The failure of brake light switches is very rare but it does happen.  I
recently replaced the two brake light switches on my 86 Westfalia, not
because they quit working but because they were requiring too much pressure
to turn on the brake lights.  When I installed the cruise control I used the
brake light signal to release the cruise when I stepped on the brakes so
this was an clear indication of when the lights came on.

I noticed it took a fair amount of braking effort to release the cruise but
it was OK.  As time went on it began taking more and more effort to the
point that the nose of the Vanagon would dip significantly  from braking
before the cruise released.  What finally convinced me to change the switch
was being stopped by the cops in a small eastern NC town on a Saturday night
for having no brake lights.  However, when I stepped firmly on the brakes
and the brake lights came on they had no reason to investigate.  I think
they (four deputy sheriffs in two cars by this time) were a bit disappointed.

I replace the switches ($3.78 each) and now the brake lights are much more
sensitive to pedal pressure, as they should be.

Ed

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