TheSamba.com :: View topic - rear brake light and brake warning light won't turn off

Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:28 pm

Searched but couldn't find an answer. Fluid level seems to be fine. Brake warning light, brake lights and 3rd brake light which is wired to left brake light are on. If I hit the brake pedal they turn off. any ideas? Disconnected battery for the time being.

Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:57 pm

I bet your switch under the e-brake lever is stuck open

Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:49 pm

You mean as if the e brake was pulled up? the brake lights, 3rd brake light, and warning light wouldn't normally be on with that pulled up though right? Or is that still a symptom? thanks for the response.

Mon Dec 24, 2012 5:21 pm

Nah, I think the parking brake just gives you a light on the dash. I'm guessing its the brake pedal switch itself is not turning off when you release the pedal, constant ground in the switch. Until you move the pedal.

Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:12 pm

The vans before 85 had a hydraulic failure detection circuit wired to the brake pressure switches on the master cylinder. That is the dash brake light you are seeing. The pressure switches are also what light up the rear brake lights. There is no brake switch on the pedal. It sounds like one of your pressure switches may be acting up.

Some later vans with cruise control had a switch on the pedal itself to tell the cruise control you were pushing the brake pedal but these are not wired to the rear brake lights or the dash brake warning light.

Mark

Home Team Van wrote: You mean as if the e brake was pulled up? the brake lights, 3rd brake light, and warning light wouldn't normally be on with that pulled up though right? Or is that still a symptom? thanks for the response.