Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 20:37:34 -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: <BY1PR20MB0022302616CCE8A6F88D2E13A00E0@BY1PR20MB0022.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
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Thanks Dennis -- interesting. I did replace the starter yesterday
(Saturday). I drove it once Saturday, and noticed this symptom this
morning. I can't say for sure the brake warning light wasn't on when I
drove it Saturday after the replacement.
But -- no cruise control and no starter boost relay.
-George
'90 Westfalia automatic
On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 6:37 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> In addition to the hand brake lever and low brake fluid level switches,
> this indicator is also tied into the alternator warning system and the
> starter circuit if you have cruise control. If a starter boost relay was
> added this can also be a problem.
>
> Dennis,
> From my phone.
> ------------------------------
> From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: 4/9/2017 1:50 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER?
>
> 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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