Parking brake light sensor/switch
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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Parking brake light sensor/switch
I’ve got a 1980 F-250 4x4 with the 300-6 and a 4spd (not that all that matters, but just in case)
diving into the parking brake as it didn’t work when I bought the truck about 4 months ago, and pulled it out, fixed the issue. The problem I’m having is, where is the plug/connector that tells me when the parking brake is on through the dashboard? It’s not critical, but I’d like that to work. Looked around in there, didn’t see much. Any help is greatly appreciated. TIA.
diving into the parking brake as it didn’t work when I bought the truck about 4 months ago, and pulled it out, fixed the issue. The problem I’m having is, where is the plug/connector that tells me when the parking brake is on through the dashboard? It’s not critical, but I’d like that to work. Looked around in there, didn’t see much. Any help is greatly appreciated. TIA.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,886
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From: Angier, NC
Well It’s good it's not critical as there is none 
For some reason Ford did not think our trucks needed a light to tell us the parking brake was on.
I found out if the brake works as it should it's not an issue as the truck will (should) not move when it is on.
Thing was mine did not work all that good, wrong rear cables, and when on the truck still moved.
That has since been fixed.
I dont know about your truck being a 4x4 but IIRC the 4x2 trucks have a open light socket across the top you could make something to fit in there hooked to the park brake. I think the pedal has a place for the switch it just needs to wired up.
Dave ----
For some reason Ford did not think our trucks needed a light to tell us the parking brake was on.
I found out if the brake works as it should it's not an issue as the truck will (should) not move when it is on.
Thing was mine did not work all that good, wrong rear cables, and when on the truck still moved.
That has since been fixed.
I dont know about your truck being a 4x4 but IIRC the 4x2 trucks have a open light socket across the top you could make something to fit in there hooked to the park brake. I think the pedal has a place for the switch it just needs to wired up.
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
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Here's a 1981 wiring diagram, with no parking brake switch. See page 56:
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1981-evtm.html
Here's 1985, with the warning switch on page 89:
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1985-evtm.html
I bet it would be fairly easy to retrofit a warning switch to an early model. Here's a pedal assembly on eBay, showing the switch:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305670598256
Image stolen from eBay
Front of the switch:
Back:
Note the square hole for the switch in the pedal structure. I don't know if there's room to modify the existing assembly to install a switch, or if you'd have to replace the whole thing.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 4,119
From: Angier, NC
Well the 81 wiring diagram dose not show it both of my 81's, late 80 and mid 81, dont have wiring or switch.
The OP has a 80 so I am pretty sure his truck dose not have a switch or wiring and why I said what I did.
I never looked to see if the early pedals can take a switch or not but if it could what do you do about the wiring?
Dave ----
The OP has a 80 so I am pretty sure his truck dose not have a switch or wiring and why I said what I did.
I never looked to see if the early pedals can take a switch or not but if it could what do you do about the wiring?
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,171
Likes: 1,173
Per the wiring diagrams linked above:
Early models did not have any warning light for the parking brake. Later models did. The changeover would have been in 1982 or 1983, but am not sure exactly when.
Wiring changes for a retrofit? No big deal. You'd just have to tap into the existing wire going to the proportioning valve. Then the circuit would be the same as a late model.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 104
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
I just looked at the e-brake pedal assembly I yanked from my '81 parts truck. It does not have the rectangular hole thru which the switch protrudes. Instead, it has a rubber bump stop. It doesn't appear as if a switch could be easily retro-actively fitted to an early Bull Nose e-brake pedal assembly. Also, I think someone over on Gary's site was searching for the switch for their truck. I don't remember the model year of the truck tho.
That eBay image looks like the clevis connector for the e-brake cable is missing. Or, Ford really modified the design. Hmm...
That eBay image looks like the clevis connector for the e-brake cable is missing. Or, Ford really modified the design. Hmm...
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 4,119
From: Angier, NC
I have seen on some ebrake pedals the switch is like a door light switch wonder if that could be used if the bracket was there?
Dave ----
Dave ----
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
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From: Elk Grove Village, IL
You probably could remove the rubber bump stop and put a door light switch in its place. But, I wonder how well the switch would handle the impact of the brake lever slamming against it when the e-brake is released.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
I did not know this but the factory wrapped them in foam to help dampen the blow from the pedal.
That is why I let the pedal up with my foot to keep from banging on the stop.
Dave ----
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
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From: Elk Grove Village, IL
If you look at the first pic that was posted, you can see a circular bumper attached to the side of the e-brake arm. That impacts the support stamping of the e-brake mechanism (that bolts to the firewall). I'm pretty sure my e-brake assembly doesn't have that bumper, it only has the bump stop (where the switch is, in that pic). I wonder if Ford had enough complaints about owners leaving the e-brake on as well as the impact of the e-brake lever release that they decided to change the design to address both issues.
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