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Sticky brake light switch

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1916baja Custom Title Time!

1,990 posts · joined Sep 2007 ·

#974662
My brake lights are stuck on in the type 3, I know it's the switch coz if you have the pedal a good stomp and release they'd turn off...

Anyone got a trick to un sticky it??

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974671
its a pressure switch. The metal diaphragm in it is likely leaking and filling it internally or a similar problem.


replacing it is the only option if you don't want to do any mods.

You can however fit a regular mechanical brake light switch from another car. don't use a ford one though. And set it up on the pedal.

Those type 3 brake pressure switches are hard to get, the repro ones suck.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#974672
Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

1916baja Custom Title Time!

1,990 posts · joined Sep 2007 ·

#974673
Dang... I really wanted to drive it this weekend 🙁 oh well.

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#974679
they may be the same as the beetle, you could swap it over.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#974681
OZ Towdster wrote:Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
Most of the hydraulic switches are the same,it is most likely choked with gunk due to lack of brake fluid changes.Don't bugger around fitting electric switches,fit a new unit and change the fluid.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974702
OZ Towdster wrote:Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
no, pretty certain type 3 were the only to have 3 prong switch and duel switch setup, yes? 2 switches, one 3 prong, one 2 prong

i only seen single switch with 2 prong on other models other than type 3.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974703
grumble wrote:
OZ Towdster wrote:Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
Most of the hydraulic switches are the same,it is most likely choked with gunk due to lack of brake fluid changes.Don't bugger around fitting electric switches,fit a new unit and change the fluid.
thats the problem, those new units don't last, some don't work out of the box either.

its a pretty well know problem amongst the type 3 owners over on the samba. few on them fitted mechanical switches and never looked back. they are ultra reliable. which is a hit and miss with the repro oem switch.

if you can get the NOS 3 prong you'll be right though. good luck on that.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974704
sorry 2x 3 prong switches.

yep, even more fun finding originals 😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#974713
vlad01 wrote:
grumble wrote:
OZ Towdster wrote:Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
Most of the hydraulic switches are the same,it is most likely choked with gunk due to lack of brake fluid changes.Don't bugger around fitting electric switches,fit a new unit and change the fluid.

thats the problem, those new units don't last, some don't work out of the box either.

its a pretty well know problem amongst the type 3 owners over on the samba. few on them fitted mechanical switches and never looked back. they are ultra reliable. which is a hit and miss with the repro oem switch.

Why make life harder than necessary? The kombis, T3's and Golfs use the 3 terminal switch,the most common cause of switches failing is the gunk in the brake master cylinder. If you can't get a switch pm me and i will get one to you. Cheers Les luck on that.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974782
I am not talking about the old switch failing. i am merely warning that the replacements available are junk.

just look up the amount of people complaining about the replacement switches and how hard it is to find good ones. Some people changed them 5-6 times a year, got sick of it and fitted mechanical switches instead, end of story.

replacing switches all the time and forever tinkering with aftermarket junk and then fitting a reliable proven OEM mechanical switch from another car like all cars have now anyway, that mind you will most likely outlast the car and some owners. How is that making life harder?

do you get what i mean?

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#974815
vlad01 wrote:I am not talking about the old switch failing. i am merely warning that the replacements available are junk.

just look up the amount of people complaining about the replacement switches and how hard it is to find good ones. Some people changed them 5-6 times a year, got sick of it and fitted mechanical switches instead, end of story.

replacing switches all the time and forever tinkering with aftermarket junk and then fitting a reliable proven OEM mechanical switch from another car like all cars have now anyway, that mind you will most likely outlast the car and some owners. How is that making life harder?

do you get what i mean?
Vlad I know what you mean in relation to parts quality. In the 20 odd years that I had my own workshop i purchased good quality parts from a few selected suppliers and had 2 failures that I am aware of,both of these switches were clogged with gunk from in the master cylinder,the master cylinders and brake systems were flushed or if there was a weep from the secondary cup replaced with no repeated problem. The secret is maintenance and as you say good quality replacement parts not good price parts.Cheers Les

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974852
but where do you find quality ones now? are they even made anymore?

