Originalscrambles

Picked up 1985 XJ 2.5L manual for WAY Cheap. Body completely strait, interior no joke almost new looking. In the process of restoring (bring back to proper operating order) . Just took the head off tonight gonna get it cleaned up and checked out this weekend (suspected head gasket was bad and it was). As i rolled it into the shop i noticed that when the brake pedal was applied the brake lights would come on, but only for a quick moment and then go off. So if i press and hold pedal down brake lights come on but go right back off while holding the pedal down.... I have never experienced this sort of sorcery before. Is this a common problem or ?

cruiser54

Look here.

Originalscrambles

Thanks for the image i will look at the switch. i had never heard of a switch causing the lights to basically blink once and go off while still holding the pedal down before so thought id ask.

gat

The switch seems like the most likely culprit. Do your turn signal flashers work? I had to replace my sockets for those bulbs because of age/corrosion on my 1988.

Originalscrambles

Turn signals themselves work, but no the dash indicators do not. Don't know if it is a short somewhere with the brake lights or not but they are working proper now. Got the head gasket and and everything in the engine bay mechanically proper now too. Next is moving in the cab to get all the dashboard bits fully operational. Either way i will be checking everything at the switch. Fuse box seems to be getting moisture to it from somewhere, that will be the first order of things to get straitened out. Wiper weren't working this morning but it turned out to be damp corrosion on the fuse, wiped it off/cleaned it up, put it back in and wipers were working fine again.