Replaced my brake light switches. (It’s all about having the right tool.)
 

Last week on my way to the VIR open house I learned that I had no brake lights. Checked my fuse and bulbs which were good so I figured it must be the brake light switch.

After some research on Rennlist (and Pelican) I learned exactly what I needed to do. The best piece of advice came from Pete Zimmerman when he recommended using an offset box end wrench.

The two brake light switches are located on the master cylinder. The rear one is a little bit difficult to access and they are both next to hard brake lines. When it’s your turn to replace these I would strongly suggest picking up a 22mm deep offset boxed end wrench. It made the job very easy getting around the hard brake lines.

I learn so much from searching this list. And everytime I do another job I gain more confidence and knowledge about my car. Thanks all!

Many of you already know how to do this, but for those who don’t, I took some pics:

Paul,

Excellent - much thanks for the tips

Glenn

You're welcome Glenn.
I'm no mechanical genius but I've gained much knowledge from this forum.
Just trying to give back when I can.

I've done this job twice in the last 4 years with the exact same tools.

The best tip I got on my first go round was from the dealer's parts counter guy. He said to go to "Save-A-Bug" and buy the VW switches for less than half the price of the Porsche switches. Exact part number, less than half the price.

Paul,

Great write up.

Just make sure to not pick up switches made in Brazil.

John

I got them from Pelican Parts.
The brand was ATE and they were $14.50 each which I thought was OK. Hopefully they will last. (Made in Czech Republic)

hope they last longer than the Brazillian Ignition coil .. 2 hours for me ..

Cool write up.
How was VIR?

Oh no, not the Czech versions!

Appreciate that.
VIR was fun. It was their open house and Bob from Carolinas Region PCA organized charity laps for Ronald McDonald Houses so for $25 you got to drive on the track for a 20 minute session. Not a DE, no instructors, and it was a controlled pace so no helmets required. It was my first time on a track and while I had no idea what I was doing I still had a ton of fun! Methinks a DE will be in my future...

LOL.
"Come on, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick 'em up, we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia, it's like going into Wisconsin." Bill Murray from 'Stripes'.

Very nice. I'm carolina's too. I knew they did the VIR charity and I'm glad you went. Please, do a DE as you will gain a LOT. The latest newsletter has a nice calander of events including a Hurricane Region sponsered VIR(south course, although full course is nice)with David Murry providing instruction; both in-class and in-car. You won't regret it at all.

Sorry for the thread drift. Very nice write up however, and Pete Z will never lead you wrong.

Got you beat. Mine was in and out within minutes when the diameter wasn't right and I went on to find that the negative terminal was broken. :banghead:

Noob question: what do those switches do?

They turn the brakelights on when you pressurize the M/C by applying the brakes.

Hey wait, you've been here a couple of years and you've done a few trackdays. Let's drop the NOOB moniker...