Expert: Barrie Jones - 11/4/2009

Question
The brake lights don't work...but the tail lights do.  I checked all the fuses and the bulbs and am assuming a switch of some kind, but can not figure out where to locate it.  Any ideas?  Thank You!

Answer
Hi Robert
The brake lights share the same fuse as the wiper motor and the heater motor.  If these are both working, then the problem is not the fuse.  If both brake lights are out, it is not a bulb or a faulty earth.  It could be a disconnected wire in the boot.  Look for a connector with 3 wires going into it.  They will be green with a purple stripe.  Maybe one of the bulet connectors has come out.

On a 74 BGT the brake light switch is located under the bonnet near the fuse box.  There is a multi-way connector for the brake pipes, and the switch is screwed into it as well.  It will have two wires attached to it.  One wire will be green, the other will be green with a purple stripe.  Pull both wires off, turn the ignition on, and then touch the wires together.  If the brake lights come on, then the switch is faulty and you must replace it.  If the lights still don't work, look for a faulty bullet conector nearby.  There is one which has several green wires going into it.  The green/purple connector is a small straight 2-way connector.  Either of these could be your problem.