79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
- airkooledchris
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- Location: Eureka, California
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79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
Ive got this on both of my buses currently, where if I use anything less than half of the available pedal pressure on the brakes - the lights won't come on.
Is this a side effect of worn switches on the master cylinder?
I knew it was happening on one of the buses, but someone pulled up beside me the other day in my primary bus and said my brake lights were out. They weren't, but I hadn't needed to depress the pedal far enough for them to come on either.
Is this a side effect of worn switches on the master cylinder?
I knew it was happening on one of the buses, but someone pulled up beside me the other day in my primary bus and said my brake lights were out. They weren't, but I hadn't needed to depress the pedal far enough for them to come on either.
1979 California Transporter
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braki
My buddy has a squareback that does the same thing. I beleive it is from the front switch being bad and only the rear one is working. I have not been able to confirm this because he doesn't really care if they work or not. ![pale :pale:](./images/smilies/icon_pale.gif)
![pale :pale:](./images/smilies/icon_pale.gif)
1968 Karmann Ghia - Driver
1969 Transporter - Project
1959 Karmann Ghia - Full Race Car
1969 Transporter - Project
1959 Karmann Ghia - Full Race Car
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braki
Plural of bus is many "buses". Thank the British for all of these weird rules.airkooledchris wrote:Ive got this on both of my buses currently, where if I use anything less than half of the available pedal pressure on the brakes - the lights won't come on.
Is this a side effect of worn switches on the master cylinder?
I knew it was happening on one of the buses, but someone pulled up beside me the other day in my primary bus and said my brake lights were out. They weren't, but I hadn't needed to depress the pedal far enough for them to come on either.
I would install new (quality German) switches and see if they work with greater sensitivity. Although I am intrigued by bajaman72's explanation, I don't know how that would affect switch pressure.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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- Getting Hooked!
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braki
This is typical of low-quality brake light switches. It's the reason I converted to a mechanical switch long ago: the only stock-type switches I could obtain at the time
either failed in the manner described within weeks, or were bad right out of the box. The switches work independently, and one switch being bad will not affect
the function of the other.
The contacts inside the switch might arc excessively and wear or become fouled if they are made to carry greater current than they were designed for, as happens when
people install "third" brake lights. In such a case, using a relay to operate the brake lights would be the thing to do.
either failed in the manner described within weeks, or were bad right out of the box. The switches work independently, and one switch being bad will not affect
the function of the other.
The contacts inside the switch might arc excessively and wear or become fouled if they are made to carry greater current than they were designed for, as happens when
people install "third" brake lights. In such a case, using a relay to operate the brake lights would be the thing to do.
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braki
Thanks for the replies. Im going to try two new German made ATE brake light switches to see if this helps first.
I think, in part, that the problem was made worse by my last brake adjustment, as I require a lot less pedal now than I did before to get the stopping power I need. They aren't dragging - just adjusted to where I have pedal right away now. It only takes me 4 clicks out on the e-brake to get full lock.
I think, in part, that the problem was made worse by my last brake adjustment, as I require a lot less pedal now than I did before to get the stopping power I need. They aren't dragging - just adjusted to where I have pedal right away now. It only takes me 4 clicks out on the e-brake to get full lock.
1979 California Transporter
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braki
Pressure actuated switches should not care in the slightest. They are reading only the shoes/pads once they have arrived at the drum/rotors . . . . I maintain my brakes at top of the pedal and have not had any noticeable light actuation issues.airkooledchris wrote: I think, in part, that the problem was made worse by my last brake adjustment, as I require a lot less pedal now
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
bad bus owner confession:
I still have those two new german switches sitting in a box in the garage and the brake lights still don't come on without excessive pressure.
I'm an ass and will TRY to get to this job this upcoming week.
Doh.
I still have those two new german switches sitting in a box in the garage and the brake lights still don't come on without excessive pressure.
I'm an ass and will TRY to get to this job this upcoming week.
Doh.
1979 California Transporter
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
Let us know if the required pedal effort to turn on the brake lights goes down,airkooledchris wrote:bad bus owner confession:
I still have those two new german switches sitting in a box in the garage
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
I have the same issue in my vanagon. I tried new switches last year, with no change...
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
Mine seems to have worked, brand new German made switches. Need to test again now that some time had passed
1979 California Transporter
- hercdriver
- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Beaver, PA
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Re: 79 Transporter - brake lights work only under hard braking
From who did you buy those switches? Link?airkooledchris wrote: brand new German made switches.
66 Beetle
75 Westy
Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. -Socrates
75 Westy
Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. -Socrates