Emergency Brake Light on Dashboard

[Nitrate]

1981. 2000. My dash emerg. brake light does not come on when the brake lever is up. I'd like to check if the bulb is OK. How do I get to the bulb? RB

[lglade]

Does the light come on when you start the car? If so, the bulb is good.

But bulbs are easy enough to change...remove the steering column cover and loosen the bolts holding the steering column up to the dash. Then unscrew the four chrome finger screws holding the dash in place and gently pull the dash towards you. There are three or four electrical connectors that connect the panel to the car. It's a simple job that can be done in about fifteen minutes or so.

While you're there, replace all your bulbs with new 5-watt bulbs and enjoy being able to see your gauges at night again.

[Nitrate]

Actually my emergency light is in the center section of the dash, not where the speedo and tach are located. As it turns out the threaded rings on two of round warning light on the center section release the whole panel and then you have access to the wiring and bulbs. Bulb was good but one lead was disconnected. Emergency light works now. Strange thing is that the leads that connect to the bulb socket once connected seem to be impossible to pull out now, like they are locked in there. Guess there would be no reason to disconnect them but odd they would be locked in. Anyone else notice this? RB

[DieselSpider]

Previous steward of the car probably did not keep the e-brake adjusted so the light was constantly coming on while driving so they disconnected it.

[spider2081]

I believe the light is also activated by a float switch in the brake fluid reservoir. The switch is part of the reservoir cap. If the fluid is low the brake warning light will light.

[courtenay]

I thought the light was activated by the little button underneath the emergency brake lever. When you lift the lever (to put the brake on), the light comes on. When you lower the lever, the button is depressed and the light goes off. Sometimes the lever misses the button (on my car anyway) and the light stays on even though the e-brake is off. A little shifting of the lever rectifies the problem.

[RRoller123]

It is activated by both methods.. The test button on the top of the brake reservoir is a good way to tell if the float indicator (and the bulb) is working.

[Nitrate]

Does the ignition have to be on for the brake light to activate when the top of the master cylinder is pushed down to check fluid level? Does the car have to be running ? RB

[spider2081]

Does the ignition have to be on for the brake light to activate when the top of the master cylinder is pushed down to check fluid level? Does the car have to be running ? RB

The power comes from Fuse A (closest to the steering column) and the ignition switch needs to be in the "run or start" positions for Fuse A to be powered. The engine does not have to be running but the key has to be in "run or start" position.

[Nitrate]

Thanks guys for the help on this. RB

[RRoller123]

Just a reminder that a low brake fluid level will also keep the light on constantly until it is filled to the proper level.