Hi Guys

Ive recently bought a buggy in VIC and I'm going through
getting it Re engineered in NSW. (Engineered & Blue plated in QLD)


On the list of things it requires,

"Brake fail warning light"
I've been told that the easiest way is to have it hooked up
to a handbrake light on the dash. Switch under handbrake,
Comes on when on, off when off.

Is it a float level Indicator which gets used on the fluid reservoir? I've been
told that Mitsubishi vans are a good fit to beetle master cylinder?

I have an auto elec coming round on Tue to hopefully help have this
sorted out.

Thanks
DD

From what I gather its some pressure differential setup with the switches on dual circuit MC that switches the light when one circuit is active but the other is not?

Also, could be wrong on this, but I thought aussie AC VWs never had this, only USA? I say this because I see all the US cars have them, not seen a single aussie vw with the light or any of the wiring associated with it. So I am not sure why engineering is requiring this?

I am not sure what the purpose of the brake warning light is for to be honest, when you go to press the brakes you already know if they failed or not, they also don't warn against shitty brakes pads or air in the line which in my opinion are both a state of failed brakes lol

There was a handfull of Aussie cars that had them, I know some Kombis around 73 did.
There was actually one on ebay last night I was surprised at what it sold for.

Vlad, seems there were people stupid enough not to notice the brake pedal almost going to the floor so needed a warning light to tell them there was a problem instead

Its not too hard to hook up, you just need a pair of 3 terminal M/C switches and you would have to tap the M/C for the 2nd switch as they don;t normally have the port then just one of the brake warning lights.

Other option if your buggy uses a dual circuit bug res is to swap it for a Volvo one which has a low level float built into the lid.

Hi, thanks guys for your help.

I think your right Joel, but as everyone els has been telling
me their not sure who it's required.

The buggy I have has a dual circuit brake system which was
Installed when the buggy was built and engineered in QLD in 2006.

Vlad I hope that he is only requiring a Low level float indicator as I've
been informed on the Manx forum that Mitsubishi Vans also
had these and should fit the VW m/c.

Any idea what Volvo that cap would be off?

This is the m/c on my buggy

That is the first time i ever seen or heard of a low fluid level warning on brakes ^

very interesting.

The warning systems I was only aware of are the dual 2 way switch setup, which the switches were there on later bugs? and type 3 for certain (dont know about buses) but was wired in parallel so the brake lights work from either circuit and the 2 way action of the switch unused in the case of Australia as far as I know, the wiring in the loom for it doesn't exist in all the cars I have owned or worked on but that only goes as far as 73.

I know for certain the USA had it in pretty much all dual circuit MC, Americans are pretty dumb I guess

The T3 vans have a low float level sensor on the fluid reservoir. In the lid similar to that pictured.

Cheers Pfillery

I just have to confirm that this is what the engineer requires, I'll be happy if
this is all I need to get for the warning light.

By the sound of it you need the fail warning for dual circuit. What year is the buggy? It seems funny they want a fitting that was not an ADR requirement on he original car. Might be worth checking out. Generally if the buggy is based on, for example, a 65 pan, then ADR rules for 65 apply, and so on. If, as pointed out, the Aussie built bugs didn't have these, your buggy shouldn't need it, unless it's been engineered as an individually constructed vehicle. But in that case you'd need air bags etc etc.

Thanks mate, I'm honestly not sure why it's required. It's a 1959 pan and with a 2002? fibreglass body, so
I'm not sure why this is required, most people have said it wasn't required for their engineered buggies!

I'll be speaking with the engineer on Tuesday to clarify.


DD

Yeah it can be a bit of a mixed thing. Some 1959 ADRs will apply ie anything goes, and clearly some 2002 ones will apply. I would have thought if previously engineered and registered in qld, most of the things would carry across, but state rules can differ I guess.

Let us know how you go.

I would imagine if you plan to upgrade to rear discs, an upgrade to a dual circuit master cylinder would be good anyway, and would enable fitting of the warning light.

Hi Guys

I spoke with the engineer this morning and he said my buggy is being engineered
as a "Modified Production Vehicle". (1959)

Brake fail warning light, all I need is a "Low fluid level Light".

So the hunt is now on to find the easiest way to
provide him with this.

I've been told the Mitsubishi Vans reservoir fits this MC &
Joel has said, the Volvo res also fits which has an inbuilt float level switch which fits this MC.
(Joel do you change the whole res or just the cap? Do you know what
model Volvo?)



Cheers
Dan

I've been up to a brake specialist and been told I need
a new master cylinder to be able to use a cap with
inbuilt sensor......

So I called into Nymyer Automotive VW specialists and
spoke with them, we worked out that the Transporter reservoir
cap (which has an inbuilt float sensor) fits my reservoir.
It's the MC which sits on a 45deg angle and reservoir sits flat.

I'd like to get hold of one of these caps!! I may have to adjust the float
length as I think it'll be too deep for my MC but the cap
fits and I won't have to change my MC or reservoir!!



Where to get one??

Cheers
Dan

Troll the local wrecker, find one from any car and then fit it to your cap (or buy a spare stock cap for yours and fit it). May be the quickest option. Lots of universal ones on ebay.

The cap which fit my MC, it was off this
transporter MC.

STRANGE all I needed was a hand brake & seatbelt warning light & mine is 1976 pan with 2000 year body...

Hi Paul

Yeah I'm not too sure why on my 1959 pan it's required but anyway I'll just go with it lol

I'm not sure what bus this reservoir was off, but the cap fit my reservoir so I'll try to find one
of these.

If anybody has any idea of where I could grab one of these PLEASE let me know.


Dan

Hi Guys

I ended up buying the cap with inbuilt sensor from Nymyer Automotive at Belmont North , its the cap
from the reservoir in the above pic.

TIme to wire it up and get another off my engineers list!!