legacycentral bbs

I've got a question about a little glitch my car is having. I'm not sure if it's electrical related, or mechanical, so I'll ask my question here and hope for the best.

Most mornings, the "Brake" light on my dash does not come off when i take off the parking brake.

At first, it only happened once a week, and only in the mornings. Now, it happens whenever my car sits for a good amount of time (say 6-8 hours).

I'm positive the parking brake is fully disengaged. The brakes feel absolutely fine (I dont know if this light is only attached to the parking brake or if its attached to the brake system like in other cars). The car behaves absolutely normal, except for the light in my dash that wont come off.

The light usually turns off on its own by the time I get to work (a good 50 minute commute). Pulling and re-releasing the parking brake doesnt do much, nor does restarting the car.

My car is a '93 turbo legacy, 5-spd AWD.

Do you guys have any idea where I should look for the problem? Is it something related to my parking brake cable, or maybe just a loose connection on some wire? Or maybe its related to the brakes in some other way? I appreciate your help!

worn out brake pads.

If your brake fluid level is fine, then it is most likely moisture in your fluid that trips the sensor. Try flushing the brake system and see if it goes away....

scottzg wrote:worn out brake pads.

How would worn out pads cause the light to come on? Other than a low fluid level caused by the worn pads, I can't think of anything else. I'm assuming that he has already checked the fluid level.

Andrew

http://www.bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=16508

Change your brake fluid if its already full, and see what happens.

petridish38 wrote:

scottzg wrote:worn out brake pads.

How would worn out pads cause the light to come on? Other than a low fluid level caused by the worn pads, I can't think of anything else. I'm assuming that he has already checked the fluid level.

Andrew

I think that's what he meant

Hey try sticking your finger on the brake fluid float and bob it up and down a couple times fast. that worked on mine....

After checking all the things listed above check the alternator. When mine was on its last legs my brake light came on too.

I feel like I am taking crazy pills...but maybe I am the crazy one...

1. There should be a separate switch which illuminates the brake warning light when the parking brake is engaged. The fluid level switch in the brake fluid reservoir is a different switch and is not what causes the brake light to turn on when the parking brake is applied.

2. Even if applying the parking brake on a car, which usually engages the rear brakes, somehow was able to set off the fluid level switch in the brake fluid reservoir, this would not even apply to first gen legacy's because the parking parks on our cars is a drum brake in the rear that is completely separate from the rear disc brake used for normal braking. I.e., the parking brake is not even coupled to the hydralic system.

I recommend you go looking for the parking brake warning lamp indicator switch...or something like that.

Here is the part number:

83321GA040

It is probably located close the parking brake lever.

Also, I looked it up, and that part is far for the 90-92 legacy. If you have a newer vehicle, it is probably a different part number

You are the crazy one. The Brake light on the dash is for both the fluid level and the parking brake.

Also the Alt as mentioned, but usually you get a charge light also.

SemperGuard, I understand that there is one light. What I'm saying is that there are two switches that can turn it on. The low brake fluid switch, which is located in the brake fluid reservoir, and the parking brake switch which is most likely located by the parking brake lever.

Everyone is suggesting that he look at his fluid level. I'm saying that it is his parking brake switch.

Syphon: What I would recommend is not using the parking brake for the next week or so. If the light does not come on, then start using the parking brake again and see if the light comes on and stays on. If it only stays on after using the parking brake, your problem is most likely the parking brake switch. If the light comes on, even when you have not recently engaged the parking brake then you most likely have a hydraulic brake problem such as low fluid.

That was more than four years ago.

holly crap...why are people posting to this. I only posted because I saw that it had recent responses....well I hope he figured it out

LOL

I too say it's the brake fluid. This starts to happen around this time, when it starts to get cold. Moisture in the brake fluid condenses overnight and trips the low-brake-fluid sensor, thus illuminating the light on the dash.

Change your brake fluid, and I'll bet it goes away.

Well mines does it only in the colder winter months, which to me suggests the park brake switch is sticking.

i_c_the_light wrote:Well mines does it only in the colder winter months, which to me suggests the park brake switch is sticking.

How do you figure?

Same here...happens during the winter. Ive checked the master cyl sensor and connector and got nowhere. Goes away when warmed up and sometimes messing with the ebrake helps. I thought the park brake hardware is worn out or sticking.

mine has been doing this for a while now as well. i figured the switch were the e-brake goes into the console has worn out or got stuck cause it is always on. my stop light for my brake light doesnt work as well. it got stuck too a while back ago then stopped, then my e-brkae light came on and hasnt gone off.