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[quote=”peshewa” post=169103]Look at the brake light switch near the top of the brake pedal.[/quote]
That switch is fine …when i said light is stuck on i’m talking about the warning light on the dash 🙂
I would start with checking the e brake switch. Not familiar with the the car but some have float sensors in the master cylinder resevoir cap and sometimes they get stuck or you could have pinched off a wire.
That warning light does double duty. When it’s lit, it means that either your Parking Brake is applied or the fluid level in the master cylinder is low.
It could be that your Parking Brake isn’t fully released and/or the pedal isn’t returning completely, or that the Parking Brake switch has just plain failed in the “ON” position. Try pulling the Parking Brake release handle and pull up sorta hard on the Parking Brake pedal to see if that turns the light off. It could be a mechanical or adjustment issue rather than a switch issue.
I’m not familiar with your particular master cylinder, but the low fluid level warning switch and float assemblies I’ve seen could all be changed easily. You can test the switch/float assembly by unplugging the electrical connector. If the warning light goes out, (and your fluid level is OK), you’ve found the culprit.
[quote=”Evil-i” post=169175]That warning light does double duty. When it’s lit, it means that either your Parking Brake is applied or the fluid level in the master cylinder is low.
It could be that your Parking Brake isn’t fully released and/or the pedal isn’t returning completely, or that the Parking Brake switch has just plain failed in the “ON” position. Try pulling the Parking Brake release handle and pull up sorta hard on the Parking Brake pedal to see if that turns the light off. It could be a mechanical or adjustment issue rather than a switch issue.
I’m not familiar with your particular master cylinder, but the low fluid level warning switch and float assemblies I’ve seen could all be changed easily. You can test the switch/float assembly by unplugging the electrical connector. If the warning light goes out, (and your fluid level is OK), you’ve found the culprit.[/quote]
Thx Evil-i, itried pulling on the e brake pedal with no luck.I do notice however that when applying the e brake the pedal is hard to push down,like the cable is outta adjustment…as for the MC i don’t see any electrical plug attached to it and the fluid is full,and brakes do work fine :unsure:
Does your car have ABS and when you cycle the key to on does the ABS light come on?
If not, check the main power feed/ground connector to the ABS Modulator. This should be the connector with heavy gauge wires . Makes sure it’s properly seated and clicked in to position.
[quote=”Evil-i” post=169175]That warning light does double duty. When it’s lit, it means that either your Parking Brake is applied or the fluid level in the master cylinder is low.
It could be that your Parking Brake isn’t fully released and/or the pedal isn’t returning completely, or that the Parking Brake switch has just plain failed in the “ON” position. Try pulling the Parking Brake release handle and pull up sorta hard on the Parking Brake pedal to see if that turns the light off. It could be a mechanical or adjustment issue rather than a switch issue.
I’m not familiar with your particular master cylinder, but the low fluid level warning switch and float assemblies I’ve seen could all be changed easily. You can test the switch/float assembly by unplugging the electrical connector. If the warning light goes out, (and your fluid level is OK), you’ve found the culprit.[/quote]
+1
You might also find this information useful.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-brake-problems
Good luck and please keep us posted on what you find.
[quote=”frumpy” post=169201]…as for the MC i don’t see any electrical plug attached to it…I tried pulling on the e brake pedal with no luck.I do notice however that when applying the e brake the pedal is hard to push down,like the cable is outta adjustment…[/quote]
Sounds to me like the old parking brake cables have expanded with rust within their nylon sleeves. The rust really bungs things up internally and causes a lot of friction. It might be possible that the rust/friction is limiting the parking brake pedal travel, which isn’t returning fully to the Off position, causing the switch to remain activated.
I’ve seen these cables deteriorate so badly that the pedal won’t move at all. You might be able to get some temporary improvement by squirting penetrating oil into the cable housing, followed by motor oil for lubrication, then applying and releasing the parking brake several times to work the lube around.
