AHA! This is a classic Volkswagen gotcha! There is no MECHANICAL swich for the brake lights. There are instead TWO hydralic switches on the side of the brake master cylinder. Either of these switches will make the lights work, but if only one of the switches works, but not the other, the Brake Warning switch will also light up. At least in theory! These switches rarely go bad - usually the connectors get knocked off, or just loose...   ...gee, isn't that a rare thing - wiring faults on a Vanagon! ;-)

Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM> wrote:  OK I'm assuming that the brake light switch is connected to the brake
petal mechanically but I can't see the switch. It IS up there right?
Is there an easy way to access it? It must be tucked up pretty far
inside the lower dash area...

<snip>

Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender
1972 Chevy P/U
1993 Bonneville