Brake warning light

Forum: 

The brake warning light is always on. I checked the parking brake switch. It just looks like a spring ,plastic piece and a contact wire that make ground when the lever is moved.

The light doesnt go off when the wire makes contact with the frame so I cant figure out what the problem is?

Anybody?
Thanks.

Brake warning light

Low brake fluid. As the pads wear the pistons move further out, dropping the level in the resevoir. If the fluid level isn't high enough it can trigger the brake warning light.

1985 Fourtrak 2.8turbo, Spring over axel, on 35,12.5,15s

Rear slave cylinder.

Remove the brake reservoir cap. Feel under the cap and lift the float/flap/hinge. If the warning light goes out then you can assume the level of the reservior fluid is lower than the ' reservoir float'. [ NB.. brake fluid is a brilliant paint stripper]

It is unlikely that worn brake pads/shoes will be the problem since Sporty brakes 'self adjust' to take up any free play. Consequently the warning light should work even when brakes pads/shoes are worn.
If the brake fluid is low I suggest you remove the rear drums and inspect the slave cylinders. You will probably discover a rear slave cylinder is leaking brake fluid. Replace any defective cylinder and bleed the brakes in the correct sequence.
Obviously also inspect the front pads/cylinders : it is usually a rear slave cylinder that leaks. Whilst dirty inspect all the brake pipes and hoses!

PS .. to remove the rear drums the handbrake cable must be fully slackened at the adjusting nut. Releasing the handbrake lever does not 'back off' the brake shoes sufficiently to allow the drum to come away from the hub.

Hand brake light

'91 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX

Hi.

The hand brake switch on my Fourtrak is a simple door light switch attached to the handbrake lever, with a single wire, seems to be a earth return system, it even has the screw fixing plate still attached, could be a previous owner mod. As viewed through the hand brake console slot, metal case with a plastic push rod with a short length of wire to a black round connector. Possibly a chaffed wire some where.

Also check brake fluid level !!!!!!!!

Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX

Thanks for the ideas. I

Thanks for the ideas. I checked everything and all was fine. One thing I had not noticed before was that when the lights were coming on my batt voltage was at 19 volts. I had just checked the brushes and replaced the batt so I didn't suspect the alternator but I went ahead and replaced it and now all the dash lights are working properly.

The rectifier batt post was bad anyway ( $40 ) and a new regulator ( $40 ) so a lifetime guarantee with a new alt was $175.

An extra $100 but for all I knew there could have been more problems in there.