Rear Brake Lights Not Working

[Arapo]

Help...

Rear brake lights are not working. I have a Tuscan S mk1 (2001) and none of the 3 brake lights work (the 2 on the back nor the one on the roof bar..).

Checked the fuse and its fine, and the reverse light works ok.

Any ideas where/what to check??

Thanks!!

[mv automotive]

Arapo said:

Help...

Rear brake lights are not working. I have a Tuscan S mk1 (2001) and none of the 3 brake lights work (the 2 on the back nor the one on the roof bar..).

Checked the fuse and its fine, and the reverse light works ok.

Any ideas where/what to check??

Thanks!!

brake switch at pedal box, short wires and see if lights come on.

Edited by mv automotive on Thursday 3rd December 20:00

[drivingfroggy]

It's more than likely the switch under the pedal. It's an easy fix, check it's alignment first, it may just need a tweak.

[kg55]

I use a pressure switch on the racer ( can be sourced from merlin motorsport) its much better and can be fitted in in about 30 minutes.

[Arapo]

Thanks guys - I will check in the morning..

Of course, I have no idea how this switch might look like, but I guess I will figure it out... :-)

[S6 Devil]

Arapo said:

Thanks guys - I will check in the morning..

Of course, I have no idea how this switch might look like, but I guess I will figure it out... :-)

It's a microswitch attached to the brake pedal. Sometimes the switch becomes faulty. It's a replace job that involves removing the peddle box and becoming a contortionist. Fiddly but simple!
RG had the correct microswitch for the job and only a few quid.

[Basil Brush]

S6 Devil said:

Arapo said:

Thanks guys - I will check in the morning..

Of course, I have no idea how this switch might look like, but I guess I will figure it out... :-)

It's a microswitch attached to the brake pedal. Sometimes the switch becomes faulty. It's a replace job that involves removing the peddle box and becoming a contortionist. Fiddly but simple!
RG had the correct microswitch for the job and only a few quid.

By pedal box I think you just mean the alloy cover, not the pedal box itself.

[Arapo]

Right - been practising my contorsionists skills.... Spent a few mins trying to find what's wrong..

Is the microswitch to the right of the pedal? Couldn't see very well... Didn't remove the pedal aluminium cover, as it was getting too dark and didn't have time. There are 5 screws, 2 on the bottom side, and 3 on the top side. From the top ones, the 2 on each side are different to the rest. Anyone knows if they all need to come off to remove the cover?

By the way, its filthy under there - needs a good clean when I remove the cover. Also, I found a small metal O ring on the floor of the car, under the break pedal.. God knows where it fell from!!

[S6 Devil]

Arapo said:

Right - been practising my contorsionists skills.... Spent a few mins trying to find what's wrong..

Is the microswitch to the right of the pedal? Couldn't see very well... Didn't remove the pedal aluminium cover, as it was getting too dark and didn't have time. There are 5 screws, 2 on the bottom side, and 3 on the top side. From the top ones, the 2 on each side are different to the rest. Anyone knows if they all need to come off to remove the cover?

By the way, its filthy under there - needs a good clean when I remove the cover. Also, I found a small metal O ring on the floor of the car, under the break pedal.. God knows where it fell from!!

Is the microswitch to the right of the pedal? It's on the right side behind the pedal on the metal assembly. You will need to get the peddle box cover off and all will be revealed and very obvious. I had three bolts at the bottom and two rubber covered bolts at the top. Easiest to remove them all otherwise you will only be able to rotate the cover making access even more awkward.

It may well be that the switch button is stuck and doesn't click open.
Well worth cleaning the peddle box whilst the cover is off and spraying all with a good lubricant (wurth, wd40 etc). Keeps everything moving nicely particularly the accclerator pivot bushes.

Edited by S6 Devil on Saturday 5th December 11:08

[mv automotive]

Arapo said:

Right - been practising my contorsionists skills.... Spent a few mins trying to find what's wrong..

Is the microswitch to the right of the pedal? Couldn't see very well... Didn't remove the pedal aluminium cover, as it was getting too dark and didn't have time. There are 5 screws, 2 on the bottom side, and 3 on the top side. From the top ones, the 2 on each side are different to the rest. Anyone knows if they all need to come off to remove the cover?

By the way, its filthy under there - needs a good clean when I remove the cover. Also, I found a small metal O ring on the floor of the car, under the break pedal.. God knows where it fell from!!

check the snap clips on the clevis pins connecting pedal to brake and clutch master cyl it was possible for the clips to come off and pin to work its way out from the pedal. make sure you take note of length of throttle stop bolt and clutch before you remove alloy cover.

[Arapo]

Update: I took the pedal cover off, and could clearly see the microswitch.

There are 3 flat metal bits sticking out of it (excuse the lack of knowledge on the terminology here, but I am Greek after all...!). Only on 2 of these - as you look at it, the top and the bottom ones - are cables attached. There is no cable attached to the one in the middle.

From what I know from other cars, if the brake switch is disconnected, the brake lights should come on as the circuit is broken. Am I right to think that? Because nothing happened when I disconnected the cables...

I fiddled with the switch, even tried swapping the connecting cables, but nothing changed.

??

[Ubernoober]

Microswitches are either 'normally open' or 'normally closed' in general use and require the opposite to complete the circuit - so in the case of a brake light switch, it is 'normally closed' and when pressing the brake pedal causes it to go open and so complete the circuit.

The three connectors as you describe are probably feed / no / nc so disconnecting both will not complete the circuit - putting the wires together will, so, if your lights still do not come on, the failure is not the switch.

[Arapo]

Haven't tried that! Thanks a lot, I will try it today...!

[S6 Devil]

When you push the brake peddle does the microswitch click open? The problem I had was that the switch did not click open as it was gunked up and didn't open.

[Arapo]

Will check that too.. There is so much dirt there, I wouldn't be surprised if it is indeed stuck..

[Arapo]

Honestly - these cars have a mind of their own...

Cleaned the area and the switch, and nothing happened, still no break lights. Took the car for a 30 min drive, and just as I was pulling in the garage, low and behold, the lights are working again..! No clue why, but I am not complaining...!

Thanks for the help guys.

[Whitey]

you went for a 30 minute drive with no brake lights? Good skills.

[Bob the Planner]

Whitey said:

you went for a 30 minute drive with no brake lights? Good skills.

I managed LFE to le Mans and back due a faulty reversing sensor blowing the fuse every time I selected 5th (was working at York !). Replaced the fuse a number of times but gave up about halfway through France. I did let the guys following know of the problem but that did leave me going across the M62 back to York - felt very nervous any time I a car more than 2 seconds behind ! Got it fixed the next day !