Black Hole Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Yesterday on my drive on what will likely be one of the last beautiful days in CT a driver pulled up beside me to inform me my brake lights were not working :cuss:. Needless to say driving a 7 without brake lights is very concerning! All my tail lights work and in testing I was able to get the brake lights to come on very briefly while actuating the brake pedal, though they will not light now. My first suspect is the switch. A ground issue would be the second area I would look at. My car is a 2009 Caterham SV so I have a small plate covering the pedal box, that I removed to provide access to the top of the pedals. First a dumb question; Does the car have to be running for the brake lights to activate, key in the accessory position or are they always live? How does the switch operate - should it be closed or open when the brakes are not depressed. The switch is showing closed (short) at both the non actuated position and when the brakes are depressed (why are the brakes lights not always on???). So is the switch bad or could the adjustment be off enough to not allow the switch to change from closed to open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Jay. The switch can be adjusted with the nut that is on it. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 Thanks. The nut seemed tight so that leads me to think the switch is still in the same place where it was working before. I suspect a bad switch (or bad / dirty contacts) so I would like to figure out what is the correct resistance with the brakes off and on before I start messing with that.I need to check if there is 12V on one side of the switch too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 OK, now I am flummoxed. I do have 12+V on one side of the switch when the car is running. But when I checked resistance across the switch with the car running it went to OL and shows a short with the car off??? No difference when my wife pressed the brake pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 My brake lights quit working on my 1999. I determined it was the switch. I didn't want to bother Caterham with a small pesky purchase so I took it apart. Cleaned the contacts and it's been working fine. The surprising part was that the switch looked like it was made to be serviced - you can actually take it apart without it breaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pksurveyor Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Most likely the switch is bad. It is not uncommon on a Caterham because the switch is a cheap plastic POS. The ignition needs to be "on". I have replaced the switch on all three of my Caterham. Ask for stoplight switch for a 1978 Jeep CJ at Autozone. It is a bit long requires a little bending of the terminal. http://www.autozone.com/electrical-a...6467_0_0_98519 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 Thanks, once i determine my switch is the culprit that is my plan, good to know if can be opened and serviced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pksurveyor Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Watch out for the spring pops out if you decide to open the switch for service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Jay I think you definitely need a lift for this repair, also replacement Lucas Smoke :rofl: e-mail me if you'd like a hand, I may be able to stop by Saturday. p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 OK, now I am flummoxed. ..... No difference when my wife pressed the brake pedal. Women! They always are causing trouble. Replacements are expensive. I would just fix the switch yourself! :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 Thanks, we will see if I get to it during the week, a hand may be useful. I did have a nice drive and found a couple of nice roads, but also ended up on a couple of dirt roads, but they weren't too bad and I wasn't following you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 Yes, and she has a remarkable way around electronics and not in a good way. And expensive to keep, I could have had an awesome car for what we just spent on a new kitchen, but I did get a four car (soon to be five with a lift) garage out of the deal:hurray: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 Problem fixed :driving: I removed the switch and verified that it was operating with an open loop with the plunger depressed in the brake off position and continuity when the plunger was extended. I fiddled with the adjustment and it is now operating properly. After 3500 miles I am not sure what suddenly changed but it must have been on the edge and moved enough to not allow the circuit to complete. The switch it is very close to the brake pivot so it moves far less than the distance your foot moves so it must be fairly sensitive to position. Hopefully a few more weeks that I can drive the car before the snow comes to New England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Glad to hear. ps: it's salt, not snow... I've also found a few good routes up through the Berkshires into southern Vermont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 Glad to hear. ps: it's salt, not snow... I've also found a few good routes up through the Berkshires into southern Vermont. Very true. Saturday may be a possibility, it will be up in the 40s. The road through Colrain in NW MA into VT is very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 ..... just spent on a new kitchen, but I did get a four car (soon to be five with a lift) garage out of the deal I think that speaks to your powers of negotiation. A lot of guys sell cars to buy their wife a new kitchen. I think your deal is pretty special! Can we help you decorate the man cave? I have lots of ideas.... :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Can we help you decorate the man cave? I have lots of ideas.... :jester: Ooh, great idea! Jay, take pictures of the space, start a new thread, and provide us with your credit card details and shipping address (at least two credit cards - Croc generally has big ideas). Croc and I will take care of the rest. