brake lights

Hi

My brake lights only come on if I really REALLY press the pedal down. Is there a way of adding "something" to make my brake lights come on when the pedal is just pressed lightly.

Cheers

 

Your switch on the master cylinder may need replacing. Try cleaning it up first but most likely the switch is failing.
Only a few quid

 

Provably a dodgy light switch .
Located on the master
Cylinder under the belly pan - may have two , depending on the year .

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

 

I had this issue changed the switch to a mechanical type. Brake light now works instantly and you don't need to mess about bleeding brakes.

 

So your brake system is most likely full of black corrosion and moisture laden fluid as you never bleed it even when you have given yourself a chance ..
Just change the cheap and simple to change switch which is more likely to keep working than an aftermarket bodge. A lot of work bodging a switch and bracket to be lazy..
And you get clean brake fluid too...

 

@snotty why 2, I have 2 switches but the wires only go to one on mine, my brake lights do work though

 

The double doo-dahs were so it could detect whether one brake circuit had failed (you should have a "B" light on the dash). Your van's likely been modded so it only uses one.

 

This brake light on the dash you all talk about, is it fitted to late bays as standard

 

No, unless you've got the dual-switch setup. Mainly US-market, I'd think. Have you really got two switches, and connectors for them?

 

Hydraulic switches only work when there is pressure in the system and the brakes are already applied. Even if the fluid is squeaky clean and the brakes work perfectly the switch can only work when there is pressure – it’s a pressure switch. And with gentle braking there is often insufficient pressure to operate the switch.
It’s not a bodge, or at least it isn’t if it’s done properly, to fit a mechanical switch which operates as soon as the pedal is pressed and before the brakes are applied and pressure is built up.
Incidentally, this can happen to a hydraulic switch with instant loss of brakes.

 

Yes 2 switches on my early but as I said only one connected, have i got a later one ?

 

A later what?

 

At your age Bazza I'd say early

 

Master cylinder

 

Aftermarket bodge?

Its a Lucas made part and not Chinese rubbish which a lot of the new brake sensors are. Are mechanical switches not used on new cars?. I have new brake fluid and wheel cylinders and not moisture laden fluid.

I hear the vw pressure switches are the ones to go for as the cheap ones will fail on you

 

Possible.

 

had a look at the switch last night and its a Hydraulic switch can they be swapped for a mechanical switch?

 

But i would by pass the one on the master cylinder and only use the one under the pedal.