park brake light
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 137
Likes: 7
park brake light
1997 F250HD, park brake light seems to work odd, when I first apply the brake the light does not come on, but if I release and set a second time, the brake light comes on, is this normal??? or should I be looking at replacing the park brake switch?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
Just a WAG but you are probably pushing harder the second time. So If you can adjust it that's what I would try along with spraying it with contact cleaner. Mine was disconnected when I got it. I didn't even know it had a dash light until I saw the loose wire. Sandy
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 137
Likes: 7
parking brake light
Actually it seems I may be pushing it to far, I just played with it and if I just push all the way down the light does not work, but if I release and push about 3/4/down it is fine. Also noticed when the brake is fully pressed down and I power the truck up the brake light does not cycle on as do the other cluster lights, dont know if this is normal or not.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
I think your truck has drum rear brakes. If so, they can be adjusted with the star wheel. I don't think you have the PB adjustment like my trucks. You Tube or Google it for info if you need to. Sandy
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 137
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you are correctg I have rear drums and from what I can determine there is no adjustment for the parking brake, so are suggesting the rear drums may need to be adjusted further? looking at the switch I am a bit confused as to why once the brake is set the distance would matter is this a normally open or normally closed switch?
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 296
Are you talking about the light on the dash?
If the dash brake light is coming on there could be a problem.
Could be a major problem like a problem w/ hydraulic line or as simple as a stuck float in the M/C.
The switch on the parking brake release lever could be setting it off too.
When you start up the truck, do all of the dash lights test out and then go off?
If the dash brake light is coming on there could be a problem.
Could be a major problem like a problem w/ hydraulic line or as simple as a stuck float in the M/C.
The switch on the parking brake release lever could be setting it off too.
When you start up the truck, do all of the dash lights test out and then go off?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 991
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio, Texas
I've got this same issue, somewhat. The light worked fine when I got the truck until I actually snapped the front cable. It worked after the cable snapped until I replaced the cable!
Perhaps I knocked something loose down there, but really didn't give it much of a second thought because I was just glad to have a working parking brake!
Regarding the pedal, I've noticed when pushing it down, it'll snag up and then pop violently forward; it reminds me of the when the cable snapped. Surely the pedal should be as smooth of a forward motion as it is in my Durango. Nothing looks off and I cleaned and hit it with some white lithium grease.
Perhaps I knocked something loose down there, but really didn't give it much of a second thought because I was just glad to have a working parking brake!
Regarding the pedal, I've noticed when pushing it down, it'll snag up and then pop violently forward; it reminds me of the when the cable snapped. Surely the pedal should be as smooth of a forward motion as it is in my Durango. Nothing looks off and I cleaned and hit it with some white lithium grease.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
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Regarding the pedal, I've noticed when pushing it down, it'll snag up and then pop violently forward; it reminds me of the when the cable snapped. Surely the pedal should be as smooth of a forward motion as it is in my Durango. Nothing looks off and I cleaned and hit it with some white lithium grease.
My 93 did it and Ford fixed it, but I *think* that was before 1996, if you are referring to your 1996 in your signature.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 137
Likes: 7
Yes light on dash, brakes seem to hold fine and pedal moves smoothly, I never really cared that much it was nuisance but I could always tell brakes are dragging, well wife decide to use truck recently, park brake was on she drove truck roughly 25 30 miles got back to farm and she tells me must be a problem because of smell from truck, well rear drums were cooking, need I say more, decided it is best to correct the problem don't have a problem replacing the switch (dont really see an adjustment) just want to make sure it will fix the "idiot" light issue.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 991
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio, Texas
I admit I just wanted working parking brakes and didn't give it much of a second thought at the time. I'll take another look, because I figure that wasn't normal.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 296
Yes light on dash, brakes seem to hold fine and pedal moves smoothly, I never really cared that much it was nuisance but I could always tell brakes are dragging, well wife decide to use truck recently, park brake was on she drove truck roughly 25 30 miles got back to farm and she tells me must be a problem because of smell from truck, well rear drums were cooking, need I say more, decided it is best to correct the problem don't have a problem replacing the switch (dont really see an adjustment) just want to make sure it will fix the "idiot" light issue.
Could be a collapsed rubber brake hose or a crushed steel brake line. perhaps a seized wheel cylinder..... which could set off the brake light on the dash....
Could also be a bad RABS valve.
If the the system checks out while visually inspecting it, try unpluging your RABS valve and see if the brakes stop seizing up.
I'm not entirely sure a bad RABS valve will set off the light on the dash, but it definitely will hold the line pressure and gradually ratchet down on your rear brakes.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
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EDIT: after rereading your last post it sounds like the parking brake pedal mechanism is not functioning correctly
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
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Actuallly, after re reading this thread myself, I would agree w/ MyFordtrucks that the park brake mechanism may not be working correctly.
That would be the first area I would inspect along with checking to see if the parking cables are sticking.
I don't think 92-97 models have an adjustment for either the park brake switch or the cables.
That would be the first area I would inspect along with checking to see if the parking cables are sticking.
I don't think 92-97 models have an adjustment for either the park brake switch or the cables.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 501
Likes: 7
From: Deep East Texas
Same thing happened to me. I replaced the switch for a few dollars and the light works fine now. Mine didn't work at all till I replaced the switch.
Yes light on dash, brakes seem to hold fine and pedal moves smoothly, I never really cared that much it was nuisance but I could always tell brakes are dragging, well wife decide to use truck recently, park brake was on she drove truck roughly 25 30 miles got back to farm and she tells me must be a problem because of smell from truck, well rear drums were cooking, need I say more, decided it is best to correct the problem don't have a problem replacing the switch (dont really see an adjustment) just want to make sure it will fix the "idiot" light issue.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 991
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio, Texas
In my case, it turns out I didn't have the switch plugged in. Cable actually comes up short now (must be from that Viper security system) so I lengthened it.
Light comes on, but now it's intermittent as well. Probably is the switch itself.
I'm really tempted to grab a whole new pedal as well; even greased, it still pops as I depress it. I actually noticed the light was on, and then went out when it popped as I was depressing it.
What's even more interesting is that sometimes the parking brake pedal will depress fully and smoothly without ever sticking or popping.
Light comes on, but now it's intermittent as well. Probably is the switch itself.
I'm really tempted to grab a whole new pedal as well; even greased, it still pops as I depress it. I actually noticed the light was on, and then went out when it popped as I was depressing it.
What's even more interesting is that sometimes the parking brake pedal will depress fully and smoothly without ever sticking or popping.