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davethehead
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
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 Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:43 pm Post subject: Brake light switches? |
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So, as far as I know my brake lights worked just fine earlier today. I bought new tail light assemblies and swapped them out when I got home from work today. I went from a 3 bulb set up to a 4 bulb with an individual light for park and brake. Checked my lights, everything works except my brake lights. Before I get hammered, yes, I disconnected the battery before I started  and no its not a blown fuse.
I pulled the tail light assemblies off and checked all of my connections again, still no brake lights. I threw the old lights back on and the same thing, no brake lights.
I ran a jumper from the connecter in the front trunk to my spare battery and the lights came on so I know its not in the back end of my vehicle. I checked the fuse box to make sure everything was ok, no loose wires or popped fuses. I then ran a jumper on my brake light switch plug from the red/black to the black and turned on the ignition key, booyah! I got brake lights.
I just want to be sure before I buy new switches that, that is my problem??
Any other suggestions or have I found the culprit? |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31362
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: Brake light switches? |
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| davethehead wrote: |
| I just want to be sure before I buy new switches that, that is my problem?? Any other suggestions or have I found the culprit? |
Stomp down REAL HARD on the brake pedal, with the ignition switched on, see if the brake lights go on when doing that. That's how mine were maybe a decade ago, and I replaced both brake light switches and bled, to fix the issue.
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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 |
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davethehead
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
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| Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Brake light switches? |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| davethehead wrote: |
| I just want to be sure before I buy new switches that, that is my problem?? Any other suggestions or have I found the culprit? |
Stomp down REAL HARD on the brake pedal, with the ignition switched on, see if the brake lights go on when doing that. That's how mine were maybe a decade ago, and I replaced both brake light switches and bled, to fix the issue. |
Tried out the STOMP method with no luck. Another note, the plugs did have brake fluid in them when I pulled them off, maybe bad seals jacked em up once fluid made it to the other side? |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31362
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: Brake light switches? |
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| davethehead wrote: |
| Another note, the plugs did have brake fluid in them when I pulled them off, maybe bad seals jacked em up once fluid made it to the other side? |
Sorry, I have no idea what you mean by this. Do you mean the rubber boot that goes around the brake cylinder has fluid in it - that would not be good.
| davethehead wrote: |
| Tried out the STOMP method with no luck. |
OK, time to bring out that $15 multimeter. Turn ignition on, should get positive voltage to one terminal on each brake switch (one of the two parallel terminals). Now have someone push the pedal down, should now get positive voltage out of one of the remaining terminals as well.
One can also remove the harness to the switches and check continuity between the two parallel terminals when someone presses the brake pedal down, should be continuity, less than 1 ohm or so.
_________________
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 |
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Sportbugger
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2008
Posts: 216
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to jack this thread - but I have a Brake Light, Brake Switch question.
'73 SuperBeetle, 3 Prong Dual Brake Switches
Brake system is not bled yet.
However with the ignition on I get constant Brake Lights
6 wires coming out of the Brake Switches..2 Red/Black that go to the Brake Lights,,,2 Black Wires that go to the Fuse Box Terminal #11,,,and 2 Red wires that go to the Brake Warning Light on the dash
Is it normal for this condition because the system is not bled? |
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