Troubleshooting my brake lights

Michael Cecil wrote:

> I noticed my brake lights aren't working on my 70 standard bug.
> The brake warning light has had a bulb out for 15 or more years (I think I
> never replaced it because I wasn't sure how to get the little button out
> of the dash to get at the bulb.)
>
> Anyhow, I checked the bulbs and used some emery cloth to clean the
> contacts in the housing and on the bulbs. I don't think they'd both go
> bad at the same time anyway.
>
> I checked and actually replaced the fuse (8A white) in position #2 after
> cleaning the fuse holder contacts also.
>
> Still not working. I suppose if one brake light switch on the dual MC
> went bad I wouldn't know it until the other went bad as well. So that
> could be two bad switches.
>
> Or possibly there's a loose connection somewhere else.
>
> Anyone (Speedy Jim?) have some ideas of how to go about troubleshooting
> this? I was planning on jumping the brake light switch wires to see if
> the lights go on next.

Yes, it's not uncommon for both switches to be bad.

There is a simplified diagram of the switch wiring
on this page of my web site:
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/elec.htm

Easier than jumping at the switches is to find the
plastic splice under the hood where the little harness
from the switches comes out.

It's also possible that the connections *inside* the
rubber boots on the switches are corroded.

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/