Parking brake lighting up...

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Aug 30, 2005 | 05:52 AM

jjf100

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Seattle, WA

Parking brake lighting up...

Hey everyone. I have a question that just seems to baffle me. I have an 03 Explorer sport with 28k. When I stop the car and then i go to accelerate the parking brake light comes on for a second and then goes back off. It started to do this about 3 days ago. It seems to only do it when I accelerate from a stop. I did not get an owners manual with the vehicle when I bought it used, or I would have looked there first. Any idea on why it is doing this would be great!

Aug 30, 2005 | 06:07 AM

Amtek

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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Are you absolutely sure its a parking brake light and not a brake warning light? If it is, it seems to me that you have low brake fluid....which would explain why it comes on during accelarating as the fluid is pushed towards the rear of the reservoir. Pop the hood open and check to see if the brake fluid is in the middle of the Min./ Max. marks. If it is low then you either have a slow leak or your brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced soon.

Last edited by Amtek; Aug 30, 2005 at 06:10 AM.

Aug 30, 2005 | 11:19 AM

rblais

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Owners Manuals are available on Ford web site for free download. Is it possible parking brake switch needs adjustment?

Aug 30, 2005 | 02:22 PM

jjf100

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From: Seattle, WA

It is the same light on the dashboard that comes on when I apply the parking brake. I don't know if there is another warning light. But I will check that out!

Aug 30, 2005 | 03:13 PM

K2JJB

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From: Webster, NY

see:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp
to download a manual

from the manual for a 2003 explorer sport:

Quote:

Brake system warning light: To confirm the brake system warning light is functional, it will momentarily illuminate when the ignition is turned to the ON position when the engine is not running, or in a position between ON and START, or by applying the parking brake when the ignition is turned to the ON position. If the brake system warning light does not illuminate at this time, seek service immediately from your dealership. Illumination after releasing the parking brake indicates low brake fluid level and the brake system should be inspected immediately by your servicing dealership.

So, either the pads are getting real low (causing the fluid level to drop) or you have a leak in the system. In either case you need to check your brakes.

Aug 30, 2005 | 03:32 PM

rblais

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We're talking parking brakes here. Aren't they a seperate system from regular stopping brake system? They are on my '00 Mountaineer. They are dedicated foot peddle/cable operated. Nothing to do with hydraulic brake system; no fluid involved. Not sure that your truck has one but I'd look for the switch that actuates the parking brake warning light and adjust if its there. Or maybe it's a cable adjustment; they will stretch and misbehave at the foot peddle. Maybe the footpeddle mechanism is resting too close to the switch and when you brake or accelerate, the mechanism moves just enough to activate the warning light.

Aug 30, 2005 | 03:47 PM

K2JJB

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From: Webster, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by rblais

Actually, we're talking about the indicator on the dash board and not the actual parking brake itself. The point is that the light serves two distinct purposes:

1. it tells you if you have the parking brake engaged (mechanical system)

2. when the parking brake is not engaged it tells you if you are low on fluid in the main brake system (hydraulic system)

Since the problem described is that the light comes on intermittently, and during accelration, this is usually indicative of a hydraulic fluid level that is right at the level that trips the light to come on. The check is really easy, as mentioned in a prior post, you just need to pop the hood and check the resavoir and see if it is full.

It is full then the problem is elsewhere, and they I would start to look for an electrical problem with the switch that trips when the mechanical parking brake is engaged. If the fluid level is low then you need to consider why that is, (a) pads are old and worn and thus have caused the fluid to displace (cheap fix) or (b) you're somehow loosing brake fluid (could be a cheap fix, but also something that needs to be addressed ASAP).