Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Brake light diag

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 12:49 PM
  #1  
1ole4d's Avatar
1ole4d
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
Brake light diag

The brake light on the dash is on a 1989 F150 and stays lit while parking brake is off, but only dimly. Could it be the parking brake release switch is just bad or would something else trigger the light to stay dimly lit?
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 01:30 PM
  #2  
matkinson13's Avatar
matkinson13
Mountain Pass
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 150
Likes: 97
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by 1ole4d
The brake light on the dash is on a 1989 F150 and stays lit while parking brake is off, but only dimly. Could it be the parking brake release switch is just bad or would something else trigger the light to stay dimly lit?
I have the same thing, and my ABS light is on too. The switch isn't bad and fluid level is good so I think I have to recenter the ABS valve via bleeding or something fun like that.
Assuming your fluid level is good, have you worked on the brakes lately?
​​​​
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 01:37 PM
  #3  
1ole4d's Avatar
1ole4d
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
Originally Posted by matkinson13
I have the same thing, and my ABS light is on too. The switch isn't bad and fluid level is good so I think I have to recenter the ABS valve via bleeding or something fun like that.
Assuming your fluid level is good, have you worked on the brakes lately?
​​​​
No. The brakes haven't been touched in a while. Like you, the ABS light is on as well (I pulled that and cleaned it, but it made no difference) but that's separate from the brake light. I checked the fluid level and made sure the float in the master cylinder still floats. I can set the parking brake and the light comes on bright and if I push on the button it only goes dim and not out completely.
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 01:47 PM
  #4  
My4Fordtrucks's Avatar
My4Fordtrucks
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,791
Likes: 2,426
The master cylinder will also turn on the red brake light.

The red brake light will cause the ABS light to turn on. There is no valve that needs to be centered. It isn’t a proportioning valve.

That does not mean that the sensor on the master cylinder isn’t triggering the light.
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 03:38 PM
  #5  
1ole4d's Avatar
1ole4d
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
If I disconnect the electrical connector on the master cylinder the light goes out. Does this indicate the MC is at fault?
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2024 | 04:33 PM
  #6  
matkinson13's Avatar
matkinson13
Mountain Pass
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 150
Likes: 97
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by My4Fordtrucks
The master cylinder will also turn on the red brake light.

The red brake light will cause the ABS light to turn on. There is no valve that needs to be centered. It isn’t a proportioning valve.

That does not mean that the sensor on the master cylinder isn’t triggering the light.
Hmm - that's good news. The PO had installed a new rear brake line and the light came on. I read somewhere that the system may have been bled incorrectly, causing the uncentered valve, triggering the lights. Recentering it involved re-bleeding the brakes.

Good to know - thanks!
 
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2024 | 03:43 PM
  #7  
1ole4d's Avatar
1ole4d
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
So I bought a new master cylinder and plugged it in and flipped it upside down so the float is at the top. Turned the key on and the brake light and ABS lights are still on. That tells me the master cylinder isn't the culprit. Are there grounds associated with the system that can be checked?
 
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2024 | 07:16 PM
  #8  
1ole4d's Avatar
1ole4d
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
Bled the brakes tonight and that didn't do a thing. Is there a way to test the abs module that's next to the gas pedal?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BuckHammer
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
46
May 11, 2024 10:38 PM
mcali2
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Jul 17, 2019 09:03 AM
78 f150 400
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Mar 19, 2018 03:00 PM
battleriver
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Jul 23, 2006 02:29 PM
dalejarrettfan
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
2
Jan 29, 2003 01:54 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:20 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE