Parking brake alert light
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: South Bend, IN
Parking brake alert light
What year did the F-series trucks start to put the telltale arrangement on the parking brake to light the brake light in the dash if the parking brake was on? I've driven off with my '76 several times with the brake on, not to notice it till I had driven several blocks. I would like to add something like this, I looked at the brake handle/latch arrangement and didn't see anything that looked like a microswitch mounting place. I'm pretty sure my '84 had it. I would go hunting for a later model parking brake handle/latch to upgrade with if I knew what year I had to have.
Thanks, Brian
Thanks, Brian
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Tri-Cities, TN
I can tell you it wasn't until after '79. I would like to do the same thing, was thinking of adding a separate light in the dash for the parking brake as I don't know if the instrument panel circuit could be modified to accept another input from a parking brake switch. Maybe the guys in the 80 & up forum could tell you when Ford started putting that in?
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
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I have found (2) differant methods so far for adding a park brake alert light.
#1 find a 73-79 f350 ex uhaul truck, they have a grounding switch on the parking brake pedal and a 2 wire isolated ground light socket.
#2 use a park brake switch from a eighties ford van ( I'm not a 100% shure on this switch may have been on a full size car, they are all simular just a different offsetyou will have to bend the tab for clearence )add the above 2 wire isolated ground light socket (67-72 f series pickup), wire one side of light to switched 12 volt and other side to switch on parking brake pedal.
#1 find a 73-79 f350 ex uhaul truck, they have a grounding switch on the parking brake pedal and a 2 wire isolated ground light socket.
#2 use a park brake switch from a eighties ford van ( I'm not a 100% shure on this switch may have been on a full size car, they are all simular just a different offsetyou will have to bend the tab for clearence )add the above 2 wire isolated ground light socket (67-72 f series pickup), wire one side of light to switched 12 volt and other side to switch on parking brake pedal.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
1984 is the first year of the intergrated brake warning/parking brake light.
A parking brake light is very easily converted, however in the 80's models.
The purple/white wire from the porportioning valve to the brake warning light, splice off a wire from that purple/white wire, add a switch to the parking brake pedal linkage, and when the parking brake switch is activated, the purple/white wire grounds and the brake light comes on.
very eas convertion for the 1980 to 1983, but not sure if the switch will fit on the 1973, to 1979 parking brake pedal linkage, etc...
A parking brake light is very easily converted, however in the 80's models.
The purple/white wire from the porportioning valve to the brake warning light, splice off a wire from that purple/white wire, add a switch to the parking brake pedal linkage, and when the parking brake switch is activated, the purple/white wire grounds and the brake light comes on.
very eas convertion for the 1980 to 1983, but not sure if the switch will fit on the 1973, to 1979 parking brake pedal linkage, etc...
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 51
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Parking Brake Warning Light
Where is the switch located for the parking brake warning light on a 1971 Ford F-250 (the light--a red lens--is located on the left side of the dash). My light stays on even when the parking brake is released. I can't see anything resembling a switch on the parking brake pedal or linkage. Is the switch part of the regular braking system? I will appreciate any help you can provide.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,034
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From: NJ
Originally Posted by paulpatter
Where is the switch located for the parking brake warning light on a 1971 Ford F-250 (the light--a red lens--is located on the left side of the dash). My light stays on even when the parking brake is released. I can't see anything resembling a switch on the parking brake pedal or linkage. Is the switch part of the regular braking system? I will appreciate any help you can provide.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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Dennis,
I'm new at this (also old and kind of dumb). My '71 F-250 has a separate parking brake warning light on the far-left side of the dash. When the parking brake is engaged, the light (which is behind a red lens that reads--in black letters--"brake") turns on. Releasing the parking brake does not turn off the light. I can't see any wire going from the light socket or the parking brake mechanism to the instrument cluster. I should add, however--and this is important--that I am restoring the truck and the parking brake warning light was burned out. The problem came to my attention only when I installed a new bulb (yes, it turned on and would not turn off when the parking brake was released).
