Mrs Kipper Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 I have a dicky brake light switch that works very intermittently. Is this a standard part available from Halfords or similar, or only from Caterhams? Car is a 2000 (year) K 1600 Supersport. Kipper Fun is not a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikehoile Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Hi Kipper.. My brake light switch was intermitant until someone suggested a slight spray of WD40. No problem since - hope it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kipper Posted May 20, 2002 Author Share Posted May 20, 2002 Mike Tried that but no luck. Kipper Fun is not a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 I've disassembled, cleaned and reassembled quite a lot of these switches now. They become dirty due to arcing caused by bad installation. Owing to the fact that a Caterham brake pedal only moves a slight amount, the brake switch only disengages a tiny amount, which leads to arcing. Take the switch off the car and carefully flip the back panel off the switch. There's a spring inside (I know. I searched for 40 minutes inside RatRace's van on the Se7ens list Euro2001 tour for my spring) so be really careful. Clean the contacts with some lightly abrasive paper and a give it all a light spray with some switch cleaning solution... or WD40 if you don't have "servisol" handy. On refitting, make sure that even the lightest touch on the pedal causes the lights to come on. This way you can be assured that in normal use the pedal is pressed firmly and the switch is fully switched on - i.e. the gap is large enough to prevent arcing in future. Make sure the return spring on the pedal is sufficiently strong enough to prevent your brake lights from coming on when driving over a bumpy road though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kipper Posted May 20, 2002 Author Share Posted May 20, 2002 V7 SLR Many thanks for the detailed reply. I will have a go at this as soon as I can. Kipper Fun is not a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Septimus Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Why aren't they plumbed into the hydraulic system any longer? The old pressure operated switches seem pretty reliable and pedal movement is not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Personally I think a hydraulic one is far superior in principle, for the reason you state and I've never had one fail in the years I ran old Minis, but it seems that people often complain about them in the Caterham-world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 I have never had probs with my pressure activated one either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kipper Posted May 21, 2002 Author Share Posted May 21, 2002 V7 SLR Thanks for the instructions. Did exactly what you said and I now have break lights!! A lot cheaper than a new switch and only took about fifteen minutes. Thanks again. Kipper Fun is not a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 My pressure activated brake light switch became "tired" ie would only activate the lights when stood on with huge force, being a nosey bugger I took it to bits, and the diaphragm which made contact with the two wiring connectors had corroded, thus offering a high resistance circuit, and no brake lights in normal operation, but this does seem to be its only failing, and that after 18 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Septimus Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 Mine seems fine after> 30 years and I have driven a fair number of old bangers/classics where the pressure switch seems to have an unlimited life. Would modern brake fluids have any bearing? I still use Dot 4 and I guess that the higher spec fluids which might be more hygroscopic could induce corrosion. Two steps forward and one back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 Good news Kipper. I've had a whole range of minis, all over 20 years old and they have all had the hydraulic switch which has never failed. The advantage with them in my opinion is that people can't ride the brake pedal, causing the brake lights to light up. The lights only work when there is real braking force. Much better in principle. That said, I can't be arsed to change mine. I don't ride the brake pedal anyway... In fact, I rarely use them. teeth.gif Edited by - V7 SLR on 22 May 2002 10:01:57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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