[T3] Brake Lights

[Bryon Garvin]

Ok, here is what is happening with my "no brake lights at all" situation.

Pulled the connectors off the switches.  With a continuity test on the pins
of the switches, here is the result (same for both switches).

Foot OFF pedal:
81 and 81a have continuity, no other pin combinations do

Foot ON pedal:
no pin combinations have continuity

According to my notes from last summer, I THINK, that pins 81 and 82a should
have continuity in order to turn the lights on.  So, it seems these switches
have failed.  Am I correct in the diagnosis?

Other notes:


   - I am not getting 12v at the brake lights (tested with volt-meter).
   - Bulbs are fine, they are not the problem
   - Tested continuity of wires at the MC to the rear brake light.  5 of
   them had continuity to the rear bulb socket, 1 did not.  The one that did
   not was from the rear MC circuit and was 81a.  But on the front MC circuit,
   81a DID have continuity with the bulb socket.  I found that weird, but not
   sure if it's my problem.
   - Brake test light works normally and tests correctly.

I am going to look at the wiring diagram and see if I can figure this out,
but its not my strong-suit.  If anyone has insight, I'd really appreciate
the help.

Thanks for your time!

 - Bryon, '71 Fastback

On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 10:44 AM, Bryon Garvin <spinningrooves at gmail.com>wrote:

> Sounds good Jim.  I'll let you know when I get to put a test meter on it.
>  Hopefully tonight.
>
> Dang, if both switches failed, that would be just one year of service and I
> don't really drive the car in the winter because it's not waterproof yet.
>  So that's really even less than a year....
>
> Time will tell. Thanks,
>
>  - Bryon
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 10:41 AM, <jadney at vwtype3.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> > Why would both brake lights not work when they were, up until recently?
>>
>> The 2 switches are wired in parallel, so teh system will work as long as
>> at least one switch is still good. The result is that everything will
>> appear to be fine until the SECOND switch fails.
>>
>> The reality of all this is that the quality of modern replacement switches
>> is really poor. They don't last long. It is most likely that both of yours
>> have failed.
>>
>> I have Meyle and another brand in stock for reasonable prices, but I don't
>> yet know if their quality is any better than what you bought before.
>>
>> Check out your switches and let us know where the problem was.
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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