04 Xterra "Set" light flashing, brake lights stuck on - With a twist!

Diocletian

Test Drive
Yeah another Cruise Control 'Set' light flashing thread. But this one is an oddity for sure, let me explain:

First, I had an issue where my Cruise Control didnt work. You could turn it on and the 'Cruise" light would illuminate, but you could not set it. At the same time, I noticed when I exit the vehicle after driving that my brake lights would stay on. Stabbing the brake pedal would turn them off. So I did some research, tested my cruise control and brake light switches by the brake pedal, and that's when I noticed the brake pedal rubber stopper with missing.

Easy fix right? Wrong. I bought a replacement stopper and installed it. Now I have TWO new issues!

1. Cruise control Set light flashes constantly once I'm over 30MPH and will not stop until I'm below that speed. Still does not work

2. Brake lights are now 100% stuck on all the time. Stabbing the brake pedal doesnt even fix it

In order to save my battery, I removed the brake switch stopper. So what do I do here? What isn't working? My speed sensor, my clockspring, 1 switch, BOTH switches?

I've never seen an odd combination of issues like this, and it's got me and my mechanic buddies stumped. Any ideas?

Further info:
2004 Xterra XE
Automatic
RWD
156k miles. I purchased it a week ago. No other lights or issues to speak of.
 

Diocletian

Test Drive
After troubleshooting further I think my problem is two-fold:

1. I have a trailer hitch, wired with a brake light setup. There was a connector that was coming from the chassis which connected to a light on the hitch itself. I believe this was causing a short as one of the wires is partially broken, I have disconnected it. Since I did that, the brake light does not randomly come on when the vehicle is parked/turned off. I included a pic to better illustrate what I'm saying.

2. Brake light switch needs to be adjusted. What I believe is happening is when I put the cruise control stopped in, that it's causing the brake pedal to depress ever so slightly, causing the brake lights to stick on when it's installed. The brake switch is on a hair trigger it seems, I tested it and even a light tap on the brake will set it off.

I will try adjusting the brake light switch with the cruise control rubber stopper in place until the brake light is no longer on. Does that make sense?
 

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Diocletian

Test Drive
Also, to clarify, I got the brake light switch and cruise control switch mixed up, I was installing the cruise control rubber stopper this whole time, which is why I mentioned that in my 2nd post
 

Diocletian

Test Drive
Ok it was even more stupid than I thought. Previous owner installed the brake stopper BACKWARDS, I removed it and replaced both stoppers the right way, no more brake light issues and I got cruise control again!
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
FailFish

After your second post, was leaning towards wiring, but didn't have a chance to look at the options. Good catch on the hitch light and the backwards buttons
 
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