I will appreciate any additional info. you can provide.
I'm new at this (also old and kind of dumb). My '71 F-250 has a separate parking brake warning light on the far-left side of the dash. When the parking brake is engaged, the light (which is behind a red lens that reads--in black letters--"brake") turns on. Releasing the parking brake does not turn off the light. I can't see any wire going from the light socket or the parking brake mechanism to the instrument cluster. I should add, however--and this is important--that I am restoring the truck and the parking brake warning light was burned out. The problem came to my attention only when I installed a new bulb (yes, it turned on and would not turn off when the parking brake was released).
I will appreciate any additional info. you can provide.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
As I stated in post #5 the intergrated parking brake/Brake Failure light wasn't introduced until 1984.
Your Brake Warning light is warning you of a possible imminent service brake failure.
You should not drive the truck until the brake system is properly inspected, and the fault corrected.
-------------------
Another useful fact. Most insurance companies will not cover you if you get involved in an accident and you knew the following:
1: A warning device or light was on, warning you of a possible safety hazard or problem with the truck,
2: If such warning device or light was defective or tampered with.
Hope this helps
Your Brake Warning light is warning you of a possible imminent service brake failure.
You should not drive the truck until the brake system is properly inspected, and the fault corrected.
-------------------
Another useful fact. Most insurance companies will not cover you if you get involved in an accident and you knew the following:
1: A warning device or light was on, warning you of a possible safety hazard or problem with the truck,
2: If such warning device or light was defective or tampered with.
Hope this helps
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Quote:I'm new at this (also old and kind of dumb). My '71 F-250 has a separate parking brake warning light on the far-left side of the dash.
``````````````````
I know you're new, I can see your post count
I don't know of a Parking brake light in the 71.
I still believe as the poster above does that it is the brake failure light.
This is the 73-79 forum, maybe the guys in the 67-72 forum can verify this for you ?
``````````````````
I know you're new, I can see your post count
I don't know of a Parking brake light in the 71.
I still believe as the poster above does that it is the brake failure light.
This is the 73-79 forum, maybe the guys in the 67-72 forum can verify this for you ?
Last edited by Mil1ion; Aug 14, 2006 at 11:11 AM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
It can be very confusing to people because the brake Failure warning light is located right above the parking brake pedal, on the 67 to 72 models. Independant of the cluster itself. A very comon misconception to mistake it for something to do with the parking brake.
The light has nothing to do with the parking brake however.
Its a warning light to warn you of brake failure. It's like the truck is shouting at you, "HEY YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR BRAKES ANY SECOND! STOP WHILE YOU CAN NOW!"
I agree, check out the 67 to 72 forums for more information.
Here are some posts from their forum on the subject.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...-light-on.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...e-on-dash.html
The light has nothing to do with the parking brake however.
Its a warning light to warn you of brake failure. It's like the truck is shouting at you, "HEY YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR BRAKES ANY SECOND! STOP WHILE YOU CAN NOW!"
I agree, check out the 67 to 72 forums for more information.
Here are some posts from their forum on the subject.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...-light-on.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...e-on-dash.html
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
My Dad had a 68 F-100. If this light is located on the metal part of the dash, under the instrument cluster, near your left knee, it's the brake failure warning light. Dad's truck had no parking brake indicator light. Crawl under the dash and check for wires or a switch on the parking brake assembly. If there aren't any, that reinforces my thought that it's a warning light.
This light illuminates when brake pressure is unequal between the front and rear brake hydraulic circuits. This condition indicates a leak in one of the circuits. The light can be reset after the system is fixed by applying firm pressure on the brake pedal untill the light goes out.
Again, verify with the 67-72 guys.
This light illuminates when brake pressure is unequal between the front and rear brake hydraulic circuits. This condition indicates a leak in one of the circuits. The light can be reset after the system is fixed by applying firm pressure on the brake pedal untill the light goes out.
Again, verify with the 67-72 guys.