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.
> --
> Michael Cecil
> http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/
> http://home.comcast.net/~safehex/

Hi!
I replace the 2 brake light switches on my 1973 VW beetle about every 3
years.
On mine, they go out about every 3.3 years.
This is about the easiest way:
-disconnect the battery
-drain and remove the fuel tank
-while you're in there, replace the tank outlet finger filter screen
and hose.
-might want to paint the tank too.