Parking brake light question (92 FJ80)

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ashooter

ashooter

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 13, 2006
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Location
West of the Pecos
In the last couple of weeks, my parking brake indicator light stays on (sometimes) after disengaging the brake. The first time I noticed it, I crawled under the truck and made sure the rear drums were not engaged - they were not, but the light was still on and the handle was all the way down.

The weird thing is that it seems like that light stays on just for the first 10 minutes or so that I'm driving around, then it acts normal - light on when the parking brake is engaged and light goes off when it's disengaged. Even when the light stays on while driving around for 10-15 minutes, the drums don't get hot to the touch, and the cable linkage looks like the drum brakes are disengaged...

I'm assuming it's some kind of sensor or something at the brake lever end of the deal, not at the rear drum brake end. I'm not too worried about it, but wondered if anybody has had this issue...?
 
Just a side note, if it is the level in your reservoir, it might be a good time to check the condition of your pads. As the pucks move in to compensate for worn pads, the level in the reservoir goes down.
 
Thanks guys!

I'll check the fluid, cap, & pads... Come to think of it, the brakes did feel a little less responsive than normal the other day. I just assumed it was because I'd been driving a different truck for 10 days while the 'Cruiser just sat there - my foot was tuned to a different truck.

If the problem is low brake fluid or bad sensor, or even worn pads, would that explain why the light goes off as the truck warms up? Maybe reservoir being drawn down to compensate for worn pads, then fluid expanding a little as it warms up?
 
Okay, I just came in from checking the brake fluid reservoir and the sensor. I couldn't get a good look at the pads, but they probably need to be replaced, just because they're 4 years old.

The fluid level was just below "Min", but from the outside the reservoir was stained and looked like it was at "Max"... oops.

Question: When I unplugged the sensor, the "BRAKE" light worked normally, related to the parking brake. I assume I can't tell if the sensor is functioning properly until I top off the reservoir, correct? (since the sensor is apparently doing its job just fine right now)

Thanks again!

(I love this site!)
 
ashooter said:
Thanks guys!

If the problem is low brake fluid or bad sensor, or even worn pads, would that explain why the light goes off as the truck warms up? Maybe reservoir being drawn down to compensate for worn pads, then fluid expanding a little as it warms up?
Click to expand...

Yes, Mine did the same thing. The level was just at the min line. As the truck warmed up the light would go out. I replaced all the pads front and rear and the level was back to normal and no more light. I hope thats it for you too. Pretty easy and cheap fix. Well, not really a fix, just more of a maintenance item.
 
ashooter said:
Okay, I just came in from checking the brake fluid reservoir and the sensor. I couldn't get a good look at the pads, but they probably need to be replaced, just because they're 4 years old.

The fluid level was just below "Min", but from the outside the reservoir was stained and looked like it was at "Max"... oops.

Question: When I unplugged the sensor, the "BRAKE" light worked normally, related to the parking brake. I assume I can't tell if the sensor is functioning properly until I top off the reservoir, correct? (since the sensor is apparently doing its job just fine right now)

Thanks again!

(I love this site!)
Click to expand...

If you haven't looked at your brakes in 4 years, I would say you're overdue. With all 4 corners new, the fluid level should be at max.
This would also be an ideal time to flush your fluid.
 
It's not that I haven't looked at my brakes in 4 years... but I haven't done more than glance at them while doing tire rotations. Calipers haven't been taken off since I did my birfs & front axle about 4 years ago, at which time I installed new pads and shoes. Had new brake lines installed and new fluid put in about the same time, so new pads should do the trick.

I'll call CDan and order some new pads. I need some tune-up stuff from him anyway.

Thanks again!
 
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