Stop light switch

The stop light switch is a City-El Mystery of long standing.

It is again and again defective.

This issue has long history. I've tried simple micro switches of different contact loads up to micro switches provided with blue rubber caps.

Very few City-El have not had problems with this switch.

Why and why the switch is again and again defective, remains hidden for me. The load by two lamps 21W should actually be no problem.

There were alternative solutions already with relays or transistors downstream.

Some contend that vapor from the closely situated brake fluid container forms an insulating layer on the switch contacts - whether this is correct I know not.

The only alternative sure to function is installing a standard KFZ (NAPA or Standard for us Yanks-RRY) stop light switch on an auxiliary angle.

(For US readers, this is the box my replacement switch came in, and this is the instruction sheet that came with it. I have several months of satisfactory service on this switch. I made up a little pigtail of wire with crimp-on slip connectors as the existing wire would not stretch to reach the new switch. I'll post pictures of my installation soon. - RRY)

Who wants to change nevertheless the normal stop light switch, the brake pedal must remove.

• Emergency brake tighten
• The connecting rod from the pedal to the master brake cylinder remove
• The circlip and the disks at the axle of the brake pedal remove and pedal remove. (notice order of the disks)
• The old switch remove. This is fastened with cross-notched screws. These can be solve best with a nut runner - a bit application + pliers. With older vehicles this switch is fastened with two thin plastic zip-ties. Unfortunately these bars break very easily.
• When assembling of the brake pedal must be paid attention to the correct position of the return spring.
• The stop light switch should be adjusted in such a way that the stop lights light up after max. 10 mm pedal travel. The operationing spring of the microswitch one can in addition accordingly bend.
• Install carefully everything again together. In particular the snap rings should have sufficient tension. Without connecting rod the foot brake will not function.