Ocativia 2.0 GLX 2000.

Bulbs OK, fuses on the fuse panel at the side of the steering wheel OK.

Where next to investigate.

All three lights out. What is the easiest way to gt to the brake lights switch.

Are there any known issues with lights not grounding properly?

Annoyed because I didn't spot it when I have been driving, and now have to go home without brake lights, knowing it. Which makes me feel worse. I hate driving a car that I know is dangerously, and legally faulty.

Switch might be knackered. On the TDIs the heater coil symbol flashes to say there's a problem. Its right at the back of the pedal.

This might help you -

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/brakeswitch.htm

Thanks guys, I guess this weekend will be tring to check the switch, followed by finding a dealership which is a ****er since Gorners shut. Just hope I don't get stopped.

You may find a dealer with one in stock. Also try VW Audi or SEAT as I believe it's the same part.

Will do.

It is due a service (the last owner missed the 91k according to the book, but now near to 99k and flashign the insp light and the oil is a bit dark), I'm off next week, so was going to see about arranging a service before Stanford hall next weekend. Now need to get that brake light sorted.

Had a quick prod arround. looks like someone had had the panel off under the steering wheel before, as all the screws are out and it was just the clips holding it together. AS I had paid up front, never thought to check the basics. Bloody stupid really, but it looks like I've driven about 400 miles with no brake lights. And that si the kind of stupidity I normally rant at other for.

Yeah me too - another one of my pet hates is defective lighting.

OK, got the panel off.

disconnected the switch and jumped the wires in the loom.

Brake lights lit. No bother.

Just need to work out where to remove the switch from the pedal (doesn't look obvious), and find a replacement.

Whoohoo, The cheapest fix I've done on a car yet (Second cheapest was using a rawl plug and paper clip on my old Estelle to make sure the antenna mounting screw grounded to the bodywork because the hole had gone too big for the self tapper to hold on it's own, so I got radio reception).

Dead easy. Unclip panel, unclip the connector, twist the switch and pull.

once it was out, push the pluger in and out over it's full travel a few time, then reconnect and check if the light works.

Bingo. Then refit to the pedal and make sure it still works.

Looks like some gunk had gotten mixed in with the grease on the switch and stopping it operating the connection.

Going to leave it half an hour and see if it still works, or whether it needs the switch totally dismantling and degreasing and re-assembling.

Whoohoo' date=' The cheapest fix I've done on a car yet (Second cheapest was using a rawl plug and paper clip on my old Estelle to make sure the antenna mounting screw grounded to the bodywork because the hole had gone too big for the self tapper to hold on it's own, so I got radio reception).

Dead easy. Unclip panel, unclip the connector, twist the switch and pull.

once it was out, push the pluger in and out over it's full travel a few time, then reconnect and check if the light works.

Bingo. Then refit to the pedal and make sure it still works.

Looks like some gunk had gotten mixed in with the grease on the switch and stopping it operating the connection.

Going to leave it half an hour and see if it still works, or whether it needs the switch totally dismantling and degreasing and re-assembling.[/quote']

If it fails again you need a new switch part number 1J0 945 511F (latest version alternatively an A, B, C, D, or an E will do the job) ASFAIK it's only about £7.00+Vodka and Tonic, if yours is the four pin type. If it's the two pin type then I'm sorry I can't remember the part no, but again it is relatively in expensive too.

That is excellent. Do you know if it is shared with Seat/VW/Audi? Since Gorners shut I was expecting to have to hunt online .

And yes, it is the two pin type.

I'll did out the part number on the online ETKA and see if it compares,

If you read the Skoda bulletin that I posted above it gives the correct fitting procedure for a new switch and the part number.

Agh, missed your last post. got a replacement from Local Andrew Page branch.

Another black one, but obviously a pattern rather than original VW/Skoda

Was £9 all in. Bit dearer than the link you gave me. It was the only 2 pin switch listed for the Octavia.

I can see from the instructions about the correct fitting procedure.

It needs to have the plunger pushed inhard enough to move it past several ratchet like notches on the pluger.

This was very hard on the new switch, but very easy on the old one.

And yes, the new one was a lot trickier than the old one to get back in.

Working OK, now.