Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 17, 2018

• #1

Hi all,
Possibly a dumb question but I've just bought a series 2 from 1964. When testing lights they all work but no brake lights come on.

Before I go checking wires and whether some Muppet put single fillement Bulbs in, I thought I'd check....... SHOULD a series of this age have brake lights or were they not fitted back then?

Cheers

 

H

Hicap phill

Well-Known Member

• Nov 17, 2018

• #2

Yes....
Are the Pedals out the floor or the top of foot well?

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Nov 18, 2018

• #3

Is there a brake light switch?

Col

 

Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 18, 2018

• #4

Thanks both. I'll take a good look today in the light. I suspect it's got the old style hydrolic switch on the brake service under the hood. Don't think I saw a modern switch on the pedal. I'll start diagnosing it today. Will post back what I find.

 

Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 18, 2018

• #5

Ok guys, it was indeed a switch above pedal! Very corroded and fell off in my hands. Shorted the contacts and brakes light up so ordered a £2.99 replacement switch! Cheers!

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Nov 19, 2018

• #6

I've heard of owners having problems with setting the switch adjustment. Is there enough of the old switch left to give you a guide.

Col

 

ObiWanKenobi

Active Member

• Nov 19, 2018

• #7

I've just been through this process. When you get the new switch, you have to be very careful when turning it in and out to make the adjustment. You screw it in deeper and the brake lights stay on. You unscrew it, and the brake lights do not come on at all. There is the sweet spot in the middle where the brake pedal will operate the lights, but it is a very fine adjustment. The challenge here is that you must remove the wires from the switch with every turn, and if you leave the wires attached, you can actually damage the internal part of the switch (these are cheap switches) in twisting it with the wires still attached. So you really need to be delicate here in removing the wires and putting them back on with every turn and test. Good luck!

 

Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 20, 2018

• #8

I shall take a look when the switch turns up! The old one is pretty well rusted into the thread and bracket so that'll be the first challenge! The one that fell apart was just a bar of copper and a spring inside so yeah, as you say, pretty cheap but pretty simple! Gotta love the old landy components!

 

ObiWanKenobi

Active Member

• Nov 20, 2018

• #9

Longstride said:

I shall take a look when the switch turns up! The old one is pretty well rusted into the thread and bracket so that'll be the first challenge! The one that fell apart was just a bar of copper and a spring inside so yeah, as you say, pretty cheap but pretty simple! Gotta love the old landy components!

Click to expand...

I think I misspoke. If your brake light switch is at the top of the pedal under the dash, that's a different affair than I described. I think you do still need to be careful with the contacts when turning or adjusting the switch, but the switch at the pedal under the dash is easier to adjust than the brake light switch on the Series IIA which is under the bonnet. Keep us posted! Thanks!
Mike

 

Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 20, 2018

• #10

Yes this one is top mounted if that makes sense. So only when you depress the brake does it create a circuit. Still waiting for new one.

 

Longstride

Active Member

• Nov 21, 2018

• #11

New £2.99 switch arrived, I unscrewed old one and put new one in! Bingo, instantly working brake lights!

Cheers all