E brake light
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,418
Likes: 197
From: AZ
E brake light
When I had my dash out I replaced a burned out bulb for the parking-emergency brake. Still doesn't work 
! I don't get power to the single wire plug with it engaged or not with the key on. Any suggestions on further testing or maybe a work around, like a light I could put somewhere to let me know the brake is on. I burned up my rear brakes last year because I forgot they were on. Maybe a solution would be to take off some power mods or get a new operator, one with a brain! 
! I don't get power to the single wire plug with it engaged or not with the key on. Any suggestions on further testing or maybe a work around, like a light I could put somewhere to let me know the brake is on. I burned up my rear brakes last year because I forgot they were on. Maybe a solution would be to take off some power mods or get a new operator, one with a brain!
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: chicago burbs
my light is hit or miss. I usually set the brake. So I have a habit of grabbing the release just before shifting into drive.
did you check the switch on the pedal? May have loose or dirty contacts?
did you check the switch on the pedal? May have loose or dirty contacts?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Does the light come on at all when you first turn the key on? If the lamp is good I think it should come on for the lamp check before you start the truck. The dumb little switches are really bad about getting dirty and not working or working intermittently. Mine does the same thing so I generally just reach down there and pull the lever before I take off since I can't trust the dummy light to tell me the brake is on.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,418
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Does the light come on at all when you first turn the key on? If the lamp is good I think it should come on for the lamp check before you start the truck. The dumb little switches are really bad about getting dirty and not working or working intermittently. Mine does the same thing so I generally just reach down there and pull the lever before I take off since I can't trust the dummy light to tell me the brake is on.
. The contacts on the e-brake bracket are clean, I just replaced a chip and was checking it out. I have the key on and moved the contacts back and forth with no results. I was just thinking about what might happen if I put power to that male plug in and moved the contacts engaged to disengaged? Of course, with just on wire 'input', what would be the 'output'? IDK
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Keep in mind that that light is also (actually, it's _primarily_) what warns you when the hydraulic brakes have failed. So it's good to make sure it's working. Dumb question, but, did you test to make sure the new bulb is good? It's not an LED bulb by any chance, is it?
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
The switch on the pedal takes that wire to gro9und to turn the light on, so all you need to do to eliminate the switch as the issue is to ground out that wire. If the light still doesn't come on, then you just found yourself something to work on for a while, lol.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,418
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Keep in mind that that light is also (actually, it's _primarily_) what warns you when the hydraulic brakes have failed. So it's good to make sure it's working. Dumb question, but, did you test to make sure the new bulb is good? It's not an LED bulb by any chance, is it?
OK, if I ground out the single wire that goes to the e brake, that should light the light? Or, do you need to push on the brake at the same time I'm grounding out that wire? Probably not the second one but trying to get my head around this. No wonder I couldn't get a power reading from it, duh!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Like I need to have something else to work on, LOL OK, if I ground out the single wire that goes to the e brake, that should light the light? Or, do you need to push on the brake at the same time I'm grounding out that wire? Probably not the second one but trying to get my head around this.
OK, if I ground out the single wire that goes to the e brake, that should light the light? Or, do you need to push on the brake at the same time I'm grounding out that wire? Probably not the second one but trying to get my head around this.Yes, if you ground that wire the light should come on. You don't need to touch the pedal.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,418
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Yes, your memory is correct Nate, LOL I'm for the most part done with the pickup, for now. Just some little things but there will always be little things, just don't want any more big things for now. I'm burnt out!! I have to go out and put on my pre-charged coolant filter I just got and I'll see what happens with grounding that wire, thanks as always!
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,418
Likes: 197
From: AZ
I tried several times turning the key to test mode and no brake light. I left the key on with the wire to the e brake pedal grounded, no light. The 'new' bulb I put in must be bad, I guess!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 6
From: Medford Oregon
Glenn, there are three paths for the brake warning light to come ON.
1. The emergency brake switch ... duh, but that doesn't work.
2. Turning the key to "Start", not run.
3. If you have a DRL module then it goes through it before the E-Brake switch.
1. The emergency brake switch ... duh, but that doesn't work.
2. Turning the key to "Start", not run.
3. If you have a DRL module then it goes through it before the E-Brake switch.