Support Team rob spencer Posted January 19, 2003 Support Team Share Posted January 19, 2003 I've just been in to the garage to see the car and start it up (doesn't get out much at the moment) and found that both brake lights don't work. I suspect the switch. I have not looked yet, but how easy is it to get at the switch and is it a repairable thing or am I likely to need a new one? Cheers Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 easy peasy to get at and change by taking the pedal box lid off. Can be adjusted, but I doubt mended very easily. Prob as easy to fit a new one. If you bridge the wires first, you can check that it's the switch. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 Rob, the question is, does the brake light switch fit in the brake pressure line, or, is it installed at the pedal fulcrum position?, if it's fitted to the brake line ON NO ACCOUNT TRY TO REPAIR IT, as you may well end up in the scenery with no brakes at the rear, if it's at the pedal end I'am afraid I can't assist. Some other more knowledgable scholar will probably help with the latter. Have fun, Nigel. 1982. 5 speed, clamshells. B.R.G / Ali. The True Colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.R. Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 The pedal box switch can be repaired by carefully prising apart at the locking lugs with a small screwdriver. Then after finding all the bits that have dropped on the floor you can clean the contacts and reassemble to see if you did indeed find all the bits and it works I manage to get a temporary reprieve on my car with the hydraulic switch by standing as hard as I can on the brake pedal, this must partially clean the contacts as the pressure required to switch on the lights then falls within what is usually used on the road - for a while! Edited by - J.R. on 20 Jan 2003 11:46:54 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 when ours failed, we just put a new one in. stamping on the brakes worked for about 1 day. i got a rover part which did the trick and fit right into the pedal box hole the old one was in. Steve Metalic Black SV-VHPD click here to see our pictures.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team rob spencer Posted January 20, 2003 Author Support Team Share Posted January 20, 2003 The car is only a year old so will it be pressure activated switch or a button-on-the-pedal type? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 our SV has a button on the pedal type, convient and easy peasy to get to in the box...just don't short the wires or you get to get a fuse(s) as well there are two wires going to the brake fluid resovoir but i don't have a clue where they go do, and haven't chase dthem down Steve Metalic Black SV-VHPD click here to see our pictures.... Edited by - w1scb on 20 Jan 2003 15:11:20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberts Wallet Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 Steve, the wires from the brake fluid resovoir go to the brake switch on the dash I think so when you press the switch and you have fluid the lamp should come on. Well thats what they said at Caterham when I bought the car Blue and Carbon Supersport T561 LKJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 I thuught that shorting the wires to each other was exactly what the switch did. Don't short them to the chassis though as I guess one of them will be live. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Rob, as your car is only 1 year old it will have the button on the pedal type switch, I think the pressure activated switches were discontinued in the late '80s, regards Nigel. 1982. 5 speed, clamshells. B.R.G / Ali. The True Colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team rob spencer Posted January 21, 2003 Author Support Team Share Posted January 21, 2003 thanks guys I think I'll order a switch from caterham ready for the weekend, just in case. They're not much (less than £3 in the parts list I got from a thread on blatchat a few months ago). ISTR the lights not working very briefly last summer, so it is quite likely to be a switch prob. Don't fancy trying to reassemble the tiny springs and stuff if I take the old one apart. How do they get these things together in the first place? (you don't have to answer that one) Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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