can I bodge series 3 brake lights just for 1 night ?

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neilc75

Active Member
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190
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Birmingham
Its my daughters prom this week and she wants me to take her and three of her friends in the series 3 , all good on inspection apart from the brake lights , they wont come on , rear lights all work apart from brake lights , turns out no power to switch , can I as a very temporary Bodge run a live wire with a fuse directly from the battery to the switch? , I appreciate that this isnt an ideal solution however Ive got approx 2 hours spare this week to sort, I dont see why this would be a problem , its literally for approx 3 hours.
 
neilc75 said:
Its my daughters prom this week and she wants me to take her and three of her friends in the series 3 , all good on inspection apart from the brake lights , they wont come on , rear lights all work apart from brake lights , turns out no power to switch , can I as a very temporary Bodge run a live wire with a fuse directly from the battery to the switch? , I appreciate that this isnt an ideal solution however Ive got approx 2 hours spare this week to sort, I dont see why this would be a problem , its literally for approx 3 hours.
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As long as the lights come on when you press the brake pedal, it is fine. Will probably work for years.
 
Turboman said:
If there is a fuse and a switch between the lights and the battery, it isn't direct.

I can't remember what Series 3s have got, but on a Series 2, which doesn't have much less electrics, there is only one glass fuse for the entire electrical system.
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Iirc that one fuse only does horn and wipers?
They got posh later and had two glass fuses!

Always carry a spare length of wire and some choccy blocks in the series, once got my headlights going for the 120mile run home.
 
lynall said:
Iirc that one fuse only does horn and wipers?
They got posh later and had two glass fuses!

Always carry a spare length of wire and some choccy blocks in the series, once got my headlights going for the 120mile run home.
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I think it might do sidelights and tail lights as well. But whatever it does, it doesn't blow very much, I assume most people have fitted bigger fuses over the years.

One thing it doesn't do is the starting, that is taken care of by a simple mechanical push button that puts all the current direct to the starter and ignition.
 
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Ok I've got an issue now, I've removed the switch and its stuck in, Im assuming it should be out, I tried hitting it, drowning it in wd40 and heating it up, I'm assuming that it should be on a spring and easy to push in and then spring back, I would have thought however if it was stuck in then the lights would be permanently on? I need a replacement before Friday in Birmingham, any suggestions please
DSC_0411.JPG
 
Eurocarparts have similar, I might have to give that a go, I imagine the thread might be wrong though.
 

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neilc75 said:
Ok I've got an issue now, I've removed the switch and its stuck in, Im assuming it should be out, I tried hitting it, drowning it in wd40 and heating it up, I'm assuming that it should be on a spring and easy to push in and then spring back, I would have thought however if it was stuck in then the lights would be permanently on? I need a replacement before Friday in Birmingham, any suggestions please View attachment 292140
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Craddocks should have 1 on the shelf.
 
Thanks ill have a look , got some possibles there. I would have thought the plunger being stuck in would have put the light on permanently , any thoughts?
 
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neilc75 said:
Thanks ill have a look , got some possibles there. I would have thought the plunger being stuck in would have put the light on permanently , any thoughts?
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Thought they operate the other way round. Plunger out bridges the switch on a spring.
Give it a good knock to see if it’s jammed up. Plenty of cleaning fluid may help.
 
Ive managed to get one , I googled classic car spares and there was a place hidden away 4 mins from my work place BSB car spares , West Bromwich , I called ahead he had it waiting on the counter when I arrived , great customer service , would recommend, one of those places hidden away on an industrial estate ,
 
Ive not had much luck with those brass switches (went through 3 duff new ones in a month, various brands including Lucas). Ended up making up a bit of angle inside the cab and fitting the later plastic switch from a 90. Was meant to be temporary but it works so well Ive just left it
 
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