brake light swich

[Tom F]

Hi all, on my 30 tudor i put a new wire harness on her and right away the fuse blew on top of the starter. reversed the wires on the brake light switch and now its ok.( green wires). in this common? also when i try to open the front windshield it hits the gas cap buy a 1/8 inch. looks like a repo gas cap from the 70s. thanks in advance, Tom

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yes, I've heard of that problem a few times on some repro brake switches. A&L probably makes the best repro brake switch. Or you could try Bert's for an original switch.

[jkeesey]

The windsheild hitting the gas cap can mean your wood header is either rotting or the screws need tightened.

[Herb Concord Ca]

After you reversed the brake switch wires, did you step on the brake pedal? If you did, did the fuse blow?
If it blows after you step on the pedal, you need a new switch. Follow Tom W.'s advice.

[John LaVoy]

we tested several of the repros and found problems with about half. A&L does have an excellent one.

[Colonel]

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We experienced problems with the brake light switch. We too put a new wiring harness on the car and couldn't make the brake light work. Reversing the wires on the switch didn't make any difference. Turned out to be a bad switch. It was a new one from one of the high volume parts dealers. Had another that seemed to work fine.

[columbiA]

Its common to have to take a new repro BL switch apart & repair it so it can be used. No quality control.

[Tom Wesenberg]

It shouldn't matter which switch terminal the power wire goes to, but due to a manufacturing defect some switches have one terminal that grounds out in the OFF position, but not in the ON position, so if the taillight wire goes to the grounded terminal you can still use the switch.
POOR quality control.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here are pictures of the original brake switch I had with a broken return spring. I just used a spring from another switch to fix it. I don't have any repro switch pictures. I used Mystik JT-6 High Temp grease on the moving parts, and dielelctric grease on the contacts.

[Tom F]

Thanks, for all your input, iam going to check with a meter on each terminal to see if one is grounded on off postion. she is working now but not happy with that. going to take it a part and have a look . 1 of the best mods was putting in the fuse above the starter, also put a inline fuse for the dash light behind panel and a master switch. ill check the screws on the windsheild and the header rot. thanks Tom

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Someone mentioned awhile back about having a shorted switch that was sprayed with a zinc-like coating a looong time ago, and it caused a short across the insulating washers! Just buffed it and it was O.K. Billl W.

[Aerocraft]

In regards to the windshield on the '30, it has been my experience that the bottom "arc" of the frame may have become distorted either by a windshield glass cut incorrectly or improper installation of the frame onto the glass. When the windshield is fully closed, there should be at least 3/16" clearance between the bottom of the frame and the top of the tank. The open windshield will clear the original cap by 1/8"+. With the cap removed, it will clear the tank by 1/4"+. Gar Williams

[figment]

Try an original gas cap .Some of the aftermarket types set to high and the windshield will hit.

[Tom F]

ok, ill check on those measerment, and try a original cap. thanks