brake lights.

[samuria]

i thought i had the car ready for the m.o.t now the brake lights dont work my car has a servo they work great. could it be the brake switch? if so where does the power lead come from? have found the switch. can a switch be repaired or do i just replace it?

[billlobban]

Its fairly easy to check the switch - with the ignition on you should have power to one side of the switch (use a multimeter or test lamp to check) when you press the pedal you should get power to the other side. If that works then the fault is in the wireing rom the switch to the brake lights
If the switch is faulty - replace it

[mike.perry]

Connect the brake light switch terminals with a piece of wire or a paper clip etc. turn the ignition on and if the brake lights work then the switch is faulty.
Do all the other things on the ignition fuse work? eg wipers, indicators, heater

[samuria]

thanks . yes everything else works. my car is a 63, with the red rear lens.

[PSL184]

Same brake switch was used throughout (except for the way the wires were connected to it) so just short across the switch as Mike says. If the brake lights come on then the switch is faulty. If not you then need to check the wiring or possibly both bulbs have blown.....?

[samuria]

the only switch that i have is mounted in engine bay,[frame][/frame]

[aupickup]

yes thats the one

[samuria]

thanks guys will have a look tomorrow, if a new switch is needed , do i just remove it and replace?

[PSL184]

Looks like the other end of that wire with the blue spade on the switch is connected to fresh air !!!

[mike.perry]

Well spotted, that wire does not seem to be doing anything. The two wires coming out of the sleeve should be connected to the switch, it looks as though the wires could be incorrectly connected.
If you try the previous test and the brake lights do not come on then connect a test light between the green wire and a suitable earth. With the ignition on the bulb should light.
Is the '63 model the one with the relay system for the brakes and indicators? Could the relay be causing the problem?

If you replace the brake switch, when you unscrew it be careful not to bend or snap the brake pipes. When the switch is removed you will expose the fluid. If you have the new switch ready and swap them over quickly then you should avoid getting air into the system and having to bleed the brakes.

[samuria]

Looks like the other end of that wire with the blue spade on the switch is connected to fresh air !!!

the wire with the blue spade on runs on the outside of the the black sleaving the other wire was like that when i got the car ( not so well spotted)

[bmcecosse]

So - where does that 'extra' wire go ? Join the two together as alraedy said - and the lights should come on. I assume they used to work ok - just failed recently?

[PSL184]

Looks like the other end of that wire with the blue spade on the switch is connected to fresh air !!!

the wire with the blue spade on runs on the outside of the the black sleaving the other wire was like that when i got the car ( not so well spotted)

You are the one without brake lights seeking help so sarcasm does not exactly endear yourself to those trying to help you

Having zoomed in on the photo I can now see that the "new" wire is a bodge which bypasses the original wire which has failed in the past. The original wire probably rubbed somewhere and shorted out and as the new bodge wire probably follows the same route the old one took it is quite likely it has also rubbed at the same point.

[samuria]

i wasnt being sarcastic. the reply you gave seemed as if i hadnt looked and missed the obvious. so no hurt intended. once again i thank all for your benifical help.

[PSL184]

Sometimes it is the most obvious that is overlooked... As this has been messed with in the past it would be my first point to look at before anything else. It would be a shame for you to go to the trouble of fitting a new switch for the sake of a length of wire.....

[bmcecosse]

So - if you join both wire ends together - do the brake lights come on ?

[samuria]

had a look today, joined the wires no brake lights, the bulbs are ok. seems as if there is no power at the switch lead? as this car has had many gauges fitted i dont fancy touching all the different conections, so its off to the auto-electrican tomorrow

[FrankM83]

are these brake light switches useless? mine failed twice and the van hasn't yet hit the road now my mechanic manages to fit a bracket and a microswitch near the pedal, works wonders

[bmcecosse]

In this case -appears the switch is probably ok - it's bodged up wiring to blame!

[Stig]

are these brake light switches useless? mine failed twice and the van hasn't yet hit the road now my mechanic manages to fit a bracket and a microswitch near the pedal, works wonders

I got through several of them over the last couple of years, whether it was a bad batch or they didn't like silicone fluid I'm not sure. I then bought one from an MG specialist (the same type are used on Sprites/Midgets) and it's been fine.