[DeTomaso] Brake Switch Frustration

Wed Apr 22 11:28:06 EDT 2009

Charles & Thomas

It is the switch that actuates the brake lights.  Yes, when I tracked the 
car, I had a very heavy brake foot.

As Thomas points out, it simply screws in and problems do not reflect an 
installation issue.  I cannot determine a manufacturer's stamp on the 
switch; however, they are all identical in shape. Although, newer ones are 
pretty yellow zinc plated.  I do have a hydraulic parking brake that would 
subject them to extended periods under pressure.  I seldom use the hydraulic 
parking brake and have not determined the application of the line lock to 
immediately precede the switch failure. Although, admittedly, I am rarely 
the one to recognize my lack of brake lights; generally, it is another Space 
City member who points it out to me.  I am never quite certain when it 
actually fails.

Years back, I went through the catalogs in search of the often suggested VW 
replacement switch. I didn't find a VW or other hydraulic switch that 
cleanly fit the location.  If someone has a part number reflecting 
otherwise, please fill me in on it.

Otherwise, I am not going back to the hydraulic switch, I am going to 
engineer an alternative approach.

Thanks for your input

JT

Charles McCall skrev:
> Dear John,
>
> While acknowledging that I know absolutely nothing about the stock brake
> switch, are you sure the problem is the switch? 5 failures, all in the 
> same
> car or from both? I'd respectfully suggest that it's an installation 
> problem
> rather than a problem with the switch itself. Could the geometry be off on
> your particular car which means stressing part of the switch until it
> breaks? Do you have an usually heavy brake foot? ;-)

It is an hydraulic switch that is mounted in the distribution block
beneath the master cylinder. No geometry issues possible without gross
incompetence during install :-)

I have also not heard that this part should be a problem, although mine
does take a bit of break effort to close.

Are these switches OEM or some aftermarket switch of questionable quality?

Didn't switches from the old beetle fit?

>
> I've had no problems with the switch on 2 different Panteras and many 
> years
> of ownership (and other problems) and it doesn't ring a bell as being a
> candidate for the "top 10 Pantera flaws" list, or something that has come 
> up
> on the list often.
> The fact that you are pioneering a solution 35 years after the 
> introduction
> of the model suggests that it isn't a problem that affects a lot of cars 
> or
> that the problem isn't in the switch per se.
> Just food for thought...
>
> Charles McCall
> 1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
> "Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
> http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] En
> nombre de John Taphorn
> Enviado el: miércoles, 22 de abril de 2009 15:39
> Para: detomaso at realbig.com
> Asunto: [DeTomaso] Brake Switch Frustration
>
> I am giving up on the stock Pantera brake switch.  I've got five of them 
> in
> a drawer that I have accumulated during my years of Pantera ownership.  I
> had another fail recently.
>
> I've tried to stay true to the original brake light design and dutifully
> have called a Pantera vendor to replace each one that failed.  However, I 
> am
> throwing in the towel and going to an alternative that would be more
> reliable.
>
> I have disassembled the switch units to try and find a consistent failure
> point, but I have been unsuccessful determining a single culprit.  As one
> may know, this is a part in which the inspection process is one way. After
> you cut it open, there is no reassembly.  That is a shame, I could 
> probably
> make a few that would work from my inventory.
>
> I imagine others must have taken this journey before me and switched to a
> non-fluid pressure mechanical method.  I would appreciate your lessons
> learned.
>
> It appears to me that a practical approach would be to mount a switch
> through the chassis panel that on my car is in the footwell about an inch
> above the brake pedal arm.  It seems possible to mount a switch in that
> location that would be depressed when the pedal is at rest and be released
> as the pedal is actuated.  Thus, it would offer no continuity when 
> depressed
> and continuity when released.
>
> Is anyone using this set-up?  Also, if so, do you have a switch part 
> number?
> It would certainly save me time going through the NAPA parts catalogs.
>
> Of course, I am open to other approaches as well.
>
> Thanks
> JT
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-- 
Real life:   Thomas Törnblom             Email:  Thomas.Tornblom at Hax.SE
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