Now that's really bizarre! I've heard this failure mode before
on older Spridget brake systems using a pressure switch
to turn on the brake lights (rather than an electrical switch
on the peddle mount) but never saw or knew what type of
pressure switch it was. THAT switch you pictured,
is used as the oil pressure and anti run-on switch on nearly
every Jag and late model Triumph.
8 Triumph to date (I've owned) and I've never had one go
bad or leak or even fail electrically for that fact.
I've never seen one go bad. But then again, in an oil pressure
application, the switch never sees more than 90 psi. I'd assume
in a brake system application it may see a whole lot more.
I truly don't think that switch was designed for that type of pressure
to begin with
Paul Tegler
ptegler@cablespeed.com
www.teglerizer.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott H." <austrheamgafun@arczip.com>
To: <Healeys@autox.team.net>
Cc: <BritishCars@autox.team.net>; <MGs@autox.team.net>;
<Triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 6:38 PM
Subject: Potential Brake Failure Warning
> Hello everyone,
>
> This is a warning to anyone who may possibly have the same type of
hydraulic
> brake light switch on their car as I "had" on mine. I don't recall right
off
> hand which of the vendors I purchased this switch from, nor does the
sensor
> have a manufacturer's name on it, but I will eventually figure out who the
> unique mold symbol belongs to. I am only interested in warning them of
the
> potential safety problem. It could save a life.
>
> I am in the process of restoring an Austin Healey. I have purchased a lot
of
> very good quality new components for this car, but unfortunately one of
them
> appears to be defective. The other day while bleeding my brake system, I
was
> pressing on the brake pedal while my son was at the bleed screw to allow
the
> air to be forced out of the new brake lines. During the process of
pumping
> the brake pedal, I was able to build up fluid pressure, but then all of a
> sudden the pedal went to the floor and I immediately heard fluid pouring
onto
> my garage floor. After tracing the origins of the leak, I found brake
fluid
> dribbling from the brand new brake light switch that I had installed.
>From
> the body of the unit, not the threaded portion. Fortunately my car is
sitting
> in the garage on jack stands, but if I were braking for, God knows who or
> what, I might not be sitting here typing this letter.
>
> Anyway, you can view the switch on the web site I have constructed for
this
> purpose (see below). Please take a look at the images and make sure you
don't
> have the same switch on your car. If so, the rest is up to you. Since
these
> switches are used for many different models, please feel free to FWD this
> message to anyone else who may benefit. Meanwhile, if anyone knows of a
> well-known quality brake switch that I could buy, please let me know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott Helms
> http://users.arczip.com/zntech/switch.html
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