Hi Good old soviet here,

The MOT for my Mk1 Octavia was on the first of May, and I usually take it to a garage that is not a MOT testing centre where it is checked over, and then taken by the owner to another garage that tests it.

Having checked all the lights myself I was amazed to get a telephone call from the mechanic that checks it over, to say that the stop lights are not working, and that he had taken off the plastic cover in the top of the drivers foot well, and waggled the switch, and it was working when he took it to the other garage for testing. It did pass with no advisements, and so I am the lucky one, I suppose.

When using the car last night the stop lights where again not working, and it would seem that the switch is intermittently operating. It was too dark to look a this one, last night and I will do this today.

Does any one know what the switch looks like, and how many contacts it has on it? As I am hoping that I will find one on E-bay, for buying.

thank you

Soviet :eek:

What year is the Octavia?, if it has a cable throttle I suspect that it will have 2 contacts, if it's drive by wire - 4 contacts. Why risk E-bay when new ones are around £7 + VAT? The latest version is green, the previous version purple and the original one black.

Fabia-vrs.com - Brake Pedal Switches

Hi Ford fan and Lummox,

Thank you both so very much for your help.

The year of the Mk1 Octavia is 2001 but this morning I believe that I have solved the problem, although I need to keep watching in case it does return.

I removed the plastic cover from under the top of the drivers foot well under the dash panel (two screws) and found the switch which has a black plug with two contacts. I removed the black plug from the switch and used the buzzer on a multimeter to check the the switch made contact on pushing the pedal down. I tried this several times and it worked constantly, and so the switch is still a good one.

I gave the plug a shot of WD40 and reconnected it and the brake lights then came on, when Soviet junior pushed the pedal for me. Just to make sure I removed the 10amp fuse (F13) which is the second row down and third in from left of holder. I gave this also a shot of WD40 and just to be twice sure of this.

I have checked operation of the stopping lights many times today, as I have been using the car, for seeing relations, and it is fine so far.

I t is just going to show that such a simple thing as a dirty contact can, fail the MOT unless one is knowing a good mechanic as I do, that investigated further, and managed to get it working for the testing.

Thank you again

Soviet

i changed my switch last week for the new design (as Lummox has shown above).

they are known for being dodgy, and the new one only costs £7-8.

http://briskoda.net/forums/octavia-i/faulty-brake-switch-16955-a/109000/

i changed my switch last week for the new design (as Lummox has shown above).

they are known for being dodgy, and the new one only costs £7-8.

http://briskoda.net/forums/octavia-i/faulty-brake-switch-16955-a/109000/

Hi Bodge,

Thank you, as I will be watching my switch, and its operation closely, but it does appear that it was dirty contacts, as the car is not kept inside one of the garages for parking.

I will book mark the link that you have been so kind, to give to me, as it may need to be of use.

Thank you

Regards

Soviet:thumbup:

I repaired mine twice before replacing it. Lucky I had cruise control as you know its gone, when the cruise doesnt work.

As above dealer £7.

This also might help for reference:

Repairing the Brake Light Switch on your Mk4 Jetta/Golf/Beetle

I repaired mine twice before replacing it. Lucky I had cruise control as you know its gone, when the cruise doesnt work.

As above dealer £7.

This also might help for reference:

Repairing the Brake Light Switch on your Mk4 Jetta/Golf/Beetle

Hi,

This one almost cost me the MOT failure, and I am thankfull to the mechanic that knows me so well, and investigated the cause of the problem.

As one should always be doing I checked all my lamps before taking the car to them, and it seemed to play up deliberately to spoil the test, and the day for me.

I was lucky.

I will also bookmark your thread, as it may be useful.

Thank you

Soviet:thumbup:

Got my NCT test (equivalent of MOT here in Ireland) in the morning and lo and behold no brake lights when I checked this evening!

Thanks for the info guys now working a treat.