emergency brake lights stays on

[thebeewantsboost]

i just bought a 95 z28 and the emergency brake doesn't work and the light stays on all the time as far as it not working, i can look to see if it needs adjustment. but my main concern is getting the light to go off. obviously the emergency brake isn't stuck engaged so what i should i look for?

also the brake pedal its pretty hard, its driveable but not comftorable... it seems to me like it would be a vacuum or booster problem, are there any other problems, maybe something common that i could look for? how can i know the booster is bad? i did search for both things but didn't find any answers.

[T-Mill]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

There is a wire that pugs into a small clip on the side of the base of the E-brake handle. Make sure it's plugged in and that it's making connection. If there's no connection, it thinks the E-brake is up...

gl

[ssms5411]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Also make sure your brake fluid is full, if low it will come on.

[thebeewantsboost]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

thanx for the suggestions, unfortunately its not the micro switch by the base of the e-brake... i cut the wire and put it to 12v and to ground and the light stays on.... i'm a little baffled on that... the brake resevoir is full... man, i'm really stumped...

[Rob Bell]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Also check the sensor that makes the light come on when the fluid is low. IDK if there is another sensor anywhere, but it has to be a sensor or a short in the sensor circuit. Since you say that the pedal is pretty hard, I'm wondering if there is a sensor that is picking up that fault.

[ssms5411]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Its a ground , when you tested it the E-brake was down correct? also is your 3rd light out one of the bulbs or any in the rear?

[Z26v6]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

That red brake light will also come on after the low trac & abs inop lights have been tripped, so you may have a code that needs to be cleared/reset.

[thebeewantsboost]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

The brake light was on when I bought it 3 days ago. Since then I took off the spoiler and unhooked the 3rd brake light. It was after the brake lights were disconnected that I tried testing the switch. So I defintely need to plug it back in and check the bulbs. I read that somewhere else last night. That's really strange for that to cause the light. So I will do that if it doesn't fix it I'll clear the codes. The abs inop came on yesterday. I wasnt driving just had it running in the driveway.
I actually tested the sensor by simply pushing the microswitch manually. Then putting the wire to hot n ground.
Any idea where the level sensor is??

[cam98aro]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

you have to bend the little clip that the e-brake hits to make a connection, its not the wiring, but the actual clip

[96RS Alex]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Suscribed. I have the same exact problem !

Back in May, I left my E-brake in the upright position and parked the V6 for the summer to enjoy my IROC Z28. 2 months later to today I drove the V6 to refuel and noticed the brake idiot light is steady.

Wonder if it is the E-brake switch, the brake fluid looks topped off and level. Interested to see where this fluid level sensor is too since I didn't know it existed. Weird

[cam98aro]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Suscribed. I have the same exact problem !

Back in May, I left my E-brake in the upright position and parked the V6 for the summer to enjoy my IROC Z28. 2 months later to today I drove the V6 to refuel and noticed the brake idiot light is steady.

Wonder if it is the E-brake switch, the brake fluid looks topped off and level. Interested to see where this fluid level sensor is too since I didn't know it existed. Weird

like i said, there is a tab, if it gets bent/dirty it wont make a contact and the light will stay on

put the e-brake up and sand it down with some sandpaper

[thebeewantsboost]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Cam98maro. I know how microswitches work. I pushed on the microswitch actuator or "spring" an it didn't change the light. 96rsalex did u check your brake light bulbs?
This problem is kind of on hold for me as I can't seem to get the camaro to crank right
now. Sigh

[96RS Alex]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Interesting, my third brake light assembly is totally off when I depress the brake pedal but the rear tail light assemblies function normally.

Time for a fix...

[bigairboarder44]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

I believe the fluid level sensor is on the driver's side of the reservoir near the shock tower.

[96RS Alex]

Re: emergency brake lights stays on

Well I found time to attempt to fix my 3rd brake light problem. The bulbs were definitely blackened but I could not read what types they were.

A quick trip to Autozone and I found a pair of "921" bulbs that made it fully functional however the Brake light is still on. Time to dig in this further hopefully this weekend.

The 3rd brake light housing assembly is fastened by (2) T-15 Torx screws.