Hi everyone,

Both my stop lights aren't working. I'm sure this is a really simple problem, but let's assume for now that I'm stupid. I've looked at the wiring diagram in my manual and the only common place I can see is the stop light switch under the master cyliner. The wires look attached (I thought maybe they might have been knocked off). So what are the common problems I should be checking for?

TIA

this be easy
should be 2 stoplight switches hanging off the master cylinder each with a rubber pull off plug with 3 wires coming out, you should also have a "B" orange warning light on thedash just to the lower left of the speedo it should go on when the ignition on & off when the generator light goes out & generator light goes out,
check this & get back for step 2

Thanks for the reply! This could take a while if we go through the steps one at a time, I'm posting this while at work so I can't check the warning light until I get home so I can't post the result until tomorrow etc... any chance of giving me a couple more steps now? Thanks!

Probally the first thing to check would be the globes.... in the rear. replace if necessary.

check the wire on the fuse block or fuse.

get under neath pull the wire of the brake switches and join them together, if you have someone else around turn the ignition on and the brake light should be working disconnect the wires n they should go off. which means yr brake switch is buggered.

sorry, didn't realise you were at work, funny, where would we be without the internet at work

Is this on a bay window? Mine ('76) has one switch on the master cylinder. I was checking the lights before a trip and thought the brake lights weren't working then remembered they only go when the ignition is on. How embarassment! Also have had problems with terminal corrosion on various rear lights resulting in intermittent faults.

Yeah I should have mentioned, it's a '75 bay. It looks like it's got one switch under the master cylinder with two wires coming out.

I had the same terminal corrosion problem with a rear indicator recently, i guess it could be the same problem on both brake lights but the rear driving lights (which are the same bulbs but different elements) are working so that seems unlikely. Still, cleaning them can't hurt, so I'll do that anyway!

should have two identical switches, one for the front brakes circuit & one for the rear brake circuit So - If there are 2 switches & only one wiring plug, plug the wire onto the other switch, that is how i "fixed" my first Kombi but first check the fuse, also remember that with the engine not running you have to use more pressure on the pedal to operate the lights as there is no booster assistance

It turned out the contacts on the switch were a bit dirty/corroded, cleaning them fixed it.

Interstingly, there's only one switch and one wiring plug with two wires, which is different from what people expected for a '75 bay. I guess it just goes to show that kombi configurations can change!

Thanks for all your help.

Thats weird -everything from 1972 at least should have dual mastercylinder with two brake light switches , even the 1972 I use for spares has that, you should check that you have 2 brake lines coming out of the master cylinder for your own safety, it is possible that one brake light switch has been removed & a bolt put in the hole

[Edited on 27-3-2003 by kombikim]