Dash Brake Indicator Wires

[carguytroy]

Hope I called it the right thing. The little red button on the dash that is supposed to tell you if the brake switch is bad I guess. Anyway, it has two wires that go to it. I have a part of a video I made that I can see a little brown wire that goes to the center connection but I don’t think I can remember seeing anything that went to the side connector. What wire would possibly go to that? The wiring is a mess as it is and I need to take time to clean it up but would like to know what is supposed to be where before I start thinning things out. There were a few wires not hooked to anything and I looked at the wiring diagrams on here and got most everything sorted out except this.

[jeffrey8164]

This is an image from my 70.
The red wire comes from the brake light switch. The other two go to the Emergency Flasher Switch. Black to 15, Brown to 31
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[sjbartnik]

What year my dude? The function and wiring changed a few times over the years.

First, the purpose of the light is not to tell you if the brake light switch is bad.

The purpose of the light is to tell you if you have a hydraulic failure in one of your two brake circuits. If the hydraulic pressure on the two brake light switches is the same, then the light will stay off. If the pressure is different (for example, if a hose blew and dumped out your brake fluid) then the light will come on when you push the brake pedal. This will also be accompanied by a pedal that goes way farther to the floor than normal and greatly reduced stopping ability.

Early versions of this light could be pushed as a bulb check, if you push it the light will come on to let you know the bulb is good.

Later versions were tied into the alternator warning light circuit so that the light would come on when you turn the key on and then go off when the engine starts.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[c21darrel]

^^1968.
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GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[carguytroy]

1968 Ghia, like c21darrel said. Sorry I forgot to post that. The wiring in this poor car is sad. Worst part is the guy before me paid someone to re wire it a few years ago. Lots of wire nuts like you use in a house.

[jeffrey8164]

Time, patience, a wiring diagram and a few beers will be helpful.
_________________
Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[Hokie87]

If your master cylinder has three 2-prong switches:

If your master cylinder has two 3-prong switches:

[carguytroy]

Thanks guys. Got er hooked up. Just finished up the rest of the dash restore so I’ll have to test it out. On to the next project, probably the horn ring.
And clean up my mess