Brake light switch please?

[RickB]

I love the little switch I got from NicCJ on ebay - very easy to install - but... the first one lasted about 6 months then failed.
I emailed him, he had never heard of this happening and showing a great deal of class and customer service he sent me a new one for free. The thing came in a green box that said LUCAS on it.
It just went out after about 6 months.
This just aint right.

This is for the 78 Midget - I'm looking for a switch I can get that will last me some number of years. The original switches lasted decades, so that's not too much to ask right?

Thanks!

 

[Pythias]

just go down to NAPA and get a brake light switch. There's nothing "special" about it being LUCAS, you just want the threads to match... then it'll work .. if not forever (that's a long time) at least for as long as you own the car..

Simple, easy, CHEAP. (not concours, just functional)

 

[Luke_Healey]

Yeah, I'm running a brake light switch out of a VW something or other.. it's a metric size wrench to install it, but the threads were right. Like 5.00 at the parts store. I just had him keep handing me stuff until I saw one that looked like it'd work :wink:

 

[RickB]

I guess that's a thought.
I went ahead & pulled the switch, hooked it up to my meter & tested.
It sorta works. You push the button & release the button and it changes from open to some random amount of resistance. My guess is that when current is introduced it goes wonky.
Shorting the wires produces nice bright brake lights.

So - NAPA eh? I like those guys, I guess I'll drive over there tomorrow & see what they have.

When I found I needed a switch the first place I went was the boxes -o- stuff given to me by the PO of my current MGB.

I got all the way to the bottom this time and at the bottom was a box that said something like: "suspension kit".

Inside... a brand new front suspension kit for the MGB!! WOOHOO JACKPOT!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Yes, I was very happy!

 

[regularman]

Rick, if yours is like mine. You have to just about remove the pedal box to get the switch in. I drilled another hole over closer to the left and used a longer pin on the brake clevis to stick out farther and reach the switch. Now about any brake light switch will work.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

the trick with these switches is to be darn sure the pedal is not resting on the switch body.


mark

 

[RickB]

This one didn't fail mechanically - it's failure is internal to the switch itself. When it's connected to the system it doesn't work right - when removed instead of getting a true closed circuit it shows fluctuating resistance. Between 1 - 300 ohms randomly.

The Ebay seller I got it from replied to my email this morning and offered me a refund.
That's pretty amazing since I bought the first one from him in March of 2007. His Ebay handle is nic_cj & his store is Pats MG and Triumph parts. He's a good guy - I have gotten other stuff from him that's been just fine.
It's this switch:
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200237656558

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Maybe you need to fit a couple of capacitors to absorb the arc from the contacts.

...someone with real electronics knowledge may chime in here.

 

[BASS]

Yep, thats the same switch I bought from that ebay seller, which was much easier to install (screw in) compared to the original brake switch due to its shape. BUT, after about 3 months, the small button part froze in the down position and would not pop back up, causing the brake lights not to work. I ended up buying the one from Moss and it still works (BUT, it was a reallyyy tight fit trying to screw in the Moss switch, since its the same shape as the original one)!

 

[RickB]

Hi Bass, did you loosen up the box before installing?
Same thing happened to my first one from the Ebay guy.
This one failed differently - but still failed.
I also really liked the fact you could install it easier - just wish it would work. I suppose I could get another from him instead of a refund but I'm tired of replacing these and really tired of having someone stop in traffic to tell me my brake lights don't work.

I could put in a relay - I think the switch I've got closes enough to trip a relay - then let it handle the current. I'll think about that.

 

[BASS]

Rick,

No, I didnt loosen the box as the bolts holding it down were rusted shut. I was only able to remove the stuff on top of the box (dist. coil, etc.) and the box cover to gain access to the hole so I can screw the switch in.

Maybe just buy the one from Moss? Ive had no problems with it (yet), and its been 4 months...

 

[RickB]

I dug up a spare relay out of my 'big box -o- stuff' and found it to be good for this application.

12 VDC 30A ought to do it eh? Nice inline fuse too!

So I tested it & found it good (brand new but I still like to test first).
Hooked it up to my switch and wired the contacts to the brake light wiring and:

WaHoo - I have brake lights!!

Thanks everyone, another job behind me (for now).

 

[jlaird]

Way to go.