Hello, All: I have a 91 Subaru Sambar that was delivered to my house a week ago. Ever since I've had it, the parking brake dash light has been on, although the parking brake is disengaged. Using the Danko manual, I removed the shifter cover (as an aside, the manual says NOTHING about having to remove the driver's seat to access a screw; the seat needed to come out for cleaning. All the same...). The parking brake handle worked fine. When the handle was disengaged, it deactivated a switch with wires leading from it. I removed the switch and tested it. It's fine. Tonight, I'll continue my investigations. My next step is to test the wires leading to/from the switch (perhaps no voltage is getting to the switch?). Is there possibly a fuse that's to blame? Input welcome. Will keep you all posted as more information becomes available. John
Does it have a switch on the brake lines or master cylinder to indicate one brake circuits has lower pressure than the other? Some vehicles have that switch to alert you to a brake failure.
There is a float switch in the brake reservoir for the fluid level that also activates the light. If the fluid is low, then do not just "top it off".. find out WHY it is low. Either there is a brake fluid leak somewhere, or the pads need to be replaced.
You are right. This morning before work, I topped off the reservoir which turned off the light. Now, a new mystery looms...why was it low?
Well, you quoted the two reasons why it would be low. If you replace the pads and compress the calipers, there is a very good chance that the fluid is overfull and will spill out of the reservoir. If it is a leak, then obviously it will continue to do so until it is repaired.
Yep my van did this recently and I chalked it up to pad wear or possible rear drum cylinders leaking (don't see evidence of that yet but it usually get burned away from braking in the beginning and is hard to tell without removing a drum). Brakes are the next subsystem to get attention for me.
I noted a puddle after filling the reservoir that I'd not seen before on the garage floor. I've moved the vehicle since then, but it may/may not be the culprit...