Edit: I’m assuming you haven’t owned the car since it was new. It’s quite possible that a previous owner installed a master cylinder that fit, (or replaced the plastic reservoir), but wasn’t exactly right for this particular car, and didn’t have a low brake fluid level switch. Look around the MC area for a disconnected electrical connector that’s dangling around or has been tucked out of the way. Maybe some crap and corrosion got inside the connector and is completing the circuit, causing the bulb to illuminate.
EDIT: I did a bit of reading in your Owners Manual in an on-line PDF. On page 12, it mentions that if the ABS light is illuminated along with the Parking Brake light, it indicates a “brake force distribution system failure”. Two questions on that point: Is your ABS light on too, with the engine running? Does the ABS bulb illuminate when you turn the key to the On position, before starting the engine?
[quote=”Evil-i” post=169244][quote=”frumpy” post=169201]…I tried pulling on the e brake pedal with no luck.I do notice however that when applying the e brake the pedal is hard to push down,like the cable is outta adjustment…[/quote]
EDIT: I did a bit of reading in your Owners Manual in an on-line PDF. On page 12, it mentions that if the ABS light is illuminated along with the Parking Brake light, it indicates a “brake force distribution system failure”. Two questions on that point: Is your ABS light on too, with the engine running? Does the ABS bulb illuminate when you turn the key to the On position, before starting the engine?[/quote]
first there is a plug on the bottom of the res. and it’s plugged in all the way….Now i do notice that the ABS light never comes on when cycling the key nor does it come on when started…the light lit is the same one shown on page 12 that you posted,i will have to dig in and try later on to see if it’s plugged all the way in 🙁
[quote=”Evil-i” post=169175]That warning light does double duty. When it’s lit, it means that either your Parking Brake is applied or the fluid level in the master cylinder is low.
I’m not familiar with your particular master cylinder, but the low fluid level warning switch and float assemblies I’ve seen could all be changed easily. You can test the switch/float assembly by unplugging the electrical connector. If the warning light goes out, (and your fluid level is OK), you’ve found the culprit.[/quote]
Hi Evil-i,finally got around to checking this out further,i did unplug the sensor on the bottom of the resevoir and the light did go out…gonna replace that sensor since the cost is low and go from there…Thx i’ll post back when done :woohoo:
[quote=”frumpy” post=170295][quote=”Evil-i” post=169175]That warning light does double duty. When it’s lit, it means that either your Parking Brake is applied or the fluid level in the master cylinder is low.
I’m not familiar with your particular master cylinder, but the low fluid level warning switch and float assemblies I’ve seen could all be changed easily. You can test the switch/float assembly by unplugging the electrical connector. If the warning light goes out, (and your fluid level is OK), you’ve found the culprit.[/quote]
Hi Evil-i,finally got around to checking this out further,i did unplug the sensor on the bottom of the resevoir and the light did go out…gonna replace that sensor since the cost is low and go from there…Thx i’ll post back when done :woohoo:[/quote]
Well i replaced the switch and the light still came back wtf this is making me crazy lol :silly:
[quote=”frumpy” post=169255][quote=”Evil-i” post=169244][quote=”frumpy” post=169201]…I tried pulling on the e brake pedal with no luck.I do notice however that when applying the e brake the pedal is hard to push down,like the cable is outta adjustment…[/quote]
EDIT: I did a bit of reading in your Owners Manual in an on-line PDF. On page 12, it mentions that if the ABS light is illuminated along with the Parking Brake light, it indicates a “brake force distribution system failure”. Two questions on that point: Is your ABS light on too, with the engine running? Does the ABS bulb illuminate when you turn the key to the On position, before starting the engine?[/quote]
first there is a plug on the bottom of the res. and it’s plugged in all the way….Now i do notice that the ABS light never comes on when cycling the key nor does it come on when started…the light lit is the same one shown on page 12 that you posted,i will have to dig in and try later on to see if it’s plugged all the way in :([/quote]
Did you ever get the ABS light sorted out? You could be looking at that “brake force distribution system failure” scenario, but only getting 1/2 of the indication at the dash, because the ABS bulb/LED may be defective or missing entirely.
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