D1 Brake light electrical issue - 5-speed conversion

glester

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2017
96
3
Seattle
Ok, so I have a D1 300TDI that was converted to a 5 speed not long ago. I noticed recently that the brake lights were always on. I pulled the brake light switch and they all turn off. Fortunately I have a D1 V8 Auto and tested that switch to see if it was just the switch. When testing on the V8 auto where the brake lights work as expected, there is a clicking noise from a relay that sounds like it is located in or near the auto gear selector. Of course the auto gear selector was pulled out of other truck when I did the conversion and i'm wondering what needs to be addressed.

I'm at the point where I would need to pull out the center console but I don't want to have to disconnect the e-brake cable to allow room to get the center console out. That's been a pain to get the cable back attached to the lever. So, I went to the rave manual and nothing seems obvious at this point.

Anybody have experience with a 5-speed conversion on a D1 that might have insight here?

Thanks!
 

glester

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2017
96
3
Seattle
So the relay that I hear may be related to the ignition key interlock; related to not letting it shift out of park until the brake is depressed. According to the rave manual, I don't see anything really between the switch and the lights. But I may be missing something.
 

glester

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2017
96
3
Seattle
Ok, so after looking at the rave diagram further, it looks very simple. There is a Green Orange wire going into the switch and a Green Purple wire going to the lights. The fact that the lights turn on when I plug in the switch means that it completes the circuit. What doesn't make sense is that the switch cuts the circuit and turns the stop lights off in the one car, but doesn't do it in the other.

I'm going to next try to manually complete the circuit and also try a new switch from the auto parts store.
 
Hello,
A manual box D1 has no selector contacts in the brake line. It is true that ignition key enables circuit power.
But your problem is there in the pedal sensor. Since it is a very simple pushbutton, you can disassemble and repair it, if spring hasn't disappeared. That could be the reason why it is always contacting.

regards
 

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
Please update us with your findings. I am completing a conversion from V8 auto to 300TDI with 5 speed and just noticed my brake lights do not work.