Is it time to pull the bulbs?

GPster · March 16, 2009, 10:22:21 PM

When I hit the guard rail with my truck the check the brake light came on (I'd never seen it before). I figured that something had cut the brake hose to that wheel (left front) and there were other immediate concerns so I just made a mental note of it. During the time of putting it back together I checked and everything appeared OK and the master cylinder level is OK (power brakes). When I first got it running the other day the lights reappeared but the second time I started it they had reset and didn't come on again. Today while the truck was doing it's duties (mobile compost pile) I drove it into the yard and let it idle a bit because it was cold (the engine) and I had just started it. I reached in and shut it off after a while and when I was done loading it I re-started it and got those lights (it's also got a light for some rear brake equalizer). The next time I started it I didn't get the light until I put it in gear and it has continued like that all day. There is nothing apparently wrong with the brakes. It stops at town speeds loaded and stopped just fine from 65 on the interstate unloaded. I can pin point this problem as starting after the wreck but I'm still getting the check engine light for no apparent reason. Unfortunately this is an '89 Ford Ranger with the 2.3 four with the dual plug heads so I don't believe it can be made a carburated engine but if any more lights come on I'll have to put a bigger alternator on it to keep the battery up. It looks so patriotic colored red, white and with blue stripes and visor but I don't want to keep working on it to bring it up to the level of "trade-in". Let's hear some ideas. GPster

wayne petty · March 17, 2009, 09:02:50 PM

put the parking lights on... then turn on the emergency flashers...

see if everything lights up...

then turn it all off and have somebody step on the brake pedal...

see if the brake lights come on.

hitting something hard with the lights on... usually causes the filament to fall off.. thats one of the ways the inspectors after an accident can tell if you had your foot on the brakes.. they look at the tail light filaments.. burned.. they were probably on when the accident happens...

some fords, most volvos and all the darn jaguars have bulb out load sensors... the jag is the worst... it has expensive relay boxes in each corner.. takes me about an hour to resolder each corner box... customers are sure happy not to have the bulb out flashing every time they start the car..

Crosley.In.AZ · March 17, 2009, 10:00:00 PM

yes, pull all the bulbs.

enjenjo · March 17, 2009, 11:17:23 PM

Check the connection of the wire at the brake combo valve. It may be loose, or even corroded. You can take it to an autozone for them to scan for the check engine light.

GPster · March 18, 2009, 01:55:20 PM

There is no brake combo valvethe rear brake line form the master cylinder goes directly to a tee for the front brake calipers. The front master cylinder linegoes towards the rear and must hit some type of anti-locking devise before proceeding. The only electrical connection is on the master cylinder fluid reservoir and it must just be for fluid level. I went to the local Auto Zone and they told me they could only scan '91 and newer. The guy was standing behind the cash register and may have only been trained to ask me my phone number and cash or credit card though. Haven't did the brake light check yet because I don't have a helper.Of course I never used my brakes. Was taught that when you're skidding on ice locking the brakes might defeat any chance of steering control. All the front lights and the tail lights work. I took the complete nose off a whole/un-wrecked vehicle and cut the harness to make sure I had everything. I even tried to educate myself. I bought a Hayes manual for this truck when I got it. It mostly tells "like this or similar" and if the parking brake is not on take it in for service (parking brake has never given me a light so I didn'y know there was a warning). Luckily the owners manual for this truck is still in the glove box. The brake light warning is for two warnings, Parking brake on and (? brake fluid level). If the parking brake isn't on and the light is burning take it to a dealer. When I first started it up today, no lights. While I was driving I tried to compose that message for this forum. I parked it. did my task and re-started it. Now that it warmed up I got the lights again. Crosley's fix may be the one. GPster

58 Yeoman · March 18, 2009, 03:28:51 PM

QuoteHaven't did the brake light check yet because I don't have a helper.

