Date:         Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:10 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brake Warning Light Behavior
Comments: To: Steve Williams <sbw@sbw.org>
In-Reply-To:  <547489D4.3060704@sbw.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Bad ground.

Jim

On Tue, Nov 25, 2014 at 7:53 AM, Steve Williams <sbw@sbw.org> wrote:

> New behavior recently in my '84 Wolfsburg Westy.
>
> The brake warning light comes on bright when the hand brake is set.
>
> When I release the hand brake, the warning light goes dark.
>
> While driving, the brake warning light comes on, not as bright as usual.
>  At that point, if I set the hand brake, the light goes bright, then
> back to not as bright when I release the hand brake.
>
> When I step on the brake pedal, the warning light goes dark.  The brake
> pedal feels normal, so I don't think one of the hydraulic circuits is
> out.  When I release the brake pedal, the warning light goes back to not
> as bright.
>
> If I read the Owner's Manual correctly, the warning light is supposed to
> come on when I PRESS the brake pedal and one of the hydraulic circuits
> is out.  It's not supposed to be on when the brake pedal is NOT engaged,
> even if one hydraulic circuit is out.  Is that right?
>
> So is this just an electrical short?
>
> In some cars, the brake warning light comes on when a brake light bulb
> is out.  I don't see any mention of that in the Owner's Manual.
>