Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 11:16:12 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: ELECTRICAL: need help diagnosing non-working brake/backup
lights
In-Reply-To: <54395221.5000406@dugbert.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Thanks, Dug.
By now I have tried everything I could possible rig up between the front of
the back and nothing conclusive. The problem is I don't know HOW to perform
a test on the system. For example, I can go from the hot side of the fuse
box back to the bulb and that works. What I can't seem to pin down is where
to probe between the switch and the other side of the fuse, or where to
look for the spade connector that the bentley calls out in 97.45 which,
though it may not be the problem, would definitely cause the problem if it
is open.
Jim
On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Dug Smith <dug@dugbert.com> wrote:
> I'm not sure, as the only thing I lost was the brake lights themselves - I
> still had power at the pressure switches, so it looks like the power goes
> through those, then to the fuse box (I wasn't looking too hard at the
> Bentley at that point) and back to the lights. The parking brake still
> caused the warning light to... um, light, and I didn't drain the fluid to
> check that still worked :o)
>
> I took one of the rear lights out and used a test battery to make sure it
> wasn't something spooky there - the lights fired up just fine when they got
> power (I've added a high level and a trailer hitch mounted light, so I
> wanted to make sure none of my stupid wiring was the problem).
>
> On 10/11/2014 8:32 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>
>> Another question: the Bentley shows a connection to the brake warning
>> light
>> which has the dual function of warning when the handbrake is on and, at
>> least on later models I've owned, a warning for low brake fluid. My car is
>> by the way a 1983 diesel.
>>
>> Is the connection to the brake warning light necessary to operate and test
>> the system? I wouldn't think so, but I wanted to make sure before checking
>> further. The wares below the instrument cluster are not easy to reach with
>> the cluster installed.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>
> toodle pip,
> --
> Dug Smith | Terry Pratchett: It's almost
> (mailto:dug@dugbert.com) | impossible to ride a rock and roll
> (http://www.dugbert.com) | motorbike and stay on for three verses.
>
| 
