Parking brake warning light
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Parking brake warning light
OK, anyone know if that parking brake warning light on a 89 is also a warning light for the actual brake system?
It says BRAKE on the top with a ! and a P underneath it.
I was driving thru some serious snow the other day when the light just came on. This is strange because the parking brake has not worked on this truck since I bought it.
the parking brake pedal is all the way up, and I pulled the release all the way out and tried to get the pedal to travel up more, but it seems like the pedal is all the way up. Light is still on.
So I thought it may indicate a leak in the brake system. I checked the resevior (that damn thing is hard to see thru) and couldnt see any fluid in there. Couldnt see all the way down to the bottom either, because it is one screwed up piece of plastic.
Anyway, topped off with DOT 3 and drove it for a little bit.
I have not seen the level go down, and the brakes dont feel any squishier than normal......but that damn warning light is still on....
sooooooo after all that......
is the light just for the parking brake, or the normal brake system also??
and is there a easy way to see if there is a leak somewhere???
my garage is slopped up with water and slush right now..so its really hard to tell..
It says BRAKE on the top with a ! and a P underneath it.
I was driving thru some serious snow the other day when the light just came on. This is strange because the parking brake has not worked on this truck since I bought it.
the parking brake pedal is all the way up, and I pulled the release all the way out and tried to get the pedal to travel up more, but it seems like the pedal is all the way up. Light is still on.
So I thought it may indicate a leak in the brake system. I checked the resevior (that damn thing is hard to see thru) and couldnt see any fluid in there. Couldnt see all the way down to the bottom either, because it is one screwed up piece of plastic.
Anyway, topped off with DOT 3 and drove it for a little bit.
I have not seen the level go down, and the brakes dont feel any squishier than normal......but that damn warning light is still on....
sooooooo after all that......
is the light just for the parking brake, or the normal brake system also??
and is there a easy way to see if there is a leak somewhere???
my garage is slopped up with water and slush right now..so its really hard to tell..
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Actually...... yes
I was able to get the parking brake light off though....
I got a little drunk last night and went out there to visit the ol b-co.
pulled the release and held it while moving the parking brake lever up and down about 10 times.
Brake light went out, and took it out for a little drive today.... didnt come back on.
The rear ABS light is on.....has been since i bought the thing, but have not been too concerned about it.... should I be?
I was able to get the parking brake light off though....
I got a little drunk last night and went out there to visit the ol b-co.
pulled the release and held it while moving the parking brake lever up and down about 10 times.
Brake light went out, and took it out for a little drive today.... didnt come back on.
The rear ABS light is on.....has been since i bought the thing, but have not been too concerned about it.... should I be?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
The warning light comes on for several things. Brake fluid low, Brake pressure lost (leak), ABS inop (our '89 did that), etc...
From the sounds of it? Probably got some gunk in the parking brake switch, or it's got some bad contacts and that's its way of telling you it needs to be replaced. For the ABS? There is one sep. ground wire to the neg battery "cluster" of junk going to the neg cable. One of which? Feeds the ABS system. If that wire has broken or has crud in the connector? It will trigger the ABS light. (ours was broken clean off, Just had to rewire it back in place)
S-
From the sounds of it? Probably got some gunk in the parking brake switch, or it's got some bad contacts and that's its way of telling you it needs to be replaced. For the ABS? There is one sep. ground wire to the neg battery "cluster" of junk going to the neg cable. One of which? Feeds the ABS system. If that wire has broken or has crud in the connector? It will trigger the ABS light. (ours was broken clean off, Just had to rewire it back in place)
S-
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Thanks Bear!
Yeah, the light came back on, this time screwing around with the parking brake didnt work....
I dont THINK i have a leak or issue with the actual brakes, as I put about 60 miles on and the brakes seem fine. (fluid was a little low - like empty - but I fixed that) and I have not seen the level drop yet.
So, do you think I am right in assuming the brakes are actually OK? Is there another way to be SURE? like i said, its hard to tell if there is a leak as my garage is a mess.
as far as the ABS, yeah, maybe you are right..... I count about three cables wired into that negative connection, and the connection is a little messed up. I plan on replacing both pos an neg due to corrosion, and who knows!!! maybe that will fix it!!!
Yeah, the light came back on, this time screwing around with the parking brake didnt work....
I dont THINK i have a leak or issue with the actual brakes, as I put about 60 miles on and the brakes seem fine. (fluid was a little low - like empty - but I fixed that) and I have not seen the level drop yet.
So, do you think I am right in assuming the brakes are actually OK? Is there another way to be SURE? like i said, its hard to tell if there is a leak as my garage is a mess.
as far as the ABS, yeah, maybe you are right..... I count about three cables wired into that negative connection, and the connection is a little messed up. I plan on replacing both pos an neg due to corrosion, and who knows!!! maybe that will fix it!!!
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
Thanks Bear!
Yeah, the light came back on, this time screwing around with the parking brake didnt work....
I dont THINK i have a leak or issue with the actual brakes, as I put about 60 miles on and the brakes seem fine. (fluid was a little low - like empty - but I fixed that) and I have not seen the level drop yet.
So, do you think I am right in assuming the brakes are actually OK? Is there another way to be SURE? like i said, its hard to tell if there is a leak as my garage is a mess.
as far as the ABS, yeah, maybe you are right..... I count about three cables wired into that negative connection, and the connection is a little messed up. I plan on replacing both pos an neg due to corrosion, and who knows!!! maybe that will fix it!!!
Yeah, the light came back on, this time screwing around with the parking brake didnt work....
I dont THINK i have a leak or issue with the actual brakes, as I put about 60 miles on and the brakes seem fine. (fluid was a little low - like empty - but I fixed that) and I have not seen the level drop yet.
So, do you think I am right in assuming the brakes are actually OK? Is there another way to be SURE? like i said, its hard to tell if there is a leak as my garage is a mess.
as far as the ABS, yeah, maybe you are right..... I count about three cables wired into that negative connection, and the connection is a little messed up. I plan on replacing both pos an neg due to corrosion, and who knows!!! maybe that will fix it!!!
The fact the fluid was almost empty? Either something is well worn...or there is a leak that has not been found yet..
S-
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
The parking brake warning light switch attaches to the parking brake control.
The low brake fluid warning light (plastic) switch screws into the brake proportioning valve.
This plastic switch develops cracks in the threads. When that occurs, brake fluid seeps out...
...Then the low brake fluid warning light on the dash comes on...and stays on.
The low brake fluid warning light (plastic) switch screws into the brake proportioning valve.
This plastic switch develops cracks in the threads. When that occurs, brake fluid seeps out...
...Then the low brake fluid warning light on the dash comes on...and stays on.
Trending Topics
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
clean contacts for parking brake, and does that year have the sensors on the calipers for low pads? my froends kia has the brake light on cause the sensor is munched... also you say the resevior was dry, did you bleed the brakes?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
hunter301
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
8
Nov 12, 2014 07:58 PM
Super Econoline
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
14
Oct 21, 2012 05:26 PM
lenmiller
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Oct 31, 2011 02:15 PM
bodabdan
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
22
Nov 5, 2006 09:54 AM
