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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - brake light switch

Looking for a good source of quality brake light switches as I'm getting tired of replacing them and also not knowing if they are working or not. Missed going to a great car show last weekend as it failed the dawn inspection before leaving.
Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Robert - regarding the brake light switches of today, you pretty much have two choices, make and install (or purchase) a relay/arc suppression circuit or the expensive, but very good, heavy duty switch from Ron Francis Wiring. See the article, Brake light Relay in the Other Tech Articles section of my web site at: http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/ for information on the relay/arc suppression circuit and the Ron Francis Wiring web site at: http://www.ronfrancis.com/ for information on the SW-32 switch. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Dave's little relay added to the newer brake light switch has worked for me for 7 years...had to replace the relay this spring (Radio Shack....about $4.00 or so).....
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

The Ron Francis Silicone Compatible switch has been working in my TD for quite a few miles,,, longer than any of the ones that I got from MOSS...

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Recently, I replaced the two Type 1157 incandescent tail lights with LiteZupp LED tail lights. This dropped my brake switch current handling requirement from 2 x 2.1 amps (incandescent) to 2 x 0.350 amps (LED). (More information about the LiteZupp units is in the archives and can be found at http://www.litezupp.com)

LED lighting in the MG has the potential of lengthening the service life of switches, avoids overtaxing the wiring, and reduces the demand on the generator. This will be especially true when LED headlights become available for our cars.

Does anyone know what the current rating is for a modern brake light switch (in other words, the switch that routinely fails with the traditional hook-up)?

Larry
Larry Shoer

I've just installed a brake light relay, as per the instructions on Dave Dubois' website. Very easy to install and works like a dream, the parts cost less than £10. Matt
Matt Davis

Matt, I did the same last year but unfortunately I have trouble now with the relay the contacts allways stick together and stop lights burns permanently.
I have to replace the relay but I hope the lifetime then will be better.
Cheers,
Guenter
Guenter

Yes Rob we missed you at the BBTS last Sunday.
I had the same problem a few years ago and solved it by getting one of Dave Du Bois capacitorized relays and a heavy duty brake light switch. The one I used was recommended by my buddy who runs a Car Quest store. It was a #SLS22. It threaded right into the brake line and works great with DOT 5 fluid.
To solve my curiosity I carefully disassembled the switch that had failed and found it did not burn out but rather that the fluid had permeated through the rubber membrane and left a layer of black gook that insulated the contacts preventing them from actuating the lights!
Hope you are on the road soon,
George
GF Metz

This thread was discussed between 06/06/2011 and 09/06/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.