Parking brake Trouble Light is On.

[Techventure]

This spring I removed the parking system brake shoes, mainly due to the cost of replacing due to having to purchase from a dealer. The cost over $450.00 Cdn. Never use the parking brake anyway as 99% of most drivers. Only needed if you are selling and a safety is required.

Out of the blue after all these months, the parking brake indicator light on the dash comes on and stays on.

Could anyone give me some ideas what could cause this ?
Is there a sensor switch that may have come into play ?

Would very much appreciate your help.

Thanks.

M.H.

[KimMG]

Brake fluid level
Do you have wear indicators in your brake pads?
Hydraulic problem with your braking system.

Have you had your brakes professionally inspected? If yes, what exactly was the problem? Why would fixing a spring cost $450.00cdn? Everyone I know uses the parking brake. Keeps the stress off the transmission for holding the car in place.

[Techventure]

Originally Posted by KimMG

Brake fluid level
Do you have wear indicators in your brake pads?
Hydraulic problem with your braking system.

Have you had your brakes professionally inspected? If yes, what exactly was the problem? Why would fixing a spring cost $450.00cdn? Everyone I know uses the parking brake. Keeps the stress off the transmission for holding the car in place.

Hello KimMG,

I never stated a spring cost $450.00 CDN.
When I priced the cost of shoes for the emergency brake system the only source was from a dealer...the cost quoted was $100.00 per shoe x 4 shoes = $400.00 plus $25.00 for a spring kit for each wheel = another $50.00 for a total of $450.00 CDN.+15% taxes = $517.50 ...just for parts. A ridiculous price !

The indicator light signifies a problem with the parking brake according to the manual:

1. The fluid level is normal
2. What do wear indicators have to do with a parking brake light ?
3. The parking brake is a mechanical system. What would the hydraulic aspect of the braking system play in the parking brake light coming on ?

I asked over 20 people....not one told me they use their parking brake. I believe this is quite common where I hang my hat....Ontario, Canada. If the brake is used in the winter time only on occasion, it will have a tendancy to freeze and thus sieze up....the reason most people probably never use it.

Using the parking brake to take the stress off the transmission is the first time I have been given that reason for using it. Of all the cars I have owned I have never really used the parking brake only when I drove a standard shift and was stopped on a hill waiting to move.

I thank you for your response, however I am still at the point of wondering why the light is on.

[AccordCodger]

Unless it's way up to the top, try adding a little brake fluid. Despite your manual, the warning light does come on with low fluid, and I found that it doesn't have to be VERY low.

[KimMG]

Some cars have electric sensors in the brake pads. When the pads become thin, the sensor makes contact with the rotor turning the light on the dash on.

Many Toyota master cylinders have a float in the brake fluid resevoir. If the float drops to a low level the light on the dash turns on.

If one of the brake circuits fail the light on the dash comes on.

Where I live, we don't have to deal with freezing brakes and I misunderstood what you meant by spring. I thought you were refering to a part not a time of year.

[xfeejayx]

Originally Posted by KimMG

I misunderstood what you meant by spring. I thought you were refering to a part not a time of year.

Yea, I bet you aren't the only one around here that could mix that up.

[Techventure]

Hello KimMG,

Sorry to everyone about the word "spring"...I should have been clearer in my description.

Thanks for your information.

My camry is a 1992 V6 with only 160,000 Kms.
The brake reservoir is full and my brakes do not have electric feedback sensors that I'm aware.

I'm not sure about the float in the master cylinder on my model.

If the hydraulic system had a problem wouldn't the "ABS" light on the dash come on and not the parking brake indicator light ?

I'm now replacing the front brake pads as a precautionary measure and it's convenient since I'm taking a look to see what I can find with them.


Thanks.

[idmetro]

This may or may not be your issue but on my 91 the brake light came on and none of the above mentioned fixes had any effect. I found that by wiggling the e brake lever I could toggle the light on/off. the light would stay off only if I held the lever down, as soon as I released the handle the light would come back on. I finally pulled the console and found the switch mounting bracket had gotten bent down (apparently by some of the crud that had filtered down into the console over the years; I pulled out pencils, pens, a set of keys and so on) so the switch was not being fully contacted when the e brake lever was released. A little judicious tweaking (I found no other adjustment available) on the flange allowed the switch to fully close when the e brake was in the released position turning off the light and allowing the cruise control to funtion again.

[DL175]

The parking cable linkage under the car may be sticking. Check it out and
have it cleaned and lubricated. It maybe difficult to service since it is near
the middle of the car unless you have car jack stands. My parking brake
lights would come on sometimes so the mechanic fixed the above problem.

[Amarc]

The brake light has two functions. One is to tell you that the emergency brake is engaged and the second is to tell you that the break fluid in the master cylinder is low. Locate the switch mounted near the emergency brake lever and make sure it is working and adjusted properly & if it is ok unplug the sensor mounted on the side of the master break cylinder and check the sensor to see if it switches when the level is full.