Brake Light Switch issues

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capri
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Brake Light Switch issues

Post by capri »

Hi guys,

Just noticed today that my brake lights aren't actually coming on as early as they should do. Under normal braking they don't show at all, or flicker, only coming on constantly under moderate to heavy braking.

Is this a common fault on BXs? If so, will it be a new switch or can it be adjusted in some way? If it does need a new switch, is there some sort of bodge I could do which will see me clear until I can get hold of one, so that I can still drive the car?

Like a fool I've managed to leave my Haynes back home in Southampton, so I don't have it with me at the moment. I think i've located the brake like switch - is it the piston-like thing on the back of the pedal going into the bulkhead? If that's not it, could someone direct me as to where to find it?

Cheers!

Alex
1984 Black Ford Capri 2.8 Injection (Specialised Engines Stage II) - Pride & Joy
1996 Hermes Red Citroen Xantia TD SX Estate - Autoroute Cruiser
Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

What I just said on MSN :P
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Post by BX Bandit »

Could be one of 2..

1) incorrect adjustment of brake light switch
2) brake light switch f*cked

It's in the haynes but can't be arsed to go look...so if it will wait till the weekend....I have found that the switch just becomes reluctant over time...a good work out (on the switch) seems to work for afew years...
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Post by kiwi »

Use your Foglights as a back up :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by jeremy »

The brake light switch is not attached to the bulkhead - its attached to a bracket above the pedal arm - and is operated by the pedal arm itself. There are 2 terminals, porbably with 3 wires coming out of it.

New ones are less than £5 from Citroen if I recall correctly, and they are a bit fiddly to fit as the thing is secured by 2 nuts on its shaft. Unlike a Mini or other cars where the thing screws into a threaded boss this one goes through a plain bracket so its necessary to get one of the nuts on the back. Best done by feel as you have to depress the pedal while you get it on.

Hewever the thing is adjustable. From the sound of it the switch is secured too low (or near the pedal) so it needs the lower nut loosening and then the top one tightening too move it away from the pedal.

I did have one fail on me - and switch cleaner etc wouldn't make it work consistently (I was on holiday at the time)
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Post by Kitch »

Thats odd, the one I have is different.

I have a nut kinda welded to the bracket, to which the switch screws into. Then I have a really thin silver nut which locks the switch against the bracket when its been wound to the right height.

Thats what I've just advised Alex anyway, his car is the same sort of era to mine and the switch sounds the same by description.
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

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Post by Kitch »

Thats odd, the one I have is different.

I have a nut kinda welded to the bracket, to which the switch screws into. Then I have a really thin silver nut which locks the switch against the bracket when its been wound to the right height.

Thats what I've just advised Alex anyway, his car is the same sort of era to mine and the switch sounds the same by description.
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

CCC BX registrar: The national BX register - click to submit a car!

1983(A) 16TRS (Rouge Valleunga)
1990(H) 16Valve (Rouge Furio)
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capri
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Post by capri »

Right. Done, after much faffing. :lol: As it turns out, my switch is the same as Kitch's

I've never claimed to be any good at spanner wielding, and tonight's attempts haven't done anything to change that! :lol:

Still, it's fixed now and I no longer have to stamp on the brakes to get the brake lights to come on! :lol:
1984 Black Ford Capri 2.8 Injection (Specialised Engines Stage II) - Pride & Joy
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Post by jeremy »

Much easier with a boss welded on - mine was a complete pig to do as it doesn't seem worth removing the seat for such a trivial job but getting enough of my body in to get both hands to the pedal was very difficult - and I had to do the job by feel as any question of seeing what I was doing at the same time was obviously out of the question.
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