All good information. David B gave me some helpful details last night, and
I was able to pick up a pair of switches this morning and make short work
of the problem. Thanks, everybody. No need to bleed if you're quick about
it.

Jim

On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 8:46 AM Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:

> 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
>
>