Date:         Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:27:14 -0500
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brake Light Switch?
Comments: To: teerhb@HOTMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

It is probably a corroded connector in your tail light unit if it is only
on one side, it will often work and then short out and go blind.
The little brake light switches are inexpensive so it may be best to just
clean the light sockets and if that doesn't fix it go for the new switch.

Stan Wilder
83 Westfalia Air Cooled

On Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:00:45 -0400 Harold Teer <teerhb@HOTMAIL.COM>
writes:
> The other day, someone behind me at a stop light honked and told me
> that my
> brake lights were not working.  I was grateful for the information,
> but
> surprised since my '91 Westy had just been safety inspected and
> passed with
> flying colors.  I tested my brakes and found that the brake lights
> only come
> on when I press hard on the brakes. Since I tend me baby the brakes,
> I found
> that I can come to a complete stop without the brake lights coming
> on.  On
> the other hand, I can make the lights come on by stopping pretty
> hard.
>
> I have subscribed to "the list" for many years and don't remember
> seeing
> this problem mentioned.  I also searched the archives (great to see
> the
> search working so fast) and found no mention of this particular
> problem.  I
> looked in Bentley and found the brake master cylinder diagram and it
> appears
> that there are two brake light switches.
>
> My questions are:  Does this sound like a brake light switch
> problem?  If
> so, how difficult is it to replace the switches?  It appears to me
> that I
> will have to remove the instrument cluster, and from Bentley, it
> looks like
> brake fluid may leak (or pour) when I remove the switches.  I do
> minor
> maintanence on the van, but am not a mechanic.  Therefore, my wife
> knows to
> multiply my time estimate of any repair by a factor of 6.  :)
>
> Any advice will be appreciated.
>
> Harold
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Harold Teer
> Harrisonburg, VA
> teerhb@hotmail.com
> '91 Westy
>
>
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