At 01:20 PM 7/3/98 -0400, Dan Masters wrote:
>Take a look at your brake switch. There are two terminals on it, one with
>one or more green wires, and one with a green/purple wire. First, jumper
>between the two terminals with a short piece of wire, with the key on. If
>the lights work, then you have a bad switch. If not, then you are either
>missing power to the switch, you have a break in the green/purple wire, or
>you have a bad ground. To check for power, look for 12 volts on the green
>wire.
>
>If you don't have 12 volts, then there is a break in the wire somewhere in
>the wiring harness or at the connector, (since everything else works, you
>know it is not the fuse). If it is not the connector (terminal), you will
>need to provide a new source of power, as it is very difficult to find the
>break and repair it. Just find a convenient terminal somewhere under the
>dash with a green wire on it, and connect a piece of wire from that terminal
>to the brake switch, after checking to be sure that power is available at
>that green wire.
>
>If you do have 12 volts on the green wire, check for 12 volts on the
>green/purple wire (with the key on and the brake depressed). If you don't
>have voltage here, then you have a bad switch as well as other problems.
>Once you're sure the switch is ok, or have replaced it, move to the back of
>the car and look for 12 volts on the green/purple wire at the back of the
>brake light sockets. If you don't have 12 volts here, then there is a break
>in the green/purple wire, and you will have to run a new wire from the
>switch.
>
>If you do have 12 volts, and this is the most likely problem, then you have
>a bad ground connection in the socket itself. Very carefully clean all
>ground connections, making sure there is no paint over the ground
>connections to the body.
>
>If the problem isn't solved by now, you have bad bulbs, which I'm sure you
>checked first, or serious spooks in the wiring, which will require the
>services of a shaman.
Gee Dan, pretty vague. Couldn't you have been a bit more specific? Just
kidding--thanks very much--tomorrow morning has been designated official
brake light repair time--your tips will be followed verbatim!
------------------------------------------------
Ross Kodner
'78 Spitfire 1500
'74 BMW 3.0CS
'97 BMW 528i (5-spd of course)
'98 Town and Country (wifemobile)
Web: www.microlaw.com
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