Seeking a mechanic near zip 34211

We can walk you thru that - easy-peasy.  Just have to remove left front wheel and its right there.  Or find local VW club - sure someone there would do it for a 6/12 pack.

Sarasota

Tampa - there are 1/2 dozen more too

Mike:

Wolfgang is right. No skill involved in that, assuming you have, or can get a jack for the car. You'll have plenty of help here to get it done. Maybe 30 minutes tops, not counting going to the local parts store for the bulb.

No reason to waste money on a mechanic.

@WOLFGANG - Thank you for the quick reply. The builder, Vintage Motorcars, suggested that I take it to a mechanic as they may need to bleed the brake line after. Have you experienced this? I am comfortable doing routine maintenance, but do not have experience with brake lines. Thoughts?

Here's a picture of what I believe is the brake light switch on my master cylinder.

YES - might need to (but doubtful).  I'd remove the old one, put thumb over hole, then quickly screw in new one. NO teflon tape or sealer!  Just don't pump brakes or leave it open for a long time - fluid loss should be very minimal.  The new brake switches are a real crap shoot - try to get a German/Brazilian/MX one.

First, I'd check the wires (2 or 3) to the old switch.  They may have come off or are corroded.  VW used a rubber boot OEM - but doubt many use it on a kit car. I bet you have a dual master cylinder with 2 brake switches?  If so you can move wires to one not being used.  Most kit cars don't use both - think they were for the warning light VW used on dash (to test the dual circuits).

There are some You Tubes on it.  Like Bob said check out the dual filament bulb first.

EDIT - Wow, that's nice clean and new looking!  Looks like there is a brass plug in where the second brake switch would go.  Wires look to be shrink wrapped but wiggle them on the terminal.

You can check if it’s the switch or the wiring ,

just connect the 2 wires on the switch and see if the brake lights work ,

you might need to turn on the key ,

if the brake lights work than it’s the switch , if they do not work check the wires and the bulbs and grounds

If, after checking the wiring you find that it really is the switch that’s bad (all too common with the Asian junky switches we all have to put up with these days), try to find a New Old Stock (NOS) German one as a replacement.  The german ones are much higher quality and will probably last much longer.  You can buy it ahead of time and give it to your new-found mechanic to install (he’ll thank you).  

In one of my rare instances of recommending against doing it yourself, remember that we ‘re talking about messing with the car’s brakes and messing them up could potentially kill you, so take it to a good mechanic to change it and re-bleed the brakes.  ANY competent shop should be able to swap the switch - Just tell him the master cylinder is inside of the driver’s front wheel and the reservoir is in the front trunk and he’ll take it from there.

Where-ever you go, they probably won’t have that switch in stock so rather than get one from a NAP store , I found a good 113945515HGW NOS West German one at Bug City:

https://www.bugcity.com/shop/s...?pquery=Brake+switch

Yes, at $29.95  it is three times the price of an Asian one, but it will last.  If their shipping is outrageous, then you can go the NAPA route.  A 2-terminal is for a ‘53 - ‘68 and a 3-terminal is for a ‘69 - ‘79 VW Sedan.

It looks like you have the earlier (1953 - 1968) 2-terminal switch.  They had a 3-terminal switch on later models which would also work.  The extra terminal was for a “Brake Failure” light on the dash that lit if one side of your 2-circuit brakes failed, but you don’t have that light so that terminal on the switch would go unused.

Good luck, and if you have more questions, please ask.  Us Non-Carlisle attendees are just looking for something to do.

@Panhandle Bob posted:

Mike:

Wolfgang is right. No skill involved in that, assuming you have, or can get a jack for the car. You'll have plenty of help here to get it done. Maybe 30 minutes tops, not counting going to the local parts store for the bulb BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

No reason to waste money on a mechanic.

Fixed it.

Thanks Robert M.