Three prong brake wire help

[mickey12]

I have a ’68 bug with two-three prong brake light switches. Help, by the numbers, which wire goes where?

[Michael Ambrozik]

A 68 should have 2 2-prong switches, see wiring diagram.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bug_6869.jpg

you can still get 2 prong switches

https://www.jbugs.com/product/113945515H.html

[Matt Wilson]

Do you have a brake warning light on the dash? I found this diagram to be helpful, although you may need to chase the wire connections and proper terminals down, as well as get the rubber boots.

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1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle

[mickey12]

thanks for the research. Got some OEM wire and a new main harness, working through the mess. Let you know what happens.

[Matt Wilson]

The switch end of the wires uses those tiny female spade connectors, which can be a little fragile. I'd suggest testing the bulb before you get it all back together too.
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1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle

[Michael Ambrozik]

The right switch will use .25 connectors not .110

[sb001]

Here is a good diagram showing the way the 3 prong brake switches are wired:

http://www.speedyjim.net/schem/2brake.gif

Solid black wire coming from fuse block splits and goes to 82a terminal on each brake switch, this provides power to each switch

Black wire w/ red stripe comes off each 81 terminal, they join together and go to the rear brake lights. When you press the brake pedal the hydraulic pressure closes the switches and current travels through the brake switch from 82a to 81 and goes to your rear brake lights lighting them up.

Solid red wire comes off each 81a terminal, they join together and go up to your brake warning light on the dash. If one of your brake circuits fail, the current travels through the GOOD switch but then instead of going to your rear brake lights, it goes up to the brake warning light on the dash instead.

Here is another diagram of how the system works (upper left graphic shows the way the current travels when one of the circuits fails):

http://www.speedyjim.net/schem/3brake.gif

P.S. Being a 68 your dash brake warning light should only have 3 terminals, the one pictured above with 5 terminals is for a later model where that light also functions as a parking brake light.

I am unsure what some of those wires in your photo above are- some of them do not match the factory wiring colors.
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[sb001]