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MG MGA - Brake Light Switch

My brother and I have diagnosed a bad brake light switch. Dose it's replacement require bleeding the system? Any tricks to the job? Thanks
Steve
Steve Meline

You can change the switch without bleeding the system if you don't loose much fluid. (Work fast.) But, if you replace it with the same type of switch, you will probably have trouble again. It seem that the replacement switches available do not last long. I put a mechanical GM brake light switch mounted on a bracket clamped to the steering tube that is activated by brake pedal movement. It works every time, even when the brakes are applied very lightly. I used a switch from the local NAPA store. (Part # SL-169)
Ed Bell

Hi Steve. Ed is correct. The brake light switch can be removed and replaced without needing to bleed the system. Loosen the old brake switch until it is almost out. Have the new switch in hand, and ready to thread in as soon as the old one is removed. Bleeding will not be necessary if you do the swap reasonably quickly, and dont lose too much fluid. Good luck. Glenn
Glenn

The biggest concern should be brake fluid on the paint in the engine bay. The switch would have to be out for quite awhile before you will loose enough fluid to get air into the system. This is not to suggest that you remove the switch, then go to NAPA to get a new ne while the fluid drains out the open fitting, but neither do you need to work at lightning speed to cap off the flow of flud. If you are going to use a replacement hydraulic sitch, either get the expensive (long lif, heavy duty) switch from Ron Francis Wiring <http://www.ronfrancis.com/showpage.php?page=main.htm> or install a relay/arc suppression circuit with the standard (wimpy) replacement witch. Instructions on making up and installing the relay/arc suppression circuit are at <http://www.omgtr.ca/technical/brakelightrelay/brakelightrelay.htm>
<Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Hopefully this will provide a working version of the above link.
http://www.omgtr.ca/technical/brakelightrelay/brakelightrelay.htm

I don't know why Dave's link has surrounding <> but the final one is screwing up the address.
Charley Robinson

And that previous message was from me not Charley Robinson! Don't quite know how I did that except that I was responding to a message he sent me. Hmmm? Maybe I'll hang onto that link, then if I want to flame someone I can use Charley's name! ;-)
Ted Jackson

This thread was discussed between 10/05/2006 and 15/05/2006

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