Morris Minor Owners Club

As title. I can't get the brake lights to work. I've checked the bulbs and there ok. Not sure where to look now. I don't think there​ is a fuse covering the lights. It's a split screen model . Any ideas where i could start?
Thanks
Steve

Power to the brake light switch. Then power through whilst the pedal is pressed.

There is a fuse. Same one that protects wipers and indicators. If they're working then look at the brake light switch. Might be faulty. Might simply be a broken/disconnected wire or poor connection at the switch. May be worth checking in the boot in case something like a rogue tool-roll or improperly secured spare wheel has caused any wiring damage

Sorry to be thick but how do you get at the switch at the pedal?

Not sure about the MM but the brake light switch is in line on a brass 4 way union (sometimes with bush on sometimes screw on terminals) with the brake pipes. On later models it is to the LHS of the radiator in the engine compartment

https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl= ... mrc&uact=8

Same on my Series 2. Down in the depths on the drivers' side of the radiator. Don't remove the switch unless you need to otherwise you'll have some brake bleeding to contend with as well.

The switches do fail - especially the new ones, which aren't great quality. As an aside, I must have replaced 10 of these over the years, and never once have I needed to bleed the brakes afterwards.

Great. Thanks guys.
Steve

palacebear wrote: May be worth checking in the boot in case something like a rogue tool-roll or improperly secured spare wheel has caused any wiring damage

This happened to my tourer a few years ago. The spare wheel was chafing against the wire and caused the insulation to wear through and the brake lights to become intermittent.

To test the circuit simply disconnect the two connections on the switch, connect them together and the lights should light up, this will prove if it is a switch problem or a circuit problem.

Can't be sure yours is the same pressure operated brake light switch but mine went last year and reading up it is a common problem.
Advice I read at the time was to wrap area around the switch with rags and quickly swap the switches over. You'd loose a lot more fluid if you have a high level remote brake fluid reservoir but air getting in wouldn't be an issue. The switch can be bled through the threads of the connection by getting an assistant to gently press the pedal whilst fully tightening up. It works and my switch was changed with no air in system.
I have also fitted LED rear bulbs which are expensive but reduce the switched current and therefore risk of the switch contacts burning out.
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/led-bulb-b ... 380lr.html

neilmorey wrote: I have also fitted LED rear bulbs which are expensive but reduce the switched current and therefore risk of the switch contacts burning out.
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/led-bulb-b ... 380lr.html

I like the idea of LED stop/tail bulbs. Moss catalogue states 'negative earth only'. If correct, is there a source of positive earth LED bulbs anywhere?

www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com do positive earth light boards for the Lucas MM rears. I fitted these to mine to reduce the load across the switch and they work well.
Colin

Thanks for that Colin. I recently got my self-flashing trafficator LEDs from the same guy. Was pleased with his.quality and dispatch time. Will have a look at his website again

Trickydicky wrote:To test the circuit simply disconnect the two connections on the switch, connect them together and the lights should light up, this will prove if it is a switch problem or a circuit problem.

Hi Trickydicky i have also problems with one brake light on me splitscreen the o/s works and the n/s is inop i have tried connecting the two wires together and the brake lights dont come on does that mean the switch is at fault or their is a fault in the circuit
Thank you

From your description it sounds like a earth problem, the earths for the rear lights are attached to the bumper mounting brackets in the boot. Check they are clean and secure.

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be that the clip in the light itself was loose and needed tightening up. When putting the light back in it would wiggle out and short against the bodywork, I tested the switch, calling earth points but it turned out to be something really simple

Thanks for the feed back