Defective stop lamp switch symptoms?
 

I'm getting a trouble code 5 (stop lamp switch) from pin 7 on my 104.941 engine which is the EA/CC/ISC diagnotic pin.

Bulb indicator lamp is illuminated on dash and left rear brake light won't light up even though the bulb is good.

However, the right and center brake lights both work.

Before I remove the big underpanelling under the steering wheel to get to the switch, has anyone experienced these symptoms before and did repacing the switch cure the problem?

Thanks! :D

switch
 

ther are two parts to the switch, one part controls the lights and the other is a sigal to the network to tell the other systems that the brake is being applied. there are a few problems that a faulty swithc can cause, but usually if the stop light illumination part fails all three are out.i would replace the switch, they do have a high fsilure rate, as for the brake light, the bulb holder on the tail lamp assembly is likely melted causing a no contact situation.