Still Brake-Stumped

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

I STILL can't figure out what the deal is with my 200's brakes. 
The brake lights (both tail and center) are stuck ON, and.....

(I sent 1-6 earlier; 7+ are added...)

1) I have tried closing the brake switch manually - no turnoff.
2) I have pulled the brake pedal switch out and closed it manually - 
no turnoff.
3)  I have checked for voltage across the (two) wiring harness 
contacts for the brake switch; it shows 12.xx volts, so it has 
power...but if I jumper the contacts, the lights still stay ON.
4)  Fuse is OK and no water in the fuse block that I can detect.
5)  No other lights are out that I can see, so I don't think it's one 
of those funky electronic interaction problems...
6)  I tried continuity testing the brake switch and it does have 
continuity when closed (pressed in) so it should be OK. (???)

New items:

7)  Does ANYONE have an idea what the vacuum port built into 
this brake switch might do?  It's designed to provide a vacuum seal 
on the hose end when the pedal is not applied, and release its vacuum 
seal when the pedal is depresed.  I've tried sucking on the hose, and 
blowing into the hose - when I create pressure or vacuum with my 
mouth, I can feel that the hose is not holding pressure. 

8)  The brake pedal switch is set up to be OPEN (no circuit) when the 
pedal is depressed, and to provide a complete circuit when the pedal 
is released, closing the switch.  This seems totally wacky 
to me.  Why wouldn't the brake lights be set up so the circuit is 
completed when the pedal is pushed down, OPENING the switch????

I think I'm confused.  I think I need large quantities of beer!!

Guess I'll run back outside, fire up the car, and see what the vacuum 
hose does.  Maybe it'll suck my head into the hose and end my concern 
with this whole mystery!

(The last time I had brake lights stuck on, it was on my 280ZX - and 
all it took was replacing the stop pad for the switch so the 
switch was depresed as per normal...problem solved.  This one is 
weird!!)

HELP!!!!!!!+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.             Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843           Email:  a-powell1@tamu.edu 
W3 page - http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm

Saunders' Slant: "If it's worth doing, it's worth hiring someone
 who knows how to do it."