Brake Light Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: macon, ga
Brake Light Question
Today while getting off the high way a 17 year old blond in a excursion cut me off. I hit the brakes hard to avoid her and my brake light in the dash came on and wont go off. i had new rotors, new pads, new master cylinder and a new proportioning valve put on 6 months ago and the light has never come on.(i have heard that 77's dont have them but i do, so whos is right) The brakes are very firm. i can only push the pedel in about a 1" before it wont og anymore. this is new i used to have more play in the pedel. i have good brake fluid levels. any ideas? thanks in advance
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: macon, ga
Re: Brake Light Question (1bad69)
the light stays on. even when im not touching the pedel. the tail lights work fine (they only come on when i hit the pedel.
[Modified by ykp53, 4:36 PM 11/10/2001]
[Modified by ykp53, 4:36 PM 11/10/2001]
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA USA
Re: Brake Light Question (ykp53)
Gee, the emergency brake is the only thing I can think of that could cause the light to come on. Think the wire got disturbed in the hard brake? You know, I used to have an old Triumph that had that problem. caused by a switch that detects the master Cylinder not having balanced pressure between the front and back brakes, caused by the piston in the Brake Master Cylinder being shifted to one side or the other. Think that might be it? I have a 70 1nd a 71 so not sure of how the 77 works.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: macon, ga
Re: Brake Light Question (keytech)
okay guys more info. I was out working (playing) with the car and I noticed that as you press the pedel about half way down the light will go off breifly. So, I slowly pressed the pedel until the light went off and the second it did I let off the pedel, and the light stays off, untill I hit the brakes again. After it has set if have more pedle play (2 to 3 inches till the pedel stops moving). I hope this helps someone tell me what is wrong
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Brake Light Question (ykp53)
There should be only two things that will cause the dash "BRAKE" light to come on. First, setting the emergency brake, which is controlled by a switch in the center console by the emergency brake handle. And, second, the front-back pressure safety switch that is part of the proportioning valve. This switch turns the light on if either the front or back brake system goes out and warns the driver they only have "half" a set of brakes. I'd have to guess something happen to this switch, because the emergency brake switch has nothing to do with the hydralics, but the proportioning valve does. Now that it's working you not be able to reproduce the problem.
Just a thought.
Andy
Just a thought.
Andy
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: macon, ga
Re: Brake Light Question (WATTAC)
well this morning when driving to church that little light came on. aughhhhhh.... it amazing how long a sermon can be when you are wanting to work on a vette. i opened the master cylinder and the fluid level of the front compartment is about 1/4" below the back compartment. the fluid level in the front is clean and clear while the back is muddy enough that you cant see the bottem. Is this normal? not finding my answer there i continued to look. the left front tire has a sludge on the inside of the rim. i think that caliper might be leaking? could my hard stop made it start leaking? would this cause my light to come on? will my wife kill me when she sees this grease on the keyboard? (note to self must wash hands before typing)
thanks
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Brake Light Question (ykp53)
I am not positive, but I think the leak may cause the light to come on because you have uneven pressure between the front and rear systems. I have lost worn wheel cylinders from panic stops the way you described your near miss.
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Brake Light Question (ykp53)
Yup, that'll cause your brake light to come on. Need to fix the leaky/broken system, and if it's real dirty remember to flush the system to get all that crud out.
Andy
Andy
