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Brake Warning Light!

Posted By: challenger70

Brake Warning Light! - 10/25/10 03:52 PM

My brake warning light came on in the Challenger. The car has been sitting since August as I had the column rebuilt, finally fired it up over the weekend and the brake warning light is on, and wasn't before. I can't find any leaks and they seem to be fine just inching forward and back. I pulled the Master cylinder cover and fluid level is fine. What triggers this warning, fluid level or pressure, both? Is it possible it's a bad sending unit?
Posted By: sthemi

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/25/10 03:58 PM

Most common reason is accidentaly bumping the parking brake pedal, the switch is very touchy..
The hydralic switch works on pressure differential from the front to back lines, too much difference in line pressure and the switch will light up until it is balanced again.
Posted By: MO_PA

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/25/10 05:24 PM

I have found that a good swift kick on the brake pedal will turn of the light, it must reset something.
Posted By: RM21N0A

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/26/10 12:23 PM

Not sure if this will be helpful, but a couple of months ago my brake warning light started staying on constantly, but not fully lit. Just sort of "half-bright". Came on bright when parking brake was on, like it should, but always stayed halfway lit when brake was off.

Brake system seemed fine, tried everything, no change, until I took the sending unit apart (pic attached), cleaned it, reinstalled, light started working properly again.

Attached picture 6269371-Pictures-2010-08-25005.jpg
Posted By: challenger70

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/26/10 03:00 PM

Quote:

Not sure if this will be helpful, but a couple of months ago my brake warning light started staying on constantly, but not fully lit. Just sort of "half-bright". Came on bright when parking brake was on, like it should, but always stayed halfway lit when brake was off.

Brake system seemed fine, tried everything, no change, until I took the sending unit apart (pic attached), cleaned it, reinstalled, light started working properly again.



Thanks guys, I may have bumped the parking brake when I put the column back in If not then I will try the "swift kick method" and then rebuilding the sensor. Is it possible to get the sensor out w/ out getting fluid all over?
Posted By: Crizila

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/26/10 05:55 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Not sure if this will be helpful, but a couple of months ago my brake warning light started staying on constantly, but not fully lit. Just sort of "half-bright". Came on bright when parking brake was on, like it should, but always stayed halfway lit when brake was off.

Brake system seemed fine, tried everything, no change, until I took the sending unit apart (pic attached), cleaned it, reinstalled, light started working properly again.



Thanks guys, I may have bumped the parking brake when I put the column back in If not then I will try the "swift kick method" and then rebuilding the sensor. Is it possible to get the sensor out w/ out getting fluid all over?

Once you get things back together, if you don't have a leak in the front or back brake system ( you might want to pull the drums to be sure ), put slow steady pressure on the brake pedal and the switch will center itself and the light will go out. A switch problem is not likely and to check the wire for an external ground, remove it from the switch and the light should go out ( wire grounds throuhg the switch ).
Posted By: RM21N0A

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/27/10 01:57 PM

Quote:



Quote:
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Not sure if this will be helpful, but a couple of months ago my brake warning light started staying on constantly, but not fully lit. Just sort of "half-bright". Came on bright when parking brake was on, like it should, but always stayed halfway lit when brake was off.

Brake system seemed fine, tried everything, no change, until I took the sending unit apart (pic attached), cleaned it, reinstalled, light started working properly again.


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Thanks guys, I may have bumped the parking brake when I put the column back in If not then I will try the "swift kick method" and then rebuilding the sensor. Is it possible to get the sensor out w/ out getting fluid all over?



From what I remember, there was no leakage.
Just crawled underneath, pulled off the wire, unscrewed the sensor from the dist block (not a proportioning valve). I may have stuffed a small rag in the hole, can't remember.

One of the tests I tried before taking it out was removing the wire from the sensor, then using another wire with gator clips to ground the sensor wire to the car body. Light came on halfway, with ign switch on and parking brake disengaged.

Still doesn't make sense to me, not sure what the deal was.

Attached picture 6271041-Pictures-2010-08-25007.jpg
Posted By: hooziewhatsit

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 10/27/10 03:38 PM

The light is turned on by being grounded from either the prop valve, or the e-brake.

Unhook the wire going to the prop valve and see if it goes out. If it does, that's what's turning it on. If not, it's the e-brake. That should at least narrow it down.
Posted By: challenger70

Re: Brake Warning Light! - 11/01/10 03:20 AM

Hey guys it ended up being the parking brake, thanks! I must have bumped it putting the column back in.
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