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Brakelights

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M

mgray

Freshman Member
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I just purchased a 1977 MG midget and having trouble getting my brakelight to work. My running lights and all other lights work? Any troubleshooting recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Fuse? If not:
Disconnect the battery.
Check the switch right in front of the master cylinder. Are the wires connected? Do you have a meter? Check the switch, does the circuit open and close when the switch is activated?
Is the switch screwed in far enough to be activated by the pushing of the brake pedal?
 
Do bear in mind the brake lights are wired through the ignition for some odd reason. They won't work unless the key is on. Otherwise, the switch could be at fault. Mine just gave up the ghost with no warning.
 
mgray - disconnect the two wires connected to the brake light switch and short them together with the ignition on, check to see if the brake lights come on. If the lights come on, the switch is bad and will need to be replaced. Be aware that replacement switches today are junk (I had one burn out in only two weeks) so you will need to make and install a relay/arc suppression circuit to make the switch last. See instructions for making the circuit at: https://www.mgexperience.net/article/brake-light-relay.html
Adjusting the brake light switch (if it is on the pedal cover and activated by the pedal) will only affect how far the pedal is pushed before the brakelights come on. If it is adjusted too far out, the brakelights stay on all the time - too far in, the brakes will not release all the way.
Cheers,
 
Or you might find a NOS Lucas part somewhere...

I put this one in my Midget - so far, its been good.

ebay brake switch
 
RickB said:
Or you might find a NOS Lucas part somewhere...

I put this one in my Midget - so far, its been good.

ebay brake switch
Click to expand...

Those are made by Cuttler Hammer and I had one of them fail in less than two weeks. A NOS Lucas switch will hold up for many years if they are really old stock (red box), if they come in the green box, they don't do so well. I even put the reay/arc suppression circuit on our MGB after I had nstalled one of the NOS red box Lucas switches.
Cheers,
 
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