GreenGoddess Posted August 24, 2022 Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 Hi Guys, The brake lights on my 1984 Turbo are not working. I have only just bought this car. I haven't investigated it yet but are there any common faults that I should be aware of? Assuming the bulbs are ok, what's the first thing to check? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Popular Post Barrykearley Posted August 24, 2022 Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 Reckon you’ve knocked the wires off the switch by the pedal while hunting for the bonnet release. 3 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted August 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 6 minutes ago, Barrykearley said: Reckon you’ve knocked the wires off the switch by the pedal while hunting for the bonnet release. That sounds plausible. I will have a look for any disconnected wires. Hopefully it's as simple as that! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eds Posted August 24, 2022 Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 Then check the fuse..... 1 Quote Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Popular Post Escape Posted August 24, 2022 Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 If neither brake light is working, it's unlikely the bulbs, they rarely fail at the same time. But do check the bulbs, for all we know the car was running for months with one brake light out and then the other failed as well. 😉 As for common causes, if the other rear lights are working, the earth should be OK. Which leaves the brake switch or fuse, as above. Worst case a bad connection in the wiring somewhere... It's bound to be something easy, and a good way to get your acquainted with the car and working on her. Filip 2 1 Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CarBuff Posted August 24, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 A misplaced 'kick' under the dash can dislodge the brake pedal switch. If it looks ajar, try securing it with a cable-tie. Ahhhh, you are about to assume the Lotus Position. About time! (Head under dash, feet in the air. please remove your shoes.)😁 And now you know why many owners glance back at the Esprit as they walk away: 1. To admire the car 2. To assure that the brake lights are indeed out! 4 Quote Atwell Haines '88 Esprit Succasunna, NJ USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted August 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 Thanks. Tomorrow I will be tackling the brake light problem. I found this on the forum. I am hoping I can access it from under the bonnet without having to assume the Lotus position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gis Posted August 25, 2022 Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 I think you can save yourselves the time to try from the front. There are a couple of openings below the plenum cover but they are small, too far from the switch and obstructed. Unless you break your wrist in 3 places… The lotus position is easy. Remove the 4 nuts that hold the seat, lift out the seat, slide yourself in under the steering wheel and check from there. It’s real simple, comfy once you’re in and it won’t be the last time you get in there, trust me. She wants you to get to know her. It’s an integral part and essential process of esprit ownership. 😉 2 Quote Ad initium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted August 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 Well I found the problem. What an absolute nightmare that switch is to get at. 😂 God only knows how I’m going to get it back in place. The switch doesn’t look like a genuine Lotus component (according to my research on this forum). The switch is definitely faulty. I bridged the wires and the brake lights came on. So I need to order a new switch. What’s the best place to get one? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gis Posted August 25, 2022 Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 Well done. SJ sportscars will likely have it in stock. Look them up. 1 Quote Ad initium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted August 25, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 That looks like vauxhall cavalier/Astra to me 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted August 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 1 hour ago, Barrykearley said: That looks like vauxhall cavalier/Astra to me Which will also explain why it stopped working 😂 1 hour ago, Gis said: Well done. SJ sportscars will likely have it in stock. Look them up. Great! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekwan Posted September 5, 2022 Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 On 26/08/2022 at 04:48, Barrykearley said: That looks like vauxhall cavalier/Astra to me Ford/Mazda switch. Same switch used on the Elise S1. Twist 90 deg and remove. Reverse procedure when refitting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite 4.9 Posted September 5, 2022 Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 Christopher Jacobs in his book on auto electrics says that 90% of electrical problems are bad grounds. Simple to check by just pulling a new wire off a near by ground and connecting to your brake light. The fact that you have both out suggest this may be your culprit. No doubt a simple solution if the case. When I bought my Elite there were 6 melted wires under the dash and all needed to be replaced which many times, in my experience, it is easier to do then to find out why or where there could be a short. atb, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted September 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 Thanks again. I have ordered two different brake switches from SJ Sportscars (see attached photos). The switch I removed from my car is the black Ford/Mazda style switch but I have read that most cars used the white switch. I am wondering if my car had the wrong type of switch installed. I suppose I'll just have to fiddle around when they arrive to see which one fits and works best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted September 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 (edited) I have a problem. I installed the new switch today and I cannot get the brake lights to come on when the brake pedal is pushed. The new switch works perfectly, the brake lights go on and off when I press the new switch with my finger. But when it is installed, it’s as if there is nothing pushing on the switch when I press the brake pedal. Any ideas? EDIT: I came across this photo elsewhere on the forum. My car seems to be missing that screw in thingy that I’ve circled in red. Any idea what it is? This is probably the cause of my problem. Edited September 5, 2022 by GreenGoddess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAR Posted September 5, 2022 Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 I can't quite remember, but is the switch in the normally on state i.e. the contact is broken when the switch is operated? If so, I think you may have to reposition the switch further away from the contact point on the brake pedal. The push and twist type switch is designed to be mountable at different distances in or out of the pedal box. Note: I may have dreamed this, as I have the older type of switch 1 Quote It's getting there...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted September 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2022 29 minutes ago, TAR said: I can't quite remember, but is the switch in the normally on state i.e. the contact is broken when the switch is operated? If so, I think you may have to reposition the switch further away from the contact point on the brake pedal. The push and twist type switch is designed to be mountable at different distances in or out of the pedal box. Note: I may have dreamed this, as I have the older type of switch Yes, the brake lights are on when the button on the switch is NOT pressed. Nothing seems to be pressing on the button when I have it installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGoddess Posted September 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Success! I now have working brake lights. Someone on Facebook told me that when inserting the new switch, you need to install and remove it about 3000 times in order to get it into the perfect position for it to function correctly. Even if you move it 1mm either way it stops working properly. What a complete nightmare. Anyway, now I know for the future. Thank you to everyone on here who offered their advice, it’s much appreciated. 😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAR Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Owning a Lotus is an experience 1 Quote It's getting there...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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