the resting height of the pedal. The adjustment is there to adjust push-rod clearance to the brake master cylinder, don't interfere with it. The switch is for brake lights.

 

INTERESTING, PAT, here is a question just for you. last night, a vehicle pulled up very close behind me with NO headlights on. i saw the reflection of my tail lights on the front of his car. I noticed that my brake lights came on late, meaning my brake pedal depressed almost 3/4" before the lights lit up. is this a normal setting? on my other vehicles, the lights came on immediately as i broke the "neutral" setting.

your comments pls.

 

You may need the switch adjusted or it may be how Prius brake light switch is mean't to be because of the regen brakes. My car will slow on applying the brake a little but the brake light comes on a little further down the pedal.
Might need to ask someone more Prius savy than me.

 

My 2006 did the same thing. I don't know if it was 3/4" but I could apply very light braking without the brake lights coming on. I should have adjusted it or taken it in to be adjusted but never got around to it.

 

Wow. I thought they had fixed this on more recently-produced Prii. Anyway, see some great details about the problem in this thread here:

http://priuschat.com/forums/care-ma...red-out-why-i-m-being-tailgated-so-often.html

 

I agree that the brake pedal height is not intended to be adjusted for the sake of driver convenience. Nevertheless the height can be adjusted, and the spec is for the pedal to be 5.4" to 5.8" above the asphalt sheet which is below the carpet.

Regarding the brake light switch, if you can really depress the pedal 3/4" before the lights come on, this is a definite safety issue and should be fixed. Beyond the brake light issue, a further implication is that your cruise control will not disengage until you have depressed the pedal that distance.

The spec is that the clearance between the brake light switch and the pedal contact area should be 0.02" to 0.095".

 

I have to depress the brake pedal maybe 1/5 of it's travel and the brake lights turn on. It's a safety issue if you have to press the pedal more than 1/3 of its travel before brake lights turn on

 

Jay, you mean of the total actual travel not the distance from the stop to the floor don't you? I'd be worried if I could get my pedal 1/3 the way to the floor.

 

Correct, poorly worded on my part. I barely have to press my brake pedal and the brake lights are on

 

I noticed a similar condition and adjusted it shortly after I bought the car. It wasn't too hard to do, just a little awkward since that switch is buried pretty deep in the dash. I would recommend you take care of it ASAP because it's an obvious safety issue.

 

thanks people. yeah, the rear brake lights should light up IMMEDIATELY as you "break neutral on the brake pedal." i'll talk to my dealer about this. i'm wearing WHITE today and i dont want to go crawling......................

again, thanks for all your help