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Parking/Hand Brake Light

D

DjDom

Moderator Emeritus
Joined
September 11, 2011
Messages
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City, State
Toronto, Ontario
Year, Model & Trim Level
97 XL(imited)
Hey everyone,
I've been lurking around the forums quite a bit for a while, but finally got around to posting something.

I had a problem with my parking brake, it would not work, however, I managed to fix it, now my issue is that the light on the dash won't light up.
I've searched around for an answer and everyone says to clean out the switch or to press it.
After spending 2 hours looking for this little switch (I feel like an idiot), I finally managed to find it behind the actual parking brake pedal.
Pressing the switch does nothing; unplugging it does nothing.

Any ideas how to get this to work?
I just don't want to forget about the brake being on and drive around on it, which I've almost done.
 



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Probably the indicator light in your dash is burnt out
 






DjDom said:
Hey everyone,
I've been lurking around the forums quite a bit for a while, but finally got around to posting something.

I had a problem with my parking brake, it would not work, however, I managed to fix it, now my issue is that the light on the dash won't light up.
I've searched around for an answer and everyone says to clean out the switch or to press it.
After spending 2 hours looking for this little switch (I feel like an idiot), I finally managed to find it behind the actual parking brake pedal.
Pressing the switch does nothing; unplugging it does nothing.

Any ideas how to get this to work?
I just don't want to forget about the brake being on and drive around on it, which I've almost done.
Click to expand...
Take a test light, see if you are getting power to the switch. If so, then see if power is going through the switch. Since so many systems operate by grounding the light, you can still check it. Just reverse the hookup. Test light lead to a hot wire, ground through the probe. I have not personally checked the Explorer brake light, though I should. Mine does not work either, but the light lights when the key is turned on.
 






deweyville65 said:
Take a test light, see if you are getting power to the switch. If so, then see if power is going through the switch. Since so many systems operate by grounding the light, you can still check it. Just reverse the hookup. Test light lead to a hot wire, ground through the probe. I have not personally checked the Explorer brake light, though I should. Mine does not work either, but the light lights when the key is turned on.
Click to expand...

Thanks to both of you for responding.
I know the bulb isn't burnt out since it lights up when the car is starting.
I might take a volt meter and check if the wire is live.
How would I go abouts testing the light to a hot wire? Doesn't the light turn on by getting grounded, wouldn't it just be easier to touch the 2 contacts within the cable going to the switch and grounding them? That should technically turn the light on, right?
 






Simply ground the wire that goes into the switch. I believe it is a single conductor. If the brake wasn't used in a long time the switch is likely sticking. If you can take it out and spray a bit of lube in there, work it a few times and it would probably function again.
 






96eb96 said:
Simply ground the wire that goes into the switch. I believe it is a single conductor. If the brake wasn't used in a long time the switch is likely sticking. If you can take it out and spray a bit of lube in there, work it a few times and it would probably function again.
Click to expand...

I tried manually pressing the switch, it's not really sticking.
How do I take it out? It's really awkward to get in there..
I nearly lost my head to the brake pedal before. LOL
 






Alright, after another hour of messing with this switch, I finally fixed it.
Turns out, the little metal piece on the switch that the wire connects to was not actually making proper contact.
I bent that little metal piece and then pressed the wire on and it works like a charm.

Problem Solved.
Thank You!
 






Cool - could have ebeen worse
 






Good deaL. Now I am going to have to look at mine. Hope it is just as easy fix.
 






deweyville65 said:
Good deaL. Now I am going to have to look at mine. Hope it is just as easy fix.
Click to expand...

It is easy.. you just need to lie down very awkwardly with your head behind the brake pedal.
Just take some small pliers and bend the little metal a bit clockwise or counter clockwise, then reconnect the wire.
I honestly thought the harness was broken, but I tried the grounding thing with a volt meter and the light turned on on the dash! That's when I figured out it was something as simple as the connector..
And I spent some 2 days scratching my head as to what it could be.
 






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