RE: Brake light switch

["Sasha Nackovski" <snackov@domain.elided>]

Hi Fergus,

In case your enquiry hasn't already been answered, the brake light switch on
the standing pedal cars is located on the rear brake proportioning valve,
which is located underneath the car on the right hand side. Follow the metal
brake lines back from the brake master cylinder to the back of the car, and
you will find the valve, mounted on a right angle bracket. The switch is
hydraulic, so it gets activated by fluid pressure in the brake system. You
should first make sure that the switch is recieving 12v of power to one of
the terminals,and that it is outputting 12v of power on the other terminal
when your helper steps on the brake pedal.  If it isn't recieving 12v, than
you have a circuit fault upstream. If it is recieving 12v but isn't sending
out 12v, than the switch is probably rooted. You can test the switch off the
car with an air-compressor and a multimeter, but I would not bother. I would
just install a new unit. This is a universal hydraulic switch used by many
English cars (mini, MG, Jaguar etc) and also Fiat etc, so they should be
easy to buy new in your part of the world and shouldn't cost more than a few
pound. Remember that if you remove the switch you will lose some brake
fluid, so work quickly or else you may need to bleed your braking system.

Regards,

Sasha Nackovski- Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia.

> Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 16:12:29 +0100
> From: Fergus McVey <Fergus.McVey@domain.elided>
> Subject: Where's the light switch?
>
> Esteemed Digestives
> Having finally put down the cash to get my 1969 105 Coupe back with the
prop
> and UJs done, I'm now informed by a number of exasperated fellow motorists
> that my brake lights don't work. This isn't actually true, they just don't
> work until you really stand on them. I've cleaned the contacts in the
light
> clusters, but no joy so I thought I'd adjust the light switch, but cant
find
> it. I've got the floor sprouting pedals, but I cant see anything inside or
> connected to the cylinder underneath. My workshop manual is coy on the
> issue, any ideas?
>
> Many thanks
>
> Fergus
> 1969 105 Gulia Coupe 2000
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