Brake Light Issues

Hi Lads/Lassie's,

Iv just noticed a problem with my brake lights,
If i gently touch the front brake lever the brake light illuminates, but if i grab it firmly it flashes quickly but then goes out, same with the rear brake, if i touch the foot brake pedal it initially lights but when i put more pressure on it the same thing happens, "Nothing"! ?
Its a K5 if that helps.
Anyone seen this before?? Cheers.

id give all the connectors a good clean to start , at pedal/lever and electrical contacts

see if the moving cables are sticking, and give them a lube

also check the earthing of that wireing

[Sid Squid]

If the light works at all then the connectors are unlikely to be the fault - the ubiquitous 'earth fault' is similarly unlikely to be the problem.
The switch is dirty or broken. Remove the switch, (one screw), and fill it with WD40 or similar, then click it on and off about 3,000,000 times. This might, if you're lucky, clean the contacts and allow the switch to work. If that doesn't work then if you're careful the switch can be persuaded apart so the contacts can be cleaned directly. If that too fails to improve matters then replace the switch, the last one I bought was about four pounds.

"then click it on and off about 3,000,000 times"...... What happens if i loose count half way through? Do i have to start again!!
Cheers lads im gonna have a go at that later and il let u know how it goes...

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by macker

What happens if i loose count half way through? Do i have to start again!!

Yes, and another 1,000,000 as a punishment too.

Well Sid, thankfully i didnt loose count and managed to get it right the first time round!!
That worked a charm and the lights are working perfectly now, did exactly that, took the switches off and WD40'd the bejaysus out it them!
Thanks a million for ur help, both of you.
Cheers, Colm.

[embee]

Just seen this thread, and as usual the Sid advice is spot on.

Just for info, the reason they work when just clicked on but then go out again as you pull the brake further is that the design of the switch has a "make-and-wipe" feature in the geometry of the contacts. In other words, when the switch goes over-centre and clicks the contacts closed, they first contact at one point then as the little button moves further the contact points move sideways slightly. This is intended to help keep them clean. However what happens is that when opening again they tend to arc a little, causing some burning and contamination of the metal surfaces around the initial contact point but not exactly on it. Thus the circuit gets made at the "clean" initial contact point but when it moves onto the dirty area the circuit is broken and the light goes out.

I've had a couple do this, both have been cleaned up and lubed with dielectric grease and are still working. WD40 seems to work well without having to take the switches apart.

If all else fails, they are cheap enough!

Embee....... Lord, I had to read that about a dozen times, to figure it out!!! From now on when i pull or press the brake lever/pedal il have images going on in my head like a scene from CSI Miami when they put something under the microscope and re-inact or try piece the puzzle together.......!!
Do you by any chance look like this guy!!?

[embee]

More like.......

Ha! Well, thanks for your help, Chat to you in the next cartoon....