My switches have always failed in an "off mode"... they tends to require more brake pressure as they start to fail.

May also be an indicator that you need to bleed your brakes, as air or moisture in fluid reduces pressure.

I've always considered placing an LED in front wired to the brake circuit, to let me know when this switch is working properly and that my brake lights are "on".

Jack

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Felder
Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2024 3:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Brake light problem

I discovered this afternoon that neither brake light is working on the rear
of the car. Since neither is working, it's probably the master cylinder
switches. But if I recall correctly, the master switches fail in the
"always on mode," So it probably isn't that, p;us the unlikelihood that
both would go out simultaneously. So what is the next obvious failure point
I should be looking at? It isn't the bulbs BTW because they work with the
emergency flasher switch.

??

Jim