Freightliner Recall

although different, when i had the Intertrashonal (before we got Freighshakers) at my last employer, the plastic bushing broke on the brake pedal switch, kept the brake lights on. i cannot recall if the shop (Penske) replaced it with another new plastic bushing or if then, International had a brass (or bronze) replacement one.

 

Back in 2000 or ‘01 FL had a recall for this same thing on the Business class trucks. They had put a old school but very cheap electric clicker type switch on the pedal like the cars had for 50 years. Lights would stay on because the small diameter rod that was connected from the pedal to the threadle valve would flex and bend and the switch mount would deform and slide out of position. Stupid useless design with way to many needless parts. There again trying to build a truck like a car.
They replaced the rod with a larger diameter from 5/16 to 3/8 and larger ends and a heavier mount for the switch.

 

This actually worked in my favor 2 years ago, brake lights were stuck on a 2018 Penske Cascadia that needed to be returned to their Phoenix location. Truck was in Vegas at the time and it was going to be a bobtail trip. Told Penske it wasn't safe as it looked like the brakes were on all the time and there was no way anybody could tell when I was really stopping. They ended up just picking the truck up with a wrecker after their mobile guy couldn't figure out the problem, saving me a trip to Phx.

 

Cascadias had a recall for a defective brake light switch once before. My 09 had it.

 

i have a 2020 cascadia and my brake light switch went out. dealer tried to charge me 1500+ for it. so i argued with the guy and told them its under warranty etc etc. but yeah my brake light wouldn't turn off, it would always stay on as if i'm pressing the brakes down. glad i got that fixed.

 

Uh? Where did that number come from? The brake light switch is like forty or fifty bucks. Granted you practically have to stand on your head to reach up under the dash and change it out, but fifteen hundred dollars?

One of these?

 

Exactly my question. When I asked him the same question, he said these are the techs diagnostics and expertise fees. It was outrageous what he was saying because just like you said the part itself is like $30 bucks. I even called the parts department before reaching the dealer and confirmed the $30 price for the switch. I am shocked just as you, actually he was trying to charge even more than that LOL. Oh and one more thing i did notice at the dealer, as I was sitting near the counter waiting for my truck to be fixed, i could overhear customers that are checking out of service becoming shocked at to see their bills. I overheard two people saying, "well i didn't expect that" when they looked at their bill. I thought it was just me but soon enough learned this dealer is ripping people off. Its the Des Moines Iowa Freightliner dealer off of i-80.