Stop light switch?

[Al]

Having an issue with my early 31 SW brake lights. When first applying pedal, brake lights work fine. However as you continue on the pedal the brake lights go out. No impact on tail lights/turn signals. Could the switch work for first portion of travel and then not work? What else to check in order to diagnose?

Special shout out to my wife who pushed the pedal further in out test session than I did, helped discover why a fellow motorist let me know I had a brake light issue.

Thanks
Al

 

[Ed in Maine]

Hello Al, the problem is most likely at the switch which is actuated by the brake pedal. Some of the repros are poor. The best switches have a brass bushing for the input shaft. The switch comes off the car very easily. Remove wires, and the two mounting screws. With the switch on your work bench it is easy to test it with an ohm meter. If you confirm that the switch as a problem, take it apart (unbending tabs) and look at it. Maybe you can fix it. If not, you have to get a new one. Ed

 

[1955cj5]

Here are a couple pics of the inside of the switch. In this position the switch is closed, brake lights would be on.

The shaft on this switch has been altered where it contacts the brake actuating arm.

The disc is insulated material so it may have worn a flat spot.

If you heat the tabs that hold the switch together and anneal them you might get it back together without breaking them off.