EBrake Light - Always On

[byproxy]

Greetings! New member here and new (first time) owner of a 1973 GMC Sierra!!

Anyway, been addressing some minor lighting issues over the past couple of days. The last and only one I can't figure out is the light on the speedometer for the brake (presumably e-brake?) won't turn off. Once the key is turned to the on position, the light comes on and stays on regardless of if the ebrake is on.

All brakes work fine and fluids are full (just in case it isn't an ebrake light).

I can't seem to find any ebrake sensor though so not sure if there is one and if so, where it is.

Any help much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[robert8096]

Check around the e-brake assembly under the dash. There is sometimes a switch there that lights up that light if the e-brake is on. The other is located in the proportional valve which is located on the front cross rail of the frame. Just follow the lines down from the master cylinder. Could also be that the wire from either of those switches is shorted to ground.

 

[chengny]

While pulling on the e-brake release handle, use your other hand to raise the e-brake pedal up.

If the warning light goes out the problem is in parking brake system - as opposed to the hydraulic system.

At the top of the parking brake actuating lever there is a switch attached to the bracket. It is positioned so that, when the parking brake is applied, the lever contacts the button. That closes the switch electrically, grounds the lead and illuminates the dash warning light.

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Your parking brake cables are probably sticking. Get under the truck and use some PB Blaster (first) and then some WD40 on the cables.

Try to get the lubricant down between the sheathing and the actual cable. It helps tremendously if you have a helper for this operation. Have the assistant continously apply and release the e-brake while you flush the cables with PB Blaster. Have them attempt to depress the pedal a bit further each time they push down. Also be sure they remove their foot from the pedal when they release the brakes - and do it with a good hard yank.

After a few thousand apply/release cycles the e-brake cables should be free to move within the seathing and the pedal can move enough to open the switch.