Clicking sound at brake switch and shift lock solenoid switch on 98 Q

[tfvesquire]

Hi Again:

I officially picked up my first Q this weekend in Atlanta (1998 Pearl White)and drove it back to Chicago. I will post some photos when it warms up a little here (19 degrees last night). I stopped along the way to meet Bullitandy and also purchased some much needed trim pieces from his pearl white 97 Ebay find. To all members, he is a wealth of knowledge and all around great person to deal with. FYI: If you need any major parts for your Y33 Q, like door panels, doors, fenders, glass or trunk lid, he has one in decent shape. He still has the complete drivetrain in his 97 and rims too. Send him an email and he will do what he can to accomodate your needs. Thanks again Andy!!

Once I drove back through Atlanta metro area and went through stop and go traffic, whenever I pressed the brake, I could hear an intermittent and sometimes constant audible clicking in the brake switch and also near the shift lock switch. When I stopped at my relative's car lot in Kentucky, I pulled off the shifter trim and found that someone had spilled either a soda or liquid with sugar on the shift console and the liquid had dripped down to the shift lock switch. I liberally sprayed some contact cleaner and penetrating oil on the outside of the shift lock switch, but did not completely remove the switch and attempt to clean the electrical contacts.

The clicking sound went away for awhile, but then came back when I drove to Chicago and is now as constant and annoying as it was in Atlanta. I am going to remove the brake switch and either clean it or replace it (I think it costs about $10 at a local parts store), but if that doesn't fix the problem, is there a away to clean the shift lock switch with something to dissolve the sticky goo like Goo Gone or Kerosene? There is also some of the sticky remnants on the heated seat switches as well that I would like to clean up without damaging those switches.

If anyone knows the best way to clean these switches, please let me know. All I know is that the sticky substance seemed to get removed with the penetrating oil the best, but obviously not completely. I just don't know whether I can spray that stuff in the internal electrical components of the switches without damaging them. I believe whatever was spilled got inside the shift lock switch and is causing it to get "stuck" and malfunction, but it could also be the brake switch is on its last legs too.

Send a response if you know or have dealt with this problem and found a solution. I will post whatever I find after I do some more cleaning and/or replacing.

Other than this problem and the 12v plug in the lighter not working, I am very happy with my purchase. It is going to need some tlc and elbow grease to get it back to the condition I would like, but the important things like the drivetrain and exterior components have all been maintained properly and work as they should. I will test the cigarette lighter switch to see what the problem is, but it is not a major problem. The 12v switch in the center console does not work either, but it might just be unplugged.

Take care and hope all is well with everyone.

Ted