alfa romeo spider t spark 2.0 lusso 2001

[Ricky Swank]

The other day my brake lights were only coming on if I hit the brake pedal very hard; any weaker level of pressure on the foot pedal & they didn't light up. I took the car into an Alfa Garage & they charged for me for the mechanic "altering the setting of the brake light switch". I paid them & left the garage.

Later that day, whilst the car was parked, my brake lights came on in the middle of the night. This resulted in the alarm sounding as the charge in the battery dropped. I called out the AA the next day as the battery was dead. The AA man got it started & recommended that I put in a new brake light switch.

I am going to replace the brake light switch this evening in hope of fixing this problem. Is there any other reason why this may be happening & is there anything to be aware of when I replace the brake light switch - settings etc?

Thanks.

[gary baldy]

I cant speak for an alfa but i recently replaced my brake light swicth in my saab. It was a bit fiddly - you have to take of all the facia under the steering wheel and reach right underneath but it was a really easy process to replace the switch - mine just twisted out and put the new one in.
It was surprisingly cheap aswell (unlike every other saab part i've had to buy).
I doubt you have to reset anything - the fact it was so easily replacable makes me think they go quite often.

[spaced]

typical alfa

[gary baldy]

Ive just re-read your post and see that Alfa mis diagnosed and charged you. Even to a numbskull like me the problem was quite obvious (after a bit of searching on forums etc.) so should be equally obvious to an alfa "mechanic". Id take it up with them!
Your not alone saab are just as bad - i never take mine to dealers always to an independent specialist.

[Ricky Swank]

Thanks Gary. Anyone know what to watch out for when I replace the brake light switch though? I can't see any way of adjusting it as it simply slots in where the old one comes out from!

It looks to be a very simple job, but I am now worried about changing it & then being back at square 1 again due to not adjusting it properly.

I have taken this up with Alfa already Gary & they just bullsh1t me each time we speak. For the sake of a �40 bill I can't be ar5ed to waste my time mate!

[gary baldy]

Again i dont know what yours will look like but it is small plastic device with a plunger . The plunger sits snug to the end of the brake pedal and requires no adjustment - its either in or out - you cannot adjust the switch itself.
The only adjustment i can think of is to adjust the cable or brakes themselves but this will have no effect at all on the brake light switch!
You obviously dont miss �40 as much as i would but i would like to know exactly what they did (and more to the point why it didnt work).
I'm pretty incompetent but i did mine really easily (and avoided paying �40) the switch just clicks in and out. Like i said its not a sophisticated piece of kit but once they go your brake lights just stay on constantly.
Let me know how you get on (do you want me to go down to alfa and get your money back? I like nothing more than shouting at dealerships who rip you off!)