Brake lights not working

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by griston64

Try putting switch back in and moving forwards and backwards and see if you can get lights to work. An assistant or garage door reflection helps

Alternatively, in general for checking brake lights, a carpentry type of clamp adjusted to press outwards helps. Fit it between the pedal and the driver's seat and expand it to press the pedal.


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[MiniNinjaRob]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

What Kay said ^^^^^ - the switch may check out fine on a multimeter but that only passes a tiny current through the contacts which they may well cope with easily, even if burned/dirty.

Trying to pass 6A through it for the 3 brake light bulbs (at 14V - engine running in other words, the bulbs actually work out at 25W which is what they rate them at in the USA) will show a fault up in the switch.

Link the two contacts in the plug that goes onto the switch and see if the brake lights now work, also remove and clean the fuse for them or better still, renew it.

I've changed all the fuses already.

I can't seem to remove the whole switch assembly from the cables. There are 2 connections, one is a small light coloured wire with a white plug and 2 contacts which pulls out easily. However there is a much thicker black cable running from the switch up behind the dash too which I can't seem to unplug from the brake switch at all - it seems to be almost moulded in.

Any ideas?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by MiniNinjaRob

I've changed all the fuses already.

I can't seem to remove the whole switch assembly from the cables. There are 2 connections, one is a small light coloured wire with a white plug and 2 contacts which pulls out easily. However there is a much thicker black cable running from the switch up behind the dash too which I can't seem to unplug from the brake switch at all - it seems to be almost moulded in.

Any ideas?

Has yours got cruise control?

Looking at the diagram, fuse #4 is the brake light fuse, the two wires on the switch for the brake lights are yellow/brown and green/yellow. If those are the wires n the white plug, remove that plug and link them together - if the brake lights work every time then the brake light switch is definitely faulty.

[MiniNinjaRob]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Has yours got cruise control?

Looking at the diagram, fuse #4 is the brake light fuse, the two wires on the switch for the brake lights are yellow/brown and green/yellow. If those are the wires n the white plug, remove that plug and link them together - if the brake lights work every time then the brake light switch is definitely faulty.

Yes it has cruise control.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by MiniNinjaRob

Yes it has cruise control.

As i said, if those wire colour codes match what is on the white plug you're able to remove easily, disconnect it and link the terminals to prove the switch.

[mocambique-amazone]

Originally Posted by MiniNinjaRob

I've changed all the fuses already.

I can't seem to remove the whole switch assembly from the cables. There are 2 connections, one is a small light coloured wire with a white plug and 2 contacts which pulls out easily. However there is a much thicker black cable running from the switch up behind the dash too which I can't seem to unplug from the brake switch at all - it seems to be almost moulded in.

Any ideas?

aaah

The switch you did find is only for cruise control. The thicker black cable is the vacuum line for the cruise control.
The switch for the brake lights is 2 inch higher located. and 1 inch to the front.

If your cruise control isn't working the brake light switch will be the faulty part!

good luck, Kay

[MiniNinjaRob]

Originally Posted by mocambique-amazone

aaah

The switch you did find is only for cruise control. The thicker black cable is the vacuum line for the cruise control.
The switch for the brake lights is 2 inch higher located. and 1 inch to the front.

If your cruise control isn't working the brake light switch will be the faulty part!

good luck, Kay

Aha!!

I'll have another look tonight, thanks for that. Most people won't have cruise I suppose so might not recognise it. I did have an inkling it might be a vacuum line so thanks for the advice.

The cruise control was working fine BTW, just the lights.

[MiniNinjaRob]

Ok so I found the brake switch. Eventually.

I unplugged it and when I connected the two wires together the brake lights came on straight away and stayed on. Even if the ignition was off - is that ok?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by MiniNinjaRob

Ok so I found the brake switch. Eventually.

I unplugged it and when I connected the two wires together the brake lights came on straight away and stayed on. Even if the ignition was off - is that ok?

That's right, the ignition doesn't have to be on for the brake lights to work. That proves the switch (or its adjustment) is faulty.

[MiniNinjaRob]

Next big question, how on earth do I get the old switch out??? Can’t see how it’s done.