Brake light switch - (somewhat) urgent help needed

[Christien]

I've come to believe that the early brake light switch (on the brake pedal shaft, not the MC) is both a great stroke of simplicity and also one of engineering's greatest failures. I've gone through my 2nd brake light switch in less than a year. (Replacement was bought used, so that might've been part of the problem.)

I've got a new one on backorder from Pelican, but I need one for an autocross this weekend (let alone any casual driving). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix one of these suckers? Even if it only lasts for a couple days, to get me through until the new one arrives, it's better than nothing.

The thing was always going on the fritz, so a few minutes ago I pulled it out to play with the wires and adjust the sensitivity, and *****, there goes the friggin metal arm, broke right off in my fingers. So now I have two switches with no arm, and one broken metal arm. Why did they make that arm so damn flimsy?

Anyway, I can't figure out how to get the b@st@rd open without actually breaking the plastic case. Any thoughts?

I can post pics if it'll help.

Thanks,
Chris

[Por_sha911]

Grave-rob one from a very good friend (are you a PCA member?) for the weekend.

[Christien]

Yep, I've already posted in the local PCA chapter forums for a loaner for a couple days.

[Christien]

bump for any more ideas about fixing this... (no luck in borrowing one, yet)

[Kirk911SC]

Hey Chris,

Have you tried Porschapart in Etobicoke? I bet they have a used one kicking around.

[Christien]

Yeah, but the one I have now is used, and I've come to the conclusion that used brake light switches are POS's. Besides, I don't really want to spend $75 on a used switch when I just spend $150 on a new one that'll be here in a few days.

[Jubbie]

After my switch arm broke this weekend, I am now driving with a remote starter switch in my left hand wired up to the brake light switch. I am going to pull one from my parts 914 this weekend.

Only problem is now I think when I hit the switch the brakes will come on. That will be a hard habit to break...

[Early_S_Man]

Chris,

Here are a couple of switches that could be adapted to work, and are rated for a much higher load than you would need ... lots of electronics supply and surplus stores carry similar replacements:

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=700500&item=SMS-213&type=store

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=700500&item=SMS-208&type=store

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=700500&item=SMS-197&type=store

[Christien]

Awesome - and cheap, too! Thanks.