DANGER: driver may stop without warning

An absence of brake lights draws complaints from a fellow driver. Something needs to be done – and fast!

JAGUAR E TYPE FHC S

They say that pride comes before a fall. So it seemed appropriate that as an ‘admirer’ approached me during a recent classic car rally, he should wipe the smile of greeting from my face with the words: ‘I was behind you and your brake lights aren’t working, mate.’

The good driving of others meant that I made it to the end of the day without being shunted, and once home it was time to investigate. OŸ came the Šrst tail lamp lens and, as anticipated, both bulb and holder were Šne but there was no power at the socket.

Fuses next, which involved removing two thumb screws either side of the central dash where all the switchgear and minor instruments are located. The entire panel folded down to reveal a glimpse – no more – of the two fuse boxes. This is where a trained pet mouse or tiny hands would prove invaluable; sadly, I have neither and, predictably, as I got long nose pliers onto the fuse protecting the brake light circuit it popped out and disappeared. Fortunately, I had a spare of the correct amperage but once installed there was still no glow re£ected on the garage door as I pressed repeatedly on the brake pedal.

Then I slid out from the car and saw the original fuse fall from behind the dash and into the footwell… that was something, I suppose.

I guess I knew where this was heading all along – that pesky hydraulic switch. In common with everyone from Mini to Land Rover, Jaguar bought such components from Lucas so it’s not hard to Šnd replacements. The problem is that replacements are often Chinese imports. Add to that the fact that hydraulic switches don’t enjoy periods of winter inactivity and it's no wonder that one Jaguar forum member said that he’d replaced three in four years.

So when I spotted a genuine Lucasboxed item (or a clever fake) online I was happy to pay top money to make it mine. Unfortunately, it arrived only a day before I was planning to attend the excellent Duke’s Saturday Classic Breakfast near Leighton Buzzard and I had work commitments.

I called the local Bosch auto electrical service centre that had done such an excellent job re-wiring my Stirling Moss E-type a few years ago and they took pity on me; they Štted the switch within half an hour and the brake lights were once again glowing as Sir William Lyons intended. They also managed to eŸect the switch swap without allowing any air into the system, so no bleed was required.

I popped in to pay and collect the car and apologised to an elderly gent who stepped out across the entrance road just as I was reversing out of the workshop. Instead of complaining he treated me to 15 minutes of Jaguar stories from the 1960s and ‘70s. Then it occurred to me that I would have missed all that had I not had my brake light problem.

Seriously, aren’t old cars wonderful?

A stop en route to Grafham Water after Richard had nished work – now with working brake lights.

Richard’s blue S2 E-type shares garage space with the Lightweight driven by Sir Stirling Moss.

Not the easiest component to access down at oil sump level.

A trained mouse or small hands needed here. Richard has neither.