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Date:         Fri, 9 Oct 2015 18:42:18 +0000
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help me diagnose and fix no brake lights
Comments: To: Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfjuhHMTC3p+YDqkYtatvkXATaDjnK+08AZT+Tcs8+Fs1A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

OK, thanks for that. As I have time to troubleshoot, I find I am getting red-yellow hot all the time as is normal. Blue-gray connects the two switches as a fail safe and runs off to the brake warning light just in case both fail, I suppose.

That means that red-black is the problem, I think. Red black goes to a four pin connector that comes out of the dash, obviously going back to the lights. Since the lights work when I jumper the two reds, giving power to red-black from red-yellow, I suppose the problem is between the switches and the 4-pin connector. I will try to check that out now.

Jim

On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 1:26 PM Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> You have an '82 diesel? Looking at that in Bentley..... > S8 supplies constant (battery) + to brake switches via a red/yellow wire. > This wire enters one switch connector then splits off to the other. > You should see constant 12 volts at each yellow/red wire. > In a similar manner, a red/black wire goes from one switch connector to > the other, > becoming 1 red/black wire which carries + to brake lights when either > switch closes. > You should see 12 volts at either wire when brake pedal pushed down. > > Suggestions: > (likely NOT the cause) test brake lights with brake warning light > disconnected. > Test brake lights with one switch plugged in at a time. > Test brake lights while moving wires to switches. > > Ground is constant. > FWIW brake light ground is at "in connection box" > ..... whatever that means. ;) > > Neil. > > On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 10:23 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Another thing, if anyone is so inclined to do so, I need to understand how >> the switches are supposed to work. It looks to me like there is always >> power to the switch, and the pressure interrupts the ground, which is the >> bottom of the U-shaped arrangement of terminals, the two opposing >> terminals >> being red and red yellow wires, so maybe it is the ground wire I need to >> chase down? >> >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 11:43 AM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> > Bought two new switches this morning and installed them. No brake >> lights. >> > When the connectors are jumpered (the two opposing positions) both brake >> > lights come on. Getting power to them obviously. What else could be >> wrong? >> > Still out there with a voltmeter and a bentley, trying to make sense of >> > both. If the brake light switch connectors are getting power, and the >> > lights come on when the power is jumpered, and the old parts were new, >> and >> > the new parts are newer, then what else could there be that keeps these >> > lights from actuating? I just don't get it. >> > >> > Jim >> > >> > On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 10:36 AM John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> >> > wrote: >> > >> >> My experience with the lights when not working has been to take each >> >> fixture apart and clean the heck out of the connections getting rid of >> any >> >> rust and corrosion. Made sure there was good metal to metal contact >> where >> >> needed. Cleaned all lenses and lubed the seals with a little silicon >> >> lubricant, then reassembled them. >> >> >> >> Never dealt with a switch failure. That's a whole 'nother horse! >> >> >> >> John >> >> On Oct 8, 2015 20:43, "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> > I’ve had way too many of these fail. And, for some reason, they >> seem to >> >> > fail at the same time. Supposedly, if only one fails the brake >> warning >> >> > light should go on when you apply the brakes, but that has never >> >> happened. >> >> > Aftermarket suppliers can’t seem to make switches that can take high >> >> > pressure for very long. If the dealer still sells them get them >> there, >> >> they >> >> > are just too important to take chances. >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > Stuart >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > From: Jim Felder [mailto:jim.felder@gmail.com] >> >> > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 3:13 PM >> >> > To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com >> >> > Subject: Re: Help me diagnose and fix no brake lights >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > I have the three-pin connectors, but shorting the facing two causes >> the >> >> > brake lights to work. This isn't among the last work done, it was >> done >> >> two >> >> > years ago when I did the brakes and suspension. That's not a very >> long >> >> life >> >> > for a brake switch, in my opinion. I wish I could remember when I got >> >> them >> >> > from so I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > Thanks, all. I'll let you know if the new new switches work, but I'm >> >> > pretty sure that's going to be it. >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > Jim >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 3:54 PM Stuart MacMillan < >> stuartmacm@gmail.com> >> >> > wrote: >> >> > >> >> > First, short the two wires on each switch together and see if the >> lights >> >> > go on. If not, it's likely wiring, if they do, it's the switches. >> >> Replace >> >> > both of them. It's not uncommon for these to fail. >> >> > >> >> > Stuart >> >> > >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> >> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On >> Behalf >> >> > Of Jim Felder >> >> > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 12:27 PM >> >> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> >> > Subject: Help me diagnose and fix no brake lights >> >> > >> >> > Daughter was driving behind me in the Westy today and called me to >> say >> >> > neither brake light was coming on. All other lights working. Brakes >> >> > excellent, newish MC and brake light switches. >> >> > >> >> > All fuses look good. Where should I start looking? >> >> > >> >> > Thanks in advance for your help. I need to head out of town overnight >> >> next >> >> > friday. >> >> > >> >> > Best, >> >> > >> >> > Jim >> >> > >> >> >> > >> > > > > -- > Neil n > > Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca> > > 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy> > > 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/> > > Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay> >


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