Back up against a wall or garage door, then hit the brakes. I've used this method many times when no one else was around...

wayne petty · March 18, 2009, 03:55:53 PM

there are 3 different warning lights

Brake or brake system,

ABS or antilock brakes (there may be 2 yellow and red,

or "brake light",

the "brake" or "brake system" is for the brake fluid level sensor in the master... it will go on when the level gets to the min level mark. there is a float with a magnet... when it drops it closes a reed switch to turn on the light.

it is also switched by the pressure differential switch down the lines a bit.. or under the master.

there is also a switch on the parking brake pedal.. that turns on the same light..

~~~~~~~~~~~~

the abs light yellow or red is for the abs system... the red light will flash if the there are trouble codes... the yellow light will flash when the system is activated during braking.. if either abs light comes on during normal braking... time to get it checked...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

on some models of fords... there are "brake light" waring lights... these are usually lamp out sensors as i described above...

i opened my mouth to answer and did not understand exactly what you typed... my own toes tend to start tasting bad after a while... so i will become a lurker.. for a while... hope you get things fixed...

i am going to post something over in the throne room...

GPster · March 18, 2009, 04:44:44 PM

Our daughter turns 40 the 20th of this month, It bothers my wife because it will be harder for her to say she's in her mid fifties. I'm sixty, Wayne,if you keep giving me all this advice like some concerned parent it's going to make you appear very old. The "Little Old Lady from Pasadina (your mother)"is going to seem like your sister. I'm going to have to print all of your replies and put them in the glove compartment along with the owners manual. As long as it takes for me to ask questions there are probably some people that wish I would lurk. GPster

wayne petty · March 18, 2009, 11:27:16 PM

my mother never lived in pasadena... in 1947 she lived at 48th and vermont. south central los angeles.. drove a 36 ford... 16 coats of hand rubbed black lacquer... street raced is every week end... that was mom...

then she got a 41 buick... put a new motor in it... drove that for 10 years...

in the buick... mom and dad drove to new orleans. where dads family is...

midway across texas... dad ask mom if she thought she was driving a little fast.. NO.. i am barely keeping up with traffic... people are passing me like crazy.. she then looked at the speedo... 105..... then another car passed her. with a sign on the back... saying that you have just been passed by the transcontinental road race... i would almost bet that mom would have at least beat her out of the hole with her buick or ford.. mom at 83 still drives her 70 F250 without power steering or power brakes.. and it is a stick... so she has a clutch to work also...

GPster · March 19, 2009, 08:37:24 PM

Well, this morning I read the owner's manual and it said the brake warning light was to indicate that the parking brake was engaged (which it wasn't) or that the brake fluid level was low in the master cylinder (which it wasn't) or that there was another malfunction in the brake system. I disconnected the switch on the parking brake and I disconnected the float switch on the master cylinder. The light quit burning. I guess there wasn't any other malfunction. Feeling secure that I would have brakes I drove over town to fill the gas tank. When I started it back up the check engine light wasn't on any more. Still got one more light. I can live with the knowledge that I can lock up the rear brakes. Now I know that it's OK to leave it for my wife to drive and take the good car. GPster

phat46 · March 19, 2009, 09:31:41 PM

In my Dodge truck the brake light stays on after i release the parking brake. The switch must be out of adjustment, if I just touch the bottom of the parking brake pedal with my toe it goes out.

Fat Cat · March 19, 2009, 10:34:53 PM

In the top of the master cylinder there is a float that causes the light to go on when it is low. Is the float free? It might be stuck in the bore and causing the light to stay on.

GPster · March 20, 2009, 10:14:41 AM

Quote from: "Fat Cat"In the top of the master cylinder there is a float that causes the light to go on when it is low. Is the float free? It might be stuck in the bore and causing the light to stay on.

The master cylinder has a screw on cap with a splash resisting baffel in the fill neck. I cant see any lower into the reservoir. At this point I can't get too excited about making it work. But thanks for the comment. GPster

Fat Cat · March 20, 2009, 05:37:46 PM

Quote from: "GPster"
Quote from: "Fat Cat"In the top of the master cylinder there is a float that causes the light to go on when it is low. Is the float free? It might be stuck in the bore and causing the light to stay on.
The master cylinder has a screw on cap with a splash resisting baffel in the fill neck. I cant see any lower into the reservoir. At this point I can't get too excited about making it work. But thanks for the comment. GPster

That thing your calling a baffle is the float I am talking about.

GPster · March 21, 2009, 05:05:53 PM

Quote from: "Fat Cat"That thing your calling a baffle is the float I am talking about.

It was stuck in the fill for the reservoir and I poked on it an it moved. Worked it up and down some and then hooked the wires back up to it. Surprise! no light. The other day I googled Fords Rear anti-lock brake system and read where any brake problem indication can lodge itself in the RABS computor and give random indications. It seems to have fixed that too. Of coarse the real thing that fixed it was it's fear of leaving it's home. Befor I went out to check the float I called about an ad for a '84 Dodge pick up with a slant six and automatic transmission. No answer so who knows. GPster