Brake Light Switch*Long Island*

[AlanTDI]

Hi:
Anyone on Long Island have experience changing their brake light switch?
I thought I followed the vwvortex http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1158315
instructions pretty acurately, but it was a no go.

Before I try agan with a new switch I am asking for some help
Thanks

[hpc]

I had to do this recently on my NB - the brake lights would stay
on <period>.

Went to buy switch at VW dealer and techician saw me walking in with
the old switch. He asked me if I was headed to parts and I replied
yes. He said when I replace it to slowly release the brake pedal -
did so, and the switch failed! I did this in their lot.

Walked back into parts. They (thankfully!) replaced it at no charge.
Parts guy said I should depress it first BEFORE putting it in - holding
it depressed while inserting and rotating the housing into place.

Then, release the brake pedal and the switch plunger.

Worked like a champ - though, having skinny, long fingers would
have been nice. It was a little difficult with normal (male) fingers.

Good Luck. Nothing like being bent over backwards in the
dealer's lot....

[AlanTDI]

doesn't all the write-ups, say

1.Pull the plunger out all the way, (or leave switch as is, new from
parts department)
2.depress brake pedal all the way down

3.insert in bracket
firmly holding it in place, and not letting it move from being flush on
bracket, and inserted all the way in bracket cut out

let the brake pedal up -pull it all the way by hand.
then with the pedal compressing the plunger, and plunger is then ratched into switch housing
turn switch about 1/4 turn clockwise, to lock it on place?

I thought I did this procedure, but I didn't pull the pedal after I let it up.
IT DIDNT WORK.
I am waiting on my next switch and attempt

[Matthew_S]

I just got a new new switch today. The part number is 1C0 945 511 A and it comes with an installation instruction sheet. It is pretty much the same as the old new switch except it can be removed and reinstalled mulitiple times (now there is an engineering break through ). The instructions say to leave the pedal in the resting position without holding it up then install the switch with lubricant part number G 052 142 A2 on the end of the plunger. The plunger doesn't ratchet in like they did on the old new one either, it just moves smoothly even when it isn't installed. I think this switch is a major improvement over the 1C0 945 511E one time use switch.

[environmentalteach]

I just got a letter that there is a safety recall on that part on my 98 NB. Dealer will fix at no cost!!!!

[20IndigoBlue02]

Originally Posted by AlanTDI

doesn't all the write-ups, say

1.Pull the plunger out all the way, (or leave switch as is, new from
parts department)
2.depress brake pedal all the way down

3.insert in bracket
firmly holding it in place, and not letting it move from being flush on
bracket, and inserted all the way in bracket cut out

let the brake pedal up -pull it all the way by hand.
then with the pedal compressing the plunger, and plunger is then ratched into switch housing
turn switch about 1/4 turn clockwise, to lock it on place?

I thought I did this procedure, but I didn't pull the pedal after I let it up.
IT DIDNT WORK.
I am waiting on my next switch and attempt

Since I just did mine over the weekend....Since I had no brake lights since thursday (didn't go to work Friday).... I had to lock the switch into place, then lift the pedal up, to get it to work properly (and hear the clicking)

[MikeS_18]

I just did mine. Finally got it to work, but not sure exactly why.

1C0 945 511 A this is the older revision to the 1C0 945 511 E revision. So I don't think that the "A" is a newer version. The E version is purple. very cute.

I followed the vortex directions and it all seemed to work okay until I noticed that the lights were still on.

I took the switch out, tried to reset the switch to get the plunger out and was unsuccessful. So I put it back in - without really changing anything - and it then worked. Maybe I needed to turn the key off and on to reset something. I am not sure. FWIW...

[Matthew_S]

Originally Posted by MikeS_18

1C0 945 511 A this is the older revision to the 1C0 945 511 E revision. So I don't think that the "A" is a newer version. The E version is purple. very cute.

1C0 945 511 A is the newest number. I don't know why they went backward with the part number but they did. The new one is green and is reusable.

[20IndigoBlue02]

Originally Posted by MikeS_18

1C0 945 511 A this is the older revision to the 1C0 945 511 E revision. So I don't think that the "A" is a newer version. The E version is purple. very cute.

The purple/E version is 1J0 945 511 E

and the green is 1C) 945 511 A

[Matthew_S]

Originally Posted by 20IndigoBlue02

The purple/E version is 1J0 945 511 E

and the green is 1C) 945 511 A

I missed that the "J" was replaced with a "C". That explains the "A".

[equityeng]

My local dealer just replaced this as part of a recall. No cost to me. The recall also stated that if you had replaced it previously they would reimburse you for any out of pocket cost.

Joe
Raleigh, NC
1999 Jetta TDI

[edco]

Originally Posted by AlanTDI

Hi:
Anyone on Long Island have experience changing their brake light switch?
I thought I followed the vwvortex http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1158315
instructions pretty acurately, but it was a no go.

Before I try agan with a new switch I am asking for some help
Thanks

Call local dealer. Recall # on my receipt is N412.

My 02 just had it replaced under dealer recall (Reydel VW Edison NJ), free.

ED in NJ

[Bioninja]

I just had mine replaced this morning. I didn't have any prior issues, but received the recall notice about a week ago. I went to Lancaster Autohaus & they did it free of charge. It only took 15 minutes & I was rolling out the lot.

[AlanTDI]

problem solved, it was a fuse issue

[Jarhead96]

Originally Posted by AlanTDI

problem solved, it was a fuse issue

Did you get a fault code at all?