Brake lights dont work, It was working at okteenerfest, now suddenly not |
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Brake lights dont work, It was working at okteenerfest, now suddenly not |
DRPHIL914 |
Oct 12 2018, 10:32 PM
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#1
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Dr. Phil Group: Members Posts: 5,808 Joined: 9-December 09 From: Bluffton, SC Member No.: 11,106 Region Association: South East States |
What is the most likely cause of the nonfunctioning lights? So i dont think its a fuse or the bulbs, i checked close the filaments are ok, the driving light part lights up when light switch is turned on, so it seems most likely that the switch quit working. it seems the wires are on tight and when brake pedal is pushed in the switch is moving correctly. My switch is a double pole switch, does it matter which wires go where? There is a black/ grey wire that goes to bottom pole, and the other group go to the top one. i would like to pull the switch and test it but its not easy to access it.
ideas or suggestions ? Phil |
jcd914 |
Oct 12 2018, 11:52 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,081 Joined: 7-February 08 From: Sacramento, CA Member No.: 8,684 Region Association: Northern California |
Get a voltmeter or a 12volt test light and test for power to the fuse for the brake lights, power to the brake light switch and power out of the brake light switch. If those check out then check for power at the tail light housings.
Electrical parts are hard to check visually. Jim |
billh1963 |
Oct 13 2018, 07:53 AM
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#3
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Car Hoarder! Group: Members Posts: 3,403 Joined: 28-March 11 From: North Carolina Member No.: 12,871 Region Association: South East States |
Get a voltmeter or a 12volt test light and test for power to the fuse for the brake lights, power to the brake light switch and power out of the brake light switch. If those check out then check for power at the tail light housings. Electrical parts are hard to check visually. Jim Yep. With new paint make sure your grounds are good as well. |
76-914 |
Oct 13 2018, 08:59 AM
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#4
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Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist Group: Members Posts: 13,611 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California |
Be sure that the small pigtail that goes to your brake switch is routed correctly and not cut by your pedal. That switch is easily accessible if you pull the seat and accelerator pedal.
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PanelBilly |
Oct 13 2018, 10:26 AM
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#5
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,840 Joined: 23-July 06 From: Kent, Wa Member No.: 6,488 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Few weeks back my brake lights stopped working. I pulled the switch on the brake peddle and tested it with an meter finding that it was the problem. After looking up the replacement cost, I tried the meter again just to make sure. Worked intermittently. I snapped the lever a few times and woola. It worked. Maybe there was some dirt in there blocking the connection. Checked multiple times and it always worked. I reinstalled it and everything’s fine.
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Spoke |
Oct 13 2018, 01:58 PM
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#6
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,052 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None |
Few weeks back my brake lights stopped working. I pulled the switch on the brake peddle and tested it with an meter finding that it was the problem. After looking up the replacement cost, I tried the meter again just to make sure. Worked intermittently. I snapped the lever a few times and woola. It worked. Maybe there was some dirt in there blocking the connection. Checked multiple times and it always worked. I reinstalled it and everything’s fine. As you noted, mechanical switches can get dirty, arced over, and oxidized and stop working or working intermittently. When you do the exercising of the switch it's also very helpful if contact cleaner is sprayed into the switch. Drown that thing in cleaner. |
DRPHIL914 |
Oct 14 2018, 05:16 AM
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#7
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Dr. Phil Group: Members Posts: 5,808 Joined: 9-December 09 From: Bluffton, SC Member No.: 11,106 Region Association: South East States |
Few weeks back my brake lights stopped working. I pulled the switch on the brake peddle and tested it with an meter finding that it was the problem. After looking up the replacement cost, I tried the meter again just to make sure. Worked intermittently. I snapped the lever a few times and woola. It worked. Maybe there was some dirt in there blocking the connection. Checked multiple times and it always worked. I reinstalled it and everything’s fine. As you noted, mechanical switches can get dirty, arced over, and oxidized and stop working or working intermittently. When you do the exercising of the switch it's also very helpful if contact cleaner is sprayed into the switch. Drown that thing in cleaner. its a good place to start, i will get home tomorrow, and pull the switch and test it. its not as easy as suggested when you have a center console in the way. i dont see anywhere that the the wire would be pinched and the connection to switch are tight. The little lever that moves with brake pedal moves freely. since i checked the grounds and the fuses, and bulbs check out good too, it looks like the switch is most likely culprit. i ordered a new one from sierra m. just in case. |
bdstone914 |
Oct 14 2018, 06:34 AM
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#8
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,673 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
Start at the easiest points to check, Fuse, power at lights at the rear. Rarely do the brake light switches go bad or have issues.
If you install the Sierra Madre switch it is probably a Uro and are way out of adjustment. It is actually the same as genuine Porsche. Nearly impossible to adjust in the car. Look at the amount of thread exposed above the jam nut. Set the new one to the same height. Test after installation to see when the lights come on. It should activate with about 1 inch of pedal travel. Turn in the screw to make the lights come on sooner. Bruce |
bdstone914 |
Oct 14 2018, 07:48 AM
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#9
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,673 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
@DRPHIL914 fyi
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