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Date:         Mon, 10 Apr 2017 07:12:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Remy <remster2@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Remy <remster2@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon Digest - 8 Apr 2017 to 9 Apr 2017 (#2017-131)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Dashboard brake light Issue

This happened in my '85 Westy. Ended up the dashboard brake light was somehow associated with the A/C switch. The fuse kept blowing. Replaced the A/C switch and brake light issue solved. Good luck.

Remy

> On Apr 9, 2017, at 9:00 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote: > > There are 12 messages totalling 466 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. vanagon Digest - 6 Apr 2017 to 7 Apr 2017 (#2017-129) > 2. Is a little bigger, better > 3. Where's the other end of my broken ground strap? > 4. Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? (6) > 5. SyncroFest (3) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 04:21:31 +0000 > From: Keith Hughes <keithahughes@YAHOO.COM> > Subject: Re: vanagon Digest - 6 Apr 2017 to 7 Apr 2017 (#2017-129) > > Remy, > > Just one caveat; I'm assuming you still have the stock setup? The only real= > issue would be if you've done a conversion and are using an R-134A compres= > sor (like I am). The original SD510 and SD710's are designed for R-12 and m= > ineral oil. One thing I didn't mention - barrier hoses. If you do/did choo= > se to go with R134A, you really need to replace all your rubber A/C hoses w= > ith "barrier" hoses to keep the R134A from leaking out through the hose mat= > erial, and you'd need to replace the TXV (at the evaporator) with one calib= > rated for R134A. Not a lot of "win" in that situation if you're keeping st= > ock components. > > BTW, I've had pretty good luck with Arizona Mobile Air (Ackits.com) if you'= > re here in the Phx valley. > > Keith Hughes > '86 Westy GenV (Marvin) > ------------------------------ > =20 > Date:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Sat, 8 Apr 2017 > 04:53:39 -0700 > From:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Remy <remster2@YAHOO.COM> > Subject: Re: vanagon Digest - 6 Apr > 2017 to 7 Apr 2017 (#2017-129) > =20 > Thanks Keith,=C2=A0 I'll have them use > R 12. > Remy > 85 Westy GL (Chippy) > =20 >> On Apr 7, 2017, at 9:00 PM, > Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VAN=3D > AGON.COM> wrote: >> = > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 13:50:37 -0400 > From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 14:04:18 -0400 > From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? > > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 14:09:31 -0400 > From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? > > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 11:17:44 -0700 > From: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? > > unplug the connector on the top of the brake reservoir cap to see if the > light goes out > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 22:37:12 +0000 > From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? > > In addition to the hand brake lever and low brake fluid level switches, thi= > s 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 thi= > s can also be a problem. > > Dennis, > From my phone. > ________________________________ > From: George Gaudette<mailto:gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM> > Sent: =FD4/=FD9/=FD2017 1:50 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto: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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 20:37:34 -0400 > From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: Brakes dashboard light -- DANGER? > > 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: =E2=80=8E4/=E2=80=8E9/=E2=80=8E2017 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, releas= > e >> 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 issu= > e >> 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 19:58:51 -0600 > From: Ken Heaps <wirejack@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: SyncroFest > > Is anyone going to SyncroFest? As long as the boss doesn't deny my time off > request, I will be there. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 19:19:02 -0700 > From: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: SyncroFest > > Yes for me to SyncroFest... > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2017 19:45:29 -0700 > From: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: SyncroFest > > I'll be there for sure. > > Stacy > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Apr 9, 2017, at 6:58 PM, Ken Heaps <wirejack@GMAIL.COM> wrote: >> >> Is anyone going to SyncroFest? As long as the boss doesn't deny my time off >> request, I will be there. > > ------------------------------ > > End of vanagon Digest - 8 Apr 2017 to 9 Apr 2017 (#2017-131) > ************************************************************


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