brake light switch - replacing it

[oldman]

morning all,
brake lights stopped working on sat pm, just in time not to get one as garage shut.

Anyway, i vag-com'd her and confirmed that as issue.
I tested bulbs and they work in another car which helped confirm switch as issue.

Using etka i found the part to 1J0 945 511A / 1J0945511A, so bough said piece from garage.
Having removed the under dash area i removed old one and see it is a 1J0 945 511D / 1J0945511D

So, does anybody know if these are interchangeable? or do i need to purchase another part?

They are diff in shape and size so thinking no, but thoughts appreciated.

Neil 'wasting a days holiday'

found a good guide on vwvortex to follow, only bit missing is the part telling you to remove dash area and if they are compatible as a swap

 

[Muttley]

The VW Vortex guide tells you about A, B C and D switches. You've bought an A to replace a D.

If the electrical plug in the wiring harness will fit the new A switch, then it should be fine. If it won't then you will be in the same position I was when I replaced my clutch switch - the switches do the same job but the wiring harness won't fit.

In my case I cut away the bits of the switch socket that were getting in the way until I could plug it in. It's in there now, and is working fine. However, I can't be sure that it will work for you, and I didn't make a note of either of the part numbers - sorry.

 

[oldman]

yep cheers muttley, all sorted now.

went to garage, swapped and discovered that the D has been superseded by the part number:
Part Numbers:
1J0 945 511A / 1J0945511A -> massive black one
1J0 945 511D / 1J0945511D -> smaller PURPLE
1C0 945 511A / 1C0945511A -> new GREEN to replace purple

cost of part is7.66+vat = 8..81

30min job all in now i know what i'm actually doing. hardest part is all the trox screws, T25, to remove the lower dash to gain access.

 

[volvic]

quick question oldfella!!

i ordered my part on the phone using my vin umber and its nothing like the one on the petrol guide here on scn(green). the new one i have is black... i have yet to rip my dash to bits to change it. (at the mo it only stops working if its hot, so a good blast of a/c sorts it)

was your new part coloured?

thanks!

 

[oldman]

yes it was coloured
old D = purple
new D = green

i thought i needed the old bigger A, much so in comparison, as that is what etka said.
i would recommend taking old one out, or at least get on floor and shine a bight light through the holes in under dash and see if colour is there, thinking i did see mine was purple this way but never twigged
I reckon all in it is about a 30min job tops

Remove the fuse cover, under the torx screws, think 5 or 6
remove the 2 holding the it up on the left of steering wheel
unclip the light / illumination panel switch
remove brake cable plug
twist and remove
reverse to add

Also on the last page of the vwvortex guide he does say why they were changed and also in the states, i think, they were all recalled.
not sure why not in the uk as well?

 

[volvic]

thanks,

got my "new" part here: 1J0 945 511A (black). i've stuck my head under the inspection holes however i can only see the clutch switch which is green... well i think its the clutch as thats what it leads too...

according to the scn guide http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1737629 it looks like i've been sold an old part by a dealer

 

[volvic]

mine actually has a cover where this has a gap

 

[oldman]

yes it is the old part, at least for my car; 2004 04 cupra
vwvortwex guide shows the old style A, massive

you should just about see the switch on the brake peddle, but granted not exactly easy access area...
the new green D, is about the same size but seems to be a more all in 1 rather than a two piece bit.

 

[oldman]

i never even saw that guide.
yours looks like the old black one.
When I went in i asked if had been superseded, but they said no, so the A may still be same, only the later ones changed.
This is the guide i used if any help.
last page says about the colour coding change info:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1158315

mine is as the picture shows, purple & green.

 

[volvic]

thanks oldman. that vortex one helps a lot.

blasted design!!

 

[oldman]

yeah, and you were right in the scn thread, not easy to see under there in a derv.
mine has three slots, which i saw you had a large single hole in your pic and so even less too see.

 

[M20FES]

i bought a new switch (big black one) on 02/02/2010 to replace my old faulty one, now iam getting the same problem with this one after 6 months of use. The pin pushes in put doesn't come out properly when you brake leaving me with no brake lights. Can i get this replaced under warranty, got the receipt and was bought from a seat dealer ?

 

[volvic]

i bought a new switch (big black one) on 02/02/2010 to replace my old faulty one, now iam getting the same problem with this one after 6 months of use. The pin pushes in put doesn't come out properly when you brake leaving me with no brake lights. Can i get this replaced under warranty, got the receipt and was bought from a seat dealer ?

I had the same problem. The dealer sold me an old unit despite me stating I'd like the new updated one.
The one you need is purple or green! Don't accept the black one. If they want to give you the same one again go elsewhere and get a refund