just by chance today i checked the brake lights on meeni and they were working sometimes and other times they werent.. i checked all the wiring which is fine so im assuming its the sender unit on the brake line... question one would be has anyone had this problem/ is it common and two would be how easy is it to fit an electric brake light switch on the pedal?

any help would be great and it could even by something other then the sender but it seems to be when the pedal pressure gets up it doesnt want to work as well as say when you apply the brakes after a long run

cheers

sean

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Potato

If its a pressure based unit it could be failing internally. Have a look under the clutch housing where the brake lines meet at the join, is there a sender with two wires on the top of it. Replace that part.

I had similar problem a few months back, replacing the part and all was good.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

yeah thats what i thought it might be

cheers

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Potato

What he said ^^^
But if it fails again (they aren't reliable now like they used to be) I'd bin it and fit a late Clubby on on the pedal instead. Far more reliable.

I got 3 months out of one new hydraulic switch, and 3 weeks out of its replacement.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

i bought mine from brake and clutch on ipswich road at woolangabba (between the two big car yards, its easy to miss), and its worked solidly for two years.

Not sure on brand or part number.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

did you take your foot off the pedal ?

Hah!

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

Another method of finding out the brake ligt switch isn't working comes from slight audible noise from the rear end...usually only heard in traffic for some reason.

It sounds a lot like the four wheels of a car locking up behind you into a screaming halt.



The cheap switches have shitty contacts, once there's a bit of dirty crappy brake fluid sits between the two pieces of metal, or the contacts don't make properly, then that's it for the switch.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I'm going to take DrMinis advice. I have replaced the pressure switch three times in 6 months and it is failing again now. You have to push the pedal really hard for it to work and for normal braking it doesn't come on at all. I back the car up to a wall to check and you can see the lights coming on or not. My question is, with a clubby type switch do you run the two same wires up to that switch from the pressure switch or do you need to run new different wires?

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

if youve replaced three of them

what kind of brake fluid are you using.

did you flush the entire system when you filled it.

did you use two different types of brake fluid (they can screw each other up)

is the fluid in your master clean apaque in color, or is it dirty.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

The new hydraulic brake switches are rubbish.......dont waste money and time, fit an electrical one to the brake pedal or in the pedal box, there are many ways to do it. Set it so when you are just gently touching the pedal the brake lights illuminate therefore there is less chace of finding out by accident .....like Mick said.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

Same wires, no relay is required. The switches are good for 10 amperes.

If you don't want to cut the loom, you can use male spades to create an extension lead of sorts back the the cabin using heatshrink over the spades to insulate and bind them together.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

went and bought a commodore one today and put it in.. about ten minutes work works way better lol

cheers guys

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Potato

Brake fluid as used by my mini mechanic, same type of fluid used each time, yes flushed and no not dirty. The only dirty thing is the $16- chinese made switches IMO.
Thanks Mick, will give that a go and good to hear it worked meeni!
Cheers.

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

and 30 years from the original

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"Show me the Mini!"