brake lights diagnostics
Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 10:23 am
1980 Vanagon:
I have been having trouble finding out why my brake lights won't come on. I have checked bulbs and fuses and there's no issue there.
Some conditions that may be germane:
-Rear brakes have about 2000 miles on new drums and shoes that worked good after replacement. I ran out of time to R&R front components.
-Bus sat for a year.
Let me throw a couple symptoms at you:
-Braking is 'slippery" it takes quite a bit of pressure to make things really engage to stop the vehicle. Pumping helps a little.
As I push on the brake pedal there is a noticeable point when I can feal something bottoming out but there is still pedal travel.
Q: do both of the master cylinder brake light switches need to engage to illuminate the lights. In other words if I have a faulty circuit (air in the lines or old non sealing plunger cup) would that prevent the brake lights from lighting?
I was planning on doing a full bearing/brakes once over on the front end but am thinking to buy some time I would just bleed out the system to eliminate the air in the line potential.
I am leaning toward replacing the master cylinder but would like to stop the $$$ bleeding.
I have been having trouble finding out why my brake lights won't come on. I have checked bulbs and fuses and there's no issue there.
Some conditions that may be germane:
-Rear brakes have about 2000 miles on new drums and shoes that worked good after replacement. I ran out of time to R&R front components.
-Bus sat for a year.
Let me throw a couple symptoms at you:
-Braking is 'slippery" it takes quite a bit of pressure to make things really engage to stop the vehicle. Pumping helps a little.
As I push on the brake pedal there is a noticeable point when I can feal something bottoming out but there is still pedal travel.
Q: do both of the master cylinder brake light switches need to engage to illuminate the lights. In other words if I have a faulty circuit (air in the lines or old non sealing plunger cup) would that prevent the brake lights from lighting?
I was planning on doing a full bearing/brakes once over on the front end but am thinking to buy some time I would just bleed out the system to eliminate the air in the line potential.
I am leaning toward replacing the master cylinder but would like to stop the $$$ bleeding.