Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 14:09:31 -0400
Reply-To: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER?
In-Reply-To: <CAGXJJtw=bxjHLv40kfpS+Z++kY5-eV9StfZmRP50+kd89K+-hg@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi Steven,
Thanks. I disassembled that switch, turned on the van with it disassembled
(green wire disconnected), made ground contact with that wire etc., no
difference. The button goes up and down, makes and breaks contact OK.
To be clear (for anyone reading), this is indeed the warning light that is
activated by that switch -- I mean it's the light above the headlights
on/off switch, immediately below the "Fasten seat belts" light.
-George
On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 2:04 PM, Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Also, don't forget to make sure the little button switch that the hand
> brake
> is supposed to push in is engaging so as to turn of the brake like. It's
> at
> the base of your drivers side pedestal. You can see it get pushed in as
> you lower the hand brake.
>
> Just a thought,
>
> Steven
> 91 Westy
>
> On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 1:50 PM, George Gaudette <gcgaudette@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Aaand on to my next issue:
>>
>> I have a '90 automatic Westy. The brake warning light in the instrument
>> panel won't go out. Brake fluid is good (this van has the brake fluid
>> level sensor cap). No change (no flicker or anything) regardless of
>> whether I release the e-brake or press the foot pedal. I have not tried
>> driving the van more than a few feet.
>>
>> What I really need to know short-term is if this could indicate a risk of
>> brake failure / danger to drive -- I have plans that require the vehicle
>> today.
>>
>> I've seen some suggestion that this is just a dummy light ("Dummy, release
>> your e-brake!") that also illuminates for low fluid ("Dummy, top off your
>> brake fluid!"), in which case it would seem to not indicate a safety issue
>> given my fluid level.
>>
>> But I also read something that seems to say this can happen if there's an
>> issue with pressure in the master cylinder, which sounds dangerous to me.
>> (Disclaimer: I'm pretty ignorant on this topic.)
>>
>> The issue does not seem to me to be the little 1-wire button switch thing
>> at the e-brake itself. I can get into the diagnostics of the other parts
>> later, right now I'm really just asking about risk of brake failure so I
>> can figure out if I need to cancel my plans.
>>
>> Best,
>> George
>>
>
>
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