e-brake light stays on?

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fast3.0csi

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The red e brake light in the cluster will not go out when I released the brake. I removed the e brake boot and tried to adjust it but no luck. Can I replace the switch under the boot with one from another car if this one is bad?

Any suggestions?

Fast3.0csi 1972
 
the fluid level was fine

I don't think they are the same, the e brakes are the only light located in the cluster. I think this is right. I don't think the brakes have a light.

Thanks
 
my problem for that red light always on was that the metal pin that comes out from the floater of the brake fluid reservoir had too much play on its hole, and that meant the pin was not properly pushing up the switch of the light contact

take care about this, first check the light with the cap in your hand, turn it upside down and if the contact is correct the light will be switched off, then check if the floater has liquid inside it (if it is full with brake liquid it will not float properly)

walloth&nesch has a replace for the floater

regards
 
I tried topping off the fluid

the ebrake light is still red as ever, I also turned the cap upside and that didn't work
 
Disconnect the wires at the cap, see if the wires have any exposed portions where it might be shorting together and causing a ground. Disconect the e-brake switch, try to trace those wires under the carpet for any grounds too.
 
HB Chris said:
Disconnect the wires at the cap, see if the wires have any exposed portions where it might be shorting together and causing a ground. Disconect the e-brake switch, try to trace those wires under the carpet for any grounds too.
Click to expand...
+1
yeah, the problem is the switch is making ground when things occur, (parking brake released, or brake fluid low), so a ground in the way of the cables will make the same effect
check it that way
good luck !
 
digging up this old thread because I just found the same issue with the red "B" light staying on.
thought it was a faulty hand-brake switch first, and was just about to order one (that little simple gadget) at $44 dollars!! lucky I found this thread first, and after checking, I can see that the cause may be a low brake fluid.

my question is,
1, the brake fluid is sitting right in between the Minimum and Maximum level on the fluid bottle, is this right? or should it normally come on when its near the Minimum level?
2, is brake fluid (in our e9) usually expected to drop slowly over time or should I look for a leak somewhere for the loss? -just that I never had a unusually low brake fluid in other cars in my experience unless there is a leak somewhere.

Gavin
 
Fluid level

loloe13 said:
digging up this old thread because I just found the same issue with the red "B" light staying on.
thought it was a faulty hand-brake switch first, and was just about to order one (that little simple gadget) at $44 dollars!! lucky I found this thread first, and after checking, I can see that the cause may be a low brake fluid.

my question is,
1, the brake fluid is sitting right in between the Minimum and Maximum level on the fluid bottle, is this right? or should it normally come on when its near the Minimum level?
2, is brake fluid (in our e9) usually expected to drop slowly over time or should I look for a leak somewhere for the loss? -just that I never had a unusually low brake fluid in other cars in my experience unless there is a leak somewhere.

Gavin
Click to expand...
The answer is yes and no! Normally the fluid level will stay constant unless there is a leak in the system. (Either brake or clutch for RHD cars. Not sure if LHDcars use a common reservoir.)
However, as the brake pads wear the fluid level in the reservoir will very slowly reduce as the calipers retain more fluid. Hope this makes sense!
 
No the brake fluid should not go down over time. There would be a leak if this is happening. The brake fluid also supplies your clutch hydraulics if so equipped. So check your clutch master and slave cylinder. As others have said take the cap off and make sure the metal pin is making proper contact with the float. May be a matter of adding fluid if no leak is found. In my case the rubber hose which the pin is placed in was rotted over time. So I was not getting a proper reading. I ended up making my own out of hard plastic which won't rot like rubber. I used a 3/4'' Star fastener thats used for hanging pictures. Just kept filing down till I had proper fit, that was two years ago no problem since. Good luck, MIke
 
and two insideous places brake fluid can leak are into the brake booster unit and into the footwell under the carpet/foam padding.
 
thanks guys for all the replies

steve: yep, unfortunately I do recall seeing fluid trailing down the brake pedal and also into the footwell a while ago but it did stop on its own. will look into it.

while i am investigating all these, the stop light switch also failed on me, this budget cheap switch only been in for less than 3 years and now its dead, time for a better quality one.
Gavin
 
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