Intermittent brake lights -85 110

[isuzutoo-eh]

Hi everyone,
I am having a problem with my County's brake lights. They work intermittently, and before anyone mentions it, it isn't only when my foot is on the brake...
Vehicle is an '85 110 that I retrofitted with Wipac LED brake/tail lights. Date of LED install and this problem arising doesn't coincide.

The brake lights will come on when pedal is depressed and stay on until foot is removed be it for a second or a minute, however the next press of the pedal won't have the lights come on, sometimes it takes 10 seconds, sometimes 30 seconds or even over a minute to 'recharge' the system and have another light show. It really feels like there's a capacitor that needs a recharge...but there shouldn't be one in the system!

Fuse is intact and tested, the ground on the back of the speedo cluster is freshly polished and reattached firmly, brake switch on the pedal box is only a few years old, and testing with multimeter shows it works as expected (and doesn't get hot in use).
Anyone seen this before?
Any pointers on where to look?

[Wallaby Ted]

Hi,

I have had the problem with brakes working intermittently on the 85 County, what I normally find is:
-corrosion in the lights fitting (not going to be your problem with your LED lights)
-brake switch failure (had them go internally before even when reasonably new) a short will make it hot, an open connection as I have had on them will not heat them up
-last option is a loose connection/bad earth somewhere

Do you have a trailer plug? Might be worth checking the connection there.

Unfortunately it might be to get someone to push the brake and try and check it whilst it isn't working.

Richard

[Bearman]

My guess would be the switch. It may show fine with a m/meter but when a load is applied the problem arises.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Thanks Richard and Brian,
Looks like the switch will be the first thing to check...I might as well order two switches, the last one has only lasted three years or so!

Doubt it'll change anything, however I should also mention the warning light sometimes glows gently, other times strongly. Brake linings, pads, drums and discs are all good, and the fluid I changed with fresh just after I noticed the warning light on, and there is no air in the system.

-Mark

[inside]

How dodgy is that brake switch? So flimsy looking when I had to replace mine.

[Dave_S]

I've had a few Counties and the wiring for all of the rear lights was dodgy on all of them. At the least I'd pull all of the connectors and earths and give them a good clean. Check that none of the wires are damaged (some will be) and have a really good look at any point where trailer wiring has been spliced in. If you find a lot of damage consider making up a new loom for the lights.