Brake light on dash lights up randomly????
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Brake light on dash lights up randomly???? The brake light on my dash ocassionally lights up for no reason when Im just cruising along. It usually comes on and kinda flickers, like theres a loose connection, for a few seconds then goes off. Its done this twice now, while im cruising down the highway, not even using the brakes.
I suspect it has something to do with the parking brake, but Im not sure what to check or adjust. Any ideas?
BTW, the brakes are just fine, relatively new pads, good rotors, flushed brake system, etc...point being I dont believe its a warning or maitainence indication.
And input would be appreciated!!!!!!!!
I suspect it has something to do with the parking brake, but Im not sure what to check or adjust. Any ideas?
BTW, the brakes are just fine, relatively new pads, good rotors, flushed brake system, etc...point being I dont believe its a warning or maitainence indication.
And input would be appreciated!!!!!!!!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,321
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The switch on the parking brake is a grounding switch. Any time the wire there goes to ground the dash light will go on. It is possible the switch itself is bad or the insulation on the wire could be damaged allowing an intermittent ground. The wire is also used for connecting the safety circuit of an aftermarket DVD player, remote starter, and similar devices. Did you have one installed? It's possible that the connection there could be bad.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
The switch on the parking brake is a grounding switch. Any time the wire there goes to ground the dash light will go on. It is possible the switch itself is bad or the insulation on the wire could be damaged allowing an intermittent ground. The wire is also used for connecting the safety circuit of an aftermarket DVD player, remote starter, and similar devices. Did you have one installed? It's possible that the connection there could be bad.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Originally Posted by jlaw
My parking brake switch went out; it was doing exactly what you're describing. It's a flimsy POS. I just disconnected it entirely.
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Miami, FL
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
One problem with that - if you have an M6 then you won't be able to open the hatch using the power release (it only works when the parking brake is engaged).
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Not with a disconnected parking brake switch unless you rewired somehow. The hatch release relay grounds through the parking brake switch. You either have to have the switch working, have the wire grounded (which would leave the indicator on all the time), or have rewired the hatch release relay to provide an alternate ground location.
Last edited by WhiteBird00; May 18, 2005 at 01:38 PM.
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From: Miami, FL
I forget exactly what I did... I was seeing red due to the persistent intermittent brake light and the POS switch.
I believe I may have left the switch body plugged in and bolted down (grounded) but removed the brake-actuated contact strap or disabled it in some way.
I believe I may have left the switch body plugged in and bolted down (grounded) but removed the brake-actuated contact strap or disabled it in some way.
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TECH Regular
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From: chicago
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
Not with a disconnected parking brake switch unless you rewired somehow. The hatch release relay grounds through the parking brake switch. You either have to have the switch working, have the wire grounded (which would leave the indicator on all the time), or have rewired the hatch release relay to provide an alternate ground location.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Vacaville, CA
Originally Posted by badhoopty
maybe i dont understand what you are saying about the switch needing to be grounded. but my switch is hooked up and the light functions like it should, but i'm able to open my hatch without the parking brake being applied.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The hatch release button only works when the ignition is in RUN, ACCY, or the retained accessory power is active. On an automatic it only works when the transmission is in park or neutral. On a manual it will work any time the ignition is in ACCY or the RAP is active but the parking brake must be engaged for it to work if the ignition is in the RUN position.
In other words, on an M6, if you disconnect the parking brake switch then you will be unable to release the hatch with the engine running.
In other words, on an M6, if you disconnect the parking brake switch then you will be unable to release the hatch with the engine running.
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Brighton, MI
This won't apply to UMD_Jesse, since it sounds like he had this covered, but to anyone else who has a brake light go on, the owners manual says:
The manual also warns:
Of course, there is at least one more way for the fluid level to go down... someone is stealing your fluid. (it's late and I'm tired, OK?)
I had the brake light go on a couple of my Ford products, and each time the fluid level looked OK, but after I topped it off, the light went off. Just a heads-up!
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake warning light will come on.
The manual also warns:
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear.
Of course, there is at least one more way for the fluid level to go down... someone is stealing your fluid. (it's late and I'm tired, OK?)
I had the brake light go on a couple of my Ford products, and each time the fluid level looked OK, but after I topped it off, the light went off. Just a heads-up!
