How many of you have had problems with the brake-light switch under the brake pedal? I just changed mine today after my EPC light came on. Apparently this is a common problem. I've had mine changed twice in the 2.5 years that I've had the car.

Sure, you think twice in 2.5 years ain't much, but then again, what other car regularly has a yearly problem with a brake-light switch?

Very annoying

The part number for the brake light switch if I remember correctly has been superceeded.

So the one that you had fitted could in fact be an old part number.

These are an issue with VAG but it always helps to voice your opinion to customer services.

Sarah

Well I certainly hope this new switch is the new model.

I'd be real pist if I have to go back there again because of it..

had it done on mine, took a couple days to work out the problem as it kept draining my battery.

I had a brake light switch go on mine @ about 12K miles. Brake lights wouldn't turn off reliably, and cruise wouldn't engage. Fixed with a purple-coloured switch.

Hey I got the same coloured switch today!

And the first one was black.

had it done on mine, took a couple days to work out the problem as it kept draining my battery.

My problem was slightly different...the switch must have been broken, because the brake lights would NOT go on.

Yep purple switches are the modified type. and i've not seen one go wrong as yet.

Coil came flashign on today, and wife confirms no brake lights! :eek:

How do you access the switch to replace? From inside? Do I need to unscrew plastic parts of lower dash board?

No

It is under the brake pedal

Sarah

No

It is under the brake pedal

Sarah

Thanks, but can you clarify??? Beneath the pedal? Under the car?

Cheers,

Dan

Thanks, but can you clarify??? Beneath the pedal? Under the car?

Cheers,

Dan

VWvortex Forums: DIY - Installing a new brake light switch (without breaking it!)

Try this it's very similar

HTH

Pull off the panel between the instruments and upper steering column shroud, remove the fuse box cover on the end of the dash, the ignition key fits the slot to lever it up, remove the torx T15 screws, one under the panel, one under the fuse box cover and around 4 or 5 along the lower edge, one of these is not really obvious.

Pull the section of dash towards you, being careful that the travel will be limited by the wires to the light switch, diagnostic plug and the not very generous length of rubber pipe attached to the can cooler if air conditioning is fitted.

This will give you enough room to get at the brake light switch on top of the pedal, I find it alot quicker than removing the dash section completely. If you need to remove the light switch, it should relese by pushing the switch part in and turning to the side light position to release the retaining clips, then it can be pulled out.

In my opinion the green switches are the best as the outer casing does not need to be rotated to set them up, part number 1C0945511ARDW, though I have ordered these in the past and have received the purple ones.

In my opinion the green switches are the best as the outer casing does not need to be rotated to set them up,

Do the purple ones need "setting up" as in sensitivity.. can you move them closer and further away from triggering?

I ask because my lights have always only reacted after the pedal has traveld an inch... which, in slow moving traffic can cause gentle breaking with no lights... and I also like being able to trigger the lights when engine breaking if I'm in traffic. Was a habit i got into with my last fabia where the 1st bit of pedal travel did no detectable breaking but made the lights come on.

Quoted part number which had been superceeded and got a black unit - Made in Malta! Off to fit it now.

Do the purple ones need "setting up" as in sensitivity.. can you move them closer and further away from triggering?

I ask because my lights have always only reacted after the pedal has traveld an inch... which, in slow moving traffic can cause gentle breaking with no lights... and I also like being able to trigger the lights when engine breaking if I'm in traffic. Was a habit i got into with my last fabia where the 1st bit of pedal travel did no detectable breaking but made the lights come on.

I had a brake light switch go slightyly dodgy on my Golf R32. I bought a new one from VW, and it was a purple and black one.

There is a way of adjusting it so that it activates with a certain level of pedal travel.

there are handy guides on VWvortex.com. Most likely you'll find them under the Golf mk4 or Golf R32 forums.

All I did to mine was twist out the old one, and twist in the new one. Fortunatly the switch activates with the correct level of pedal travel, i didn't need to adjust it when I fitted it

Thanks to all again on this site the EPC light came on and I thought oh no but checked the site which pointed to brake pedal switch checked brakes no lights faulty switch. tapped the switch a few times and lights worked again and EPC light went out. Will get a new switch and replace to be sure but once again thanks to the Forum and members.