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MG MGF Technical - Flashing Brake Lights

Where do I start looking to solve my flashing brake lights? Apparently, my brake lights flash intermittently as I drive along - without me touching the brake pedal!

Si (98 VVC)
Si

The brake light switch under the foor pedal!

Just give the plunger a good tug - and dont worry it will reset the first time you use the brakes.

Ted
Ted Newman

lie on the floor and you should see two wires going to a switch on the right (looking forwards, not that you could get round the other side of the break pedel, but I suppose you might be upside down....) If you twist the barrel of the switch it will come out easily (pull down). With the switch removed give the head to the switch a good pull- don't worry about breaking it, you _WILL_ know when it releases because the ratchet will alow you to pull about an extra inch out of the switch. The switch is self adjusting so dont push it back in- alow the pedal to do it for you.
Push the brake pedal down (you might need the engine running to get some movement) and reinset the switch, remember twist to lock.
When you release the break pedal the switch will adjust back up.
DO NOT lift the break pedal manually as this will push the ratchet back in and you will have to start over.
Press the pedal lights on
release the pedal lights off
Job Done.

Will
Will Munns

Damn those long answers, beat by 3 seconds!
Will Munns

Wow, what a service. I actually gave the plunger a tweak last night, but I was still annoying all of the motorists behind me apparently. Perhaps I need to tug harder (ooerr!!)

Ta muchly.

Si
Si

Remove the switch by turning it and then pull like a devil until you feel the plunger getting out with a ratch noise.

http://www.mgfcar.de/brakes/index.htm
A small gap in the plunger should be visible. Then put it back.

Dieter
Dieter Koennecke

Watch out on this I actually managed to bruise some ribs while leaning over the sill into the footwell and pulling the switch out.
Dogma

Cut and pasted from my comments on the MGOC forum...

>> Usual cause is the switch above the brake pedal. Basically the brake pedal is like an inverted L, with the foot plate on the end of the long leg and the pivot/axle in the corner, where to two legs meet. Mounted upside down above the short leg is a plunger switch which controls the brake lights. Basically, when you press the pedal, the long leg hinges forwards and the short leg hinges upwards depressing the plunger on the switch.

The switch itself has a self adjusting mechanism inside it which works a little like a ratchet, unfortunately this mechanism has been known to 'wind itself up' over time making the switch hyper sensitive to vibrations, thus causing flickering brake lights.

The way to cure it is to reach into the top of the pedal box (no mean feat, the switch is mounted high up at the back, requiring a bit of contortionism!), rotate the switch a ½ turn to release it, lift it upwards, out of it's mounting and then bring it down into the footwell a bit more so you can see what you are doing. To reset the switch, simply pull the plunger to it's furthest extent (quite firmly) - easy eh? :-)

Replace the switch in it's mounting (slot it in from above and rotate ½ a turn until it clicks into place).

Job done! <<

SF
Scarlet Fever

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2002 and 14/04/2002

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