Flashing Parking Light

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

Every once and awhile im driving around town or on the highway and my parking brake is obviously up but if I hit a bump or dip in the road, whatever would make the car move up and down from hitting a bump my parking brake light flashes and some times It stays on, and then if I hit another bump or dip it might flash off and on and sometimes it will go off. Any one have a clue whats going on?

 

[SASHO91]

check your brake fluid.....
seriously..

there is switch on the Ebrake, check that as well...

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

wiggle the ebrake lever.....light coming on? Could be that your cable is not fully releasing in the rear. You will need to check that your rear wheels spin freely. There is a lever on the rear spindle that the cable pulls on.

 

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

If I wiggle the ebrake lever it will sometimes flash and some times go off, Ill check the fluid in the morning, and where is this switch thats near the lever?

 

[HoustinoJillian]

alright ive got the same problem... kinda... jsut started today, itll flash for a second when i accelerate a bit faster than normal, usually uphill. time to cehck the brake fluid... but where is this lever you speak of? you mean one back by the rear calipers, or does lever refer to the foot lever inside the car?

 

[laxmax327]

theres a switch right at the top of the parking brake pedal. mine does this too, theres a rubber piece i think thats supposed to push that button in when the brake is off. mine fell off so it did the same thing, you could try to fix it w/ something. but i just unpluged the wire that goes to the switch, youll see it, its really easy and can be put right back on later if you want.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

the thing is, wiggling the brake when its off doesnt make the light come on

 

[laxmax327]

well then it could be your brake fluid being low. but still might be the parking brake, try to stop one time when the light randomly comes on. if its still on, then pull the wire on the switch, see if it goes off, if it doesnt then theres your prob.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

its jsut flashing for a second, then goes away... fluid looked to be ok?

 

[laxmax327]

well it might just be ever so low. just barely enough to trip the sensor if it moves around. just add a tad and see if it helps.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

looks like i, too had the low fluid only on weird uphill problem. which is a good thing, now my only question is, why would the fluid be low?? does having ABS kick in bleed the system a bit or could this just be normal from a long time ago?

 

[COliveira95]

Justin, your car had the brakes bled, and the ABS bled as well. I have the Thextorn box that does it. I've never had that problem before.

 

[ManySHOs]

looks like i, too had the low fluid only on weird uphill problem. which is a good thing, now my only question is, why would the fluid be low?? does having ABS kick in bleed the system a bit or could this just be normal from a long time ago?

Your brake pads wear over time which means more fluid needs to be displaced into the caliper over time. If the fluid was at a certain level with new pads, it will be at a lower level with worn pads (assuming no leaks or no new fluid added meanwhile). Add more fluid and just bleed them when you replace the pads next time.

You should be ok. Check your pads for excessive wear.

Ian

 

[HoustinoJillian]

thats what i didnt understand, pads seemed to be OK. guess it was just enough to be low when on an angle and the pads are half worn or something.. i dunno, going to keep my eye on it but i dont think its anything to worry about currently. got the coolant light sorted out too (replacement coolant tank had a pinhole in the hose, replaced the hose and its good as new) so the car's 100% now! hopefully all will remain well int othe summer, when i can then use my "repair" money to get the bumper resprayed.