NickNigel Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Ideas please According to the workshop manual the brake light switch is just ahead of the master cylinder. Well its not on my car. Both my brake lights have failed so I have done the usual checks - Bulbs both elements in each bulb are fine. (tested remotely with a transformer I have). Fuses both are fine. a look behind the dash to see if there are any obvious wires disconnected - None. An inspection of the wires feeding the units - all fine. I therefore conclude it is the brake switch but where is it? The only place I think it could be located is under the flat plate inside the car that sperates the clutch and the brake fulcrums as it must be operated from the movement of the brake pedal. Anyone know? My car was a US spec car orignally Sept 1962 California but all converted to RHD. thanks Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Hubball Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Hi Nick The brake light switch is situated on the 4 way brake pipe union on the chassis by the starter motor. because of the closeness to the exhaust dowm pipe it often gets cooked.A worthwile mod is to resite it working off the brake master cylinder as on the TR4A,but this will involve making a simple mounting bracket for the switch and possibly lengthening the wires. Cheers Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 ...and if you go mechanical use the "BMW" old style metal case switch rather than the modern style joke plastic thing offered by the British classic car specialist network. Link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OLD-TYPE-2-PIN-BRAKE-STOP-LIGHT-LAMP-SWITCH-E6-E10-E12-61311368786-NEW-/251080289512?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a758d2ce8#ht_480wt_921 Plastic item http://www.ukclassicparts.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=10 Cheers Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I think the TR4 'hydraulic' brake light switch is the same as or similar to that on the sidescreen cars. The switch on my TR3A became intermittent last year and after a morning of testing it and all associated wiring, I gave up and fitted a spare 'electro-mechanical' TR4A switch in the end of the master cylinder bracket. It just needed one hole to be drilled and allows fine adjustment to make sure the brake lights come on as soon as I touch the pedal - useful for frightening tail-gaters. I was also able to use the existing wiring, just re-routing it from the chassis switch to the bulkhead area. One day I'll have another go at solving the original switch problem ... maybe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NickNigel Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Thanks to you all Chris, Pete W and Brian for your solutions. I went for a straight replacement with a view to converting to the electro mechanical switch by the master cylinder as the TR4A is set up. Still trying to get the old pressure switch out of the brake junction so maybe I should go to step 2 immediately! Sorry I did not acknolwedge my appreciation earlier but home PC got a virus caused by the manufucaturer of the virus checker....now that's scary. Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
North London Mike Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 ...and if you go mechanical use the "BMW" old style metal case switch rather than the modern style joke plastic thing offered by the British classic car specialist network. Link http://www.ebay.co.u...e8#ht_480wt_921 Plastic item http://www.ukclassic...rch=Yes&sppp=10 Cheers Peter W I have a 'Joke' plastic one , works fine though........................ (replaced failed T piece early 'hydraulic' switch) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ade-TR4 Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Late TR4s had the same arrangement as the TR4a. Cheers Ade Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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