Dear Tom and Ray:

My '88 Nissan Sentra has a problem with its brake lights. My husband is a mechanic, and I told him about it. After a while he checked it out and said it was some faulty gadget under the brake pedal, which he adjusted. It worked for a while, but now the brake lights are failing again. Please tell me what's wrong before I get a ticket! My husband thinks the problem is all in my mind.
Becky

TOM: Husbands often think their wives' automotive problems are all in their minds. But I can say with some certainty, Becky, that your problem is in your brake light switch.

RAY: There's a little, plastic switch behind the brake pedal that turns on the brake lights when you step on the pedal. It costs about five bucks, and yours needs to be replaced. He tried bending it back into shape, but that didn't work.

TOM: Tell him before dinner tonight that you want him to go out and replace your brake light switch. And if he tells you he can't do it because he's hungry, tell him that hunger stuff is all in his mind.