Thanks for everyone's help with my radiator leak. Problem solved. Now my e-brake indicator light has become non-functional. The e-brake works. The bulb is ok (it comes on at startup each time to indicate the bulb is ok). But when I actuate the pedal, the light does not come on. I did actuate the e-brake while moving and a heard a clunk coming from the rear brakes which stills happens if I actuate the e-brake while moving (normal mechanism noise?). Not sure if the indicator light stopped working before this action or because of it.
Any thoughts on what happened to the light? Could it be the switch? Where is the switch located exactly and how to check/remove? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.


Lou

 

Just a follow up to this. Found a schematic of the e-brake mechanism, sprayed the moving part with WD40, wiggled and pushed in the electrical connector, and voila! Back in business. Now off to the next adventure.

Lou

 

Mine does the same thing......where is the moving part that you sprayed?

 

If you pull and hold the release handle, you can see the white switch through the space created by doing that. If you depress the e-brake pedal and release, you will see an aluminum colored shaft moving up and down on the switch. WD40 with an extension tube lets you put the spray right on the uppermost area of this shaft to spray and lubricate the contact within. The connector attaches in that area. If you reach your hand up under the dash in this area, you can feel the connector and wiggle/push it into the switch to confirm it is securely connected. Working the e-brake pedal 20 or 30 times confirmed proper light function (had to wiggle the connector a few times to get it to work right 100% of the time).
If none of this works, I can only guess that the switch may need replacing. Let us now how you make out. Good luck.

Lou

 

Brake fluid level has nothing to do with the e-brake/light switch MALFUNCTION IN THIS SITUATION. The e-brake engages the rear brakes via cable, not hydraulic fluid.

 

New to the site. Just purchased a 1997 4.2L long bed base (XL) model. Have the same issue so tomorrow I will work on using wd-40 on the brake shaft and near the switch. Good Information. I also suggest to use a good quality silicon spray after the wd-40 so that the lubrication lasts longer.

msk

 

You need to go back and do some fact-checking as to what turns on the light. The red BRAKE warning light is turned on when the float switch in the brake fluid reservoir detects low fluid level. This is one of four reasons for the light to be turned on.

 

Actually you are both right. The brake light on the dash serves two purposes:

1: It comes on when the e-brake is applied
2: It will come on if the brake fluid level is very low in the brake cylinder reservoir.

So if you are driving down the road and all of a sudden your brake light comes on and you have not applied the e-brake (hand-brake) then you need to stop the truck and check for the brake fluid level in the brake master cylinder.

Hope this helps.

msk

 

Well as proposed, I tried squirting WD-40 in the place described. The light started to function but then completely disappeared (LOL) So i would wait to let WD-40 penetrate completely.

 

I understand the light comes on if the fluid is low ProjectSHO89, but what I meant to say is "in this situation" and then posted my previous post. Just fixed it...

If you re-read the original post, FordLou said when he applied the e-brake, no light came on. In his situation, that would have nothing to do with brake fluid. When the e-brake pedal is pushed to the floor, there's a rubber mount on the pedal that 'comes away' from a white switch, the switch then 'disgengages' or 'comes out' and the light in the dash comes on. When the pedal is released, the rubber mount pushes the switch back in, and turns off the light.

Now, since I first read this post a few days ago, I went out to my '98 and applied the e-brake. Sure enough, the light on the dash either didn't come on or it was intermittent. I soaked the switch with CRC Electronic cleaner and let that sit for a while. Then I sprayed the cleaner again and let it sit. Then sprayed it with CRC Silicone lubricant and now the switch works like a charm. Hopefully this works for others, because as mentioned in an earlier post, the switch looks like a pain to remove and replace.

 

Understood. I have not been able to find the switch exactly. However the shaft that moves up and down, I sprayed it liberally and now I am letting it sit a hour or so and then I will mess with it again.

thanks for the correction. BTW, mine is 1997 and only few days old. I have been cleaning and lubricating thus far.

msk

 

I wouldn't imagine that the switch setup on the '97 is too different than the '98, but I could be wrong. It took me a bit to find the switch. Try this: get your head under the dash to where you can see above the e-brake pedal. Then with your left hand, pull the pedal down just far enough that you can see above it. Then there's either a rubber mount on the pedal as mentioned before and the switch would be right above that, or just look for a switch somewhere along the shaft's path. You'll want to spray the entire switch as spraying just the pedal shaft will just get the end of the switch wet.

Hopefully that helps, and hopefully the design isn't that much different between the 2 years.

 

I just went out and I found it. It is exactly where you are saying it is. No difference. The spray had gotten to it as I put my head underneath the dash and felt it, jiggled it a bit and now the brake light comes on strong.

What I am finding is that on Fords especially, the original grease that was used (or didn't ) wears off quickly than the Japanese cars, which over the years tend to dry out and has to be cleaned thoroughly

Thanks for the tip though and it appears to be working.