If you know were to get them please let us know as it would help us people out a lot.

cheers.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#974901
Vlad I have one 3 pin switch left which i purchased from a VW dealership and 1 Olympic 3 pin switch which is aftermarket,if interested please PM . Cheers Les

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#974946
Has anyone thought of a VW dealer?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#974948
i thought that only late beetles in the USA had the 3 terminal brake switches and a button on the dash to test them..
My German made 68 beetle has two two terminal brake switches... still working... brake fluid changed every couple of years.. did it last year when I replaced the brake pads..
If Your fluid hasn't been changed in 10+ years check out the colour of it... if black is a colour... Brake fluid absorbs moisture
and the moisture [water] eats at any steel, like in master cylinders and wheel cylinders ...

LEE



vlad01 wrote:
OZ Towdster wrote:Yea, buy another one , and not a shit brazilian one .

Vlad , what are you on about , as arn't type 3 switches just the same as any other vw brake pressure switch
no, pretty certain type 3 were the only to have 3 prong switch and duel switch setup, yes? 2 switches, one 3 prong, one 2 prong

i only seen single switch with 2 prong on other models other than type 3.
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#974950
The 3 pin is for the brake warning light as well as the brake lights.

You can use a 2 or 3 pin to get your brake lights working.

Anything built after around '73 had the 3 pin for the brake warning. (ADR)
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#974961
AA003 wrote:The 3 pin is for the brake warning light as well as the brake lights.

You can use a 2 or 3 pin to get your brake lights working.

Anything built after around '73 had the 3 pin for the brake warning. (ADR)
yes, funny that. do any of the Aussie cars have a warning light that have standard 3 terminal switch?

I see all the yanky cars have a warning light on the dash, it was the first I ever saw a warning light.

so the 3rd terminal goes to nowhere?

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#974964
vlad01 wrote:yes, funny that. do any of the Aussie cars have a warning light that have standard 3 terminal switch?

I see all the yanky cars have a warning light on the dash, it was the first I ever saw a warning light.

so the 3rd terminal goes to nowhere?
All Australian VWs built after around '73 had the 3 pin for the brake warning. (ADR)

They have 2 switches. One for each brake circuit. They are interconnected and when one is off and one is on it lights the brake warning light on the dash. My '74 Kombi had it and all of my Golfs.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#974987
AA003 wrote:Has anyone thought of a VW dealer?
No it is easier to buy cheapies and then whinge about the quality.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#975050
AA003 wrote:
vlad01 wrote:yes, funny that. do any of the Aussie cars have a warning light that have standard 3 terminal switch?

I see all the yanky cars have a warning light on the dash, it was the first I ever saw a warning light.

so the 3rd terminal goes to nowhere?
All Australian VWs built after around '73 had the 3 pin for the brake warning. (ADR)

They have 2 switches. One for each brake circuit. They are interconnected and when one is off and one is on it lights the brake warning light on the dash. My '74 Kombi had it and all of my Golfs.


Guess type 3s at least never got the warning light. The spot in the dash always has a delete plug, no provision for a warning light in the wiring harness under the dash. They all have the 3 pin and plugs with wires under the car though.

I had 70,71,72 and 73 type 3 none had warning lights but all had the 3 pin with wiring under the car. Unless the 3 pin plug is only fitted with 2 terminals and one left blank?

I will have to investigate.

Anyone here have a type 3 with warning light? I am yet to see one other than yanky type 3.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#975051
It would probably be right at the end of production, if at all.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#975055
whats weird though, in the US they all had the warning light from 68ish? even the operator manual shows and points out the light. I have never seen an aussie car with it ever.
Thats why I thought it was a yanky only thing.
68 owners manual.




71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE