Brakes Lights

Does anyone have pictures of how to replace the brake switch? My brakes lights are out. Finicky. v v

it is vintage VW. The brake switch screws into the brake master cylinder. find the master cylinder and you can't miss it.

Mike--would that be under the gas tank? Forgive my ignorance. My boyfriend probably knows where it is. Is this a common problem? v

Vicki,

Yes, directly in front of the brake pedal. There are two wires on it. Pull them off and touch them together. If the brakes light, the switch is bad.

Carey

Vicky,

The quality of the VW switches is spotty at best. They crap out or leak past the crimped on plastic tops. There doesn't seem to be a clear, good OEM supplier (German, Brazilian or Mexican)they all have the same problems. My VW mechanic buddies recommend the switches sold by CNC. 3 years and 4 different Master Cylinders later (Don't ask) and my CNC switch is going strong.

Aaron

Is it the third one in this picture?
http://cncbrakes.com/cncbrakes.com-asp//acc.asp?grp=acc&subgrp=all&series=bls&subseries=

v v

Yep.

You'll notice that it has screw posts instead of male posts. You should be able to find the new wire ends locally, if not I can mail you some.

Aaron

Also, if you don't know already, the easiest way to get at it is remove the drivers side wheel and you'll be able to see, reach and replace it.

Bert--this is great news because I thought the gas tank had to come out! I would be a dangerous mechanic. Thanks for the tip. v v

Before you buy anything, sometimes Becks come with two switches on the master cylinder, so you may merely have to move the wires to the good switch. Any halfway decent mechanic should be able to check out the switch and wiring for you, it is pretty simple.

Bert--we tried reaching the brake switches by removing the wheel as you suggested, and golly was it difficult to reach! I got the wires switched over to the redundant switch but the lights still didn't work, making me wonder if the second switch is bad or the connections need to be cleaned. What are the odds of both switches being bad? There was no way to put a brand new switch in through that angle. It's just too tight a space in which to work. Dave is thinking that through the access panel underneath might be easier. We didn't try that yet. Any thoughts?? v v

Did you check for 12V at the socket? May be a ground problem or even 2 burned out bulbs. Spin the fuses around to make sure there is contact. Also make sure you have power to one side of the switch. Could be a bunch of things besides the switch.

Bill--thanks for the reply. After we got the wires disconnected, I touched the wires together and the lights came right on, so I know it isn't the bulbs. I'll pass your message along to Dave the boyfriend. Thanks!! v v

No problem. I don't have a spyder or speedster, only a lowly 1959 MGA so I know about electrical issues. If the lights come on when the wires are touched then it is an issue with the switch. I just didn't want you to break into jail if the switch was not the problem.

I lurk in this group because my first car was a '63 356B S90($1500) followed by a $900 '61 B Cabriolet and I used to wrench at the local Porsche Audi dealer a long time ago. I used to wrench for a guy who ran the Pennsylvania Hillclimb series in a roadster. That was an incredible series, C Jags, 2 718 RSK's, an Abarth Porsche,Speedsters galore and a bunch of Elvas, Coopers and other extremely rare cars being beat hard up the hill. Back then an old race car was a giveaway, not a priceless object d'art. The king of the hill was a guy with a 2 year old March Formula A car with Chevy small block. I miss the good old days when there was such a thing as a good $100 car.

Hi Vicki. I can generally get to what I want through the drivers side wheel well but for those times when I can't I actually took a giagantic chunk of fiberglass out of the front area as you look into the car below the gas tank. I cut most of it out with a dremel then added rivnuts to it and I have nearly complete access to the front suspension.

My Thunder Ranch is open from between the frame rails, and from the kick panel/firewall to the battery box. I can email pics if you'd like.

Aaron--yes, please email pictures to vicki.viar@vanderbilt.edu
Thanks! v v