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 OK, i'll take the bait Here is the garage now: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 No room for three car wide based on our property line so I had to go double deep and get a four car garage The rear of the garage is high and I have a dormer on the left side so I can raise a car without worry about the ceiling height.My buddy will sell me his Bend Pak lift after he sells his 68 Alfa spider. All new floor and garage door. I added a stainless steel utility sink for clean up.Lighting is great (and highly recommended). I now have four LED lights in the front two bays and seven LED lights in the rear two bays. What a pleasure as the old garage had one bulb in the middle. Wired up for 240V if the wife wants an electric car (that's what she thinks, I think it is for a welder). This garage is insulated (it was not before) and I have added piping and wiring in the walls to install a gas heater. Turns out it is a significant cost to get a gas line of appropriate size installed so that is on hold. My first question is I need a "system" for the tools etc. I am looking at the gladiator or the rubbermaid rail system. Anyone have experience with them and can recommend either system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 (edited) No room for three car wide based on our property line so I had to go double deep and get a four car garage Thats tragic. I dont know how you cope? Do you need an emotional support hotline? The rear of the garage is high and I have a dormer on the left side so I can raise a car without worry about the ceiling height.My buddy will sell me his Bend Pak lift after he sells his 68 Alfa spider. Very clever - I like that idea. All new floor and garage door. Go polished concrete flooring. Everything mops up and they have some stains that make it a more practical color. Hindsight in my Garage Mahal says thats what I should have done. Automatic doors only. Get the new internet type with an app so you can open the door for miscreants, troublemakers, mechanics, so-called friends, and possibly the wife while you sit in a bar in Tokyo snuffling down a beer on yet another work trip. Works for me. Incredibly expensive but entertaining. Connect it with a camera system with microphone/speaker arrangement. Then you can talk someone to finding something in the garage while you are on the otherside of the world. Best modification I did for my garage. I added a stainless steel utility sink for clean up. just what the wife needed Lighting is great (and highly recommended). I now have four LED lights in the front two bays and seven LED lights in the rear two bays. What a pleasure as the old garage had one bulb in the middle. Put a Big Ass over your workbench https://www.bigassfans.com/lights/the-garage-light/ Fantastic work light Wired up for 240V if the wife wants an electric car (that's what she thinks, I think it is for a welder). Does your fusebox allow enough amps for this? Ask me how I know..... As for the electric car - buy her a Tesla. They are really expensive but you know you will be in the good books for at least a month. She will be wowed by the iPad in the front console. No way she will be using her cell phone and driving anymore. This garage is insulated (it was not before) and I have added piping and wiring in the walls to install a gas heater. Turns out it is a significant cost to get a gas line of appropriate size installed so that is on hold. Are you connecting the garage to the house or the garage to the mainline? Either way I recommend just sucking it up and going for it. Don't be a pussy! The alternative is to model the new winter wear collection here: https://www.llbean.com My first question is I need a "system" for the tools etc. I am looking at the gladiator or the rubbermaid rail system. Anyone have experience with them and can recommend either system. Normally I am the biggest tool in any garage but I think I know what you are referring to? I like Gladiator - I use it in my home garage to keep stuff off the floor at king high tides when it floods (no I am not kidding - it is a foot above normal high tide on the Hudson River). This is what I have. I love reconfiguring it as things I am storing change over time. http://www.gladiatorgarageworks.ca/images/espots/WallMounting_espot1.jpg However, I am not a fan of their cabinets - pretty cheap and not great quality for the price. Let me dig out my preferred supplier today. Also I will reach out to my good friend Martha and ask her about wall color. Her office is a couple floors downstairs from mine today. Edited November 9, 2017 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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