72 vw beetle brake lights not working

[mdillow103008]

im a new bug owner and brake lights dont work where do i start

[RussellK]

First thing I'd check is the bulbs. Maybe that's obvious but I've done a boatload of work before only to discover the first thing I should have checked was the most obvious. Then I'd check all my grounds.
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-Russ
'77 Westphalia
'68 Standard

[mdillow103008]

ive checked the bulbs and the wires on the censor ive got 2 sensors on the master cyliender and only 1 has 2 wires runnin 2 it and they r fine where should i ck the grounds at

[ashman40]

Electrical... always start with the fuse. Remove it from the fuse box and polish the ends so they have good contact. You can take a wire brush or lightly sandpaper the ends as well as the holders in the fuse box.

If they are good (you can test for 12v at both fuse holder/clips) then move on to the two switches at the MC.

Remove the two switch connctors and identify the black wire in the connector which comes from the fuse box. With the ignition ON, this wire should have 12v. Check BOTH connectors.
If you have 12v, then next identify the black/red wire which runs to the rear lights. Using a paper clip or jumper wire connect the black wire and the black/red wires together. This bypasses the brake switch and BOTH brake lights should go ON. Move the jumper wire to the second connector and make sure both brake lights go one once more. If you pass this test, the wiring is GOOD. Your switches should be suspect.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[mdillow103008]

thx ive cked the sockets usin a test light no juice 2 the sockets and my 2 sensors on the mc only 1 has 2 lines goin 2 it the other 1 has no lines wht so ever

[69 Jim]

Key in on position?

[mdillow103008]

yeah and i tried with car running as well

[69 Jim]

[mdillow103008]

im goin try that tom bt some1 posted that there r 2 switches and there should b 2 wires on each swithch mine has 2 switches bt only 1 switch has 2 wires on it

[69 Jim]

[mdillow103008]

does both switches nd 2 have wires goin 2 them

[ashman40]

From the MC trace the black wires back towards the fuse box. It sounds like the wire has come loose.

At some point between the fuse box and the MC switches, the single black wire splits into two wires, one goes to each switch.
The black/red wires that leave the switches combine into a single black/red wire that runs to the rear lights.
At the rear, they split again to the left & right brake lights.

If you are missing some of the wires, you can either look for the missing wires (might be tucked away) or run new ones.
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AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[JonF]

double check your brake light switches

also a quick easy test to find out a good idea of where to start looking for your prob. up front under the hood is a black wire with a red stripe with a plastic connector. unplug it and apply 12 volts to the wire going to the back of the car and walk around back to see if your lights are on if they are the prob is in the front half of the car.
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68 bug 1600sp 30/31
68 baja 1600sp 010 32ndix

[mdillow103008]

thx i will try that 2day any1 have a idea on y my gas gauge will nt wrk

[mdillow103008]

ok i tried 2 attach the 2 wires off of the switch and put them 2gether and still no lights argh

[57687172]

Hello all, I am new to the vw world and I need help with the brake lights on my 72 standard beetle.If I press really hard on the brake pedal the brake light will work, is the brake light switch adjustable , So it will come on sooner, if so where is it? Or is it a faulty switch? Thank you for any advice

[Cusser]

Adjust and bleed the brakes, see if that helps.

I had similar issue on my 1971, and I replaced both brake light switches on the master cylinder. Then I bled the brakes. Works fine.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[blienemann]

x2 for Cusser.

I had brake lights when I pumped the pedal up real firm but it was intermittent in normal use. The switches were bad so I replaced them, re-bled the brakes and they all work fine now.
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Previous - 73 1303
Current:
71 1302 w 2110
70 Deluxe Bus - Project

"Aim for the sky and you'll reach the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you'll stay on the floor." Bill Shankly

[57687172]

Great forum guys thank you for the advice, I was actually going to convert over to front discs , I just ordered them so I should have them in time for next weekend. While I am under there I will change out both switches, thanks again

[ashman40]

You can also try bleeding the MC at the brake switches. You need a helper to apply pressure to the brake pedal while you loosen the brake switches just enough to bleed out any air caught behind them.

Of course, you may just have bad switches. In which case you may need to replace them.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}