2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Parking brake light stays on.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-09-13, 02:59 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Parking brake light stays on.

As the title says, my parking brake light stays on and my ocd is going wild. My parking brake works fine. It just randomly decided to do that. Does the parking brake go near the spare tire well? I was playing around back there looking for a rattle and squeak which turned out to be the hatch and the spare tools. Could the cable just be loose?
Old 01-09-13, 03:12 PM
  #2  
Moderator

iTrader: (3)
 
diabolical1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: FL
Posts: 10,867
Received 313 Likes on 274 Posts
check you brake fluid reservoir level.

and no. the emergency brake cables run underneath the car.
Old 01-09-13, 04:10 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Weird, i've had the car for 12000kms now and the brake fluid has never gotten any lower than full. It's about half full now. i heard that could cause the brake light to show, but forgot about it until you posted. I'll fill it up tonight.
Old 01-09-13, 04:22 PM
  #4  
Warheads on foreheads!

iTrader: (8)
 
MIDNFauciUSN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Back in Jax!
Posts: 1,733
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
Its a closed system... meaning that your fluid shouldnt be going anywhere. Check for leaks.
Old 01-09-13, 05:41 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yeah, I'm going to be changing the front pads soon, so at the same time I'll check the lines and the ebrake line as well. If I do have a leak I should see it on the snow, right? So I could move my car tomorrow morning and see if anything leaked.
Old 01-09-13, 06:39 PM
  #6  
Warheads on foreheads!

iTrader: (8)
 
MIDNFauciUSN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Back in Jax!
Posts: 1,733
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
You should be able to feel it... something will/should be wet - not water wet, but oily. It really depends on how big the leak is. Don't forget to check the rears too. Has a pretty distinct smell too.
Old 01-09-13, 06:45 PM
  #7  
Cake or Death?

iTrader: (2)
 
clokker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mile High
Posts: 10,249
Received 63 Likes on 53 Posts
Originally Posted by ryan2949
Yeah, I'm going to be changing the front pads soon, so at the same time I'll check the lines and the ebrake line as well. If I do have a leak I should see it on the snow, right? So I could move my car tomorrow morning and see if anything leaked.
The parking brake is entirely mechanical, nothing to leak.
Old 01-09-13, 07:06 PM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast
 
ben.farnath's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: new zealand
Posts: 804
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
Pull off the surround for the hand brake. There is a small push on clip/connector make sure it's on properly and the spring behind where it connects to isn't binding and the adjuster is correctly adjusted the light comes on when the stopper with the spring makes contact on a small tag off the handbrake

Last edited by ben.farnath; 01-09-13 at 07:10 PM.
Old 01-09-13, 08:11 PM
  #9  
Trunk Ornament

iTrader: (11)
 
AGreen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by MIDNFauciUSN
Its a closed system... meaning that your fluid shouldnt be going anywhere. Check for leaks.
It goes into the caliper's pistons as the pads wear. You can add fluid, but check your pads for excessive wear. But don't rule out a leak as a possibility.
Old 01-09-13, 09:16 PM
  #10  
Warheads on foreheads!

iTrader: (8)
 
MIDNFauciUSN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Back in Jax!
Posts: 1,733
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
Ahhh... that had been somewhere far in the back of my huge head... totally forgot to add that.
Old 01-10-13, 01:22 AM
  #11  
Retired Moderator, RIP

iTrader: (142)
 
misterstyx69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 0
Received 131 Likes on 114 Posts
Doesn't the cluster have separate lights for Ebrake and "regular Brakes"?
Like ( ) and BRAKE ?
(winter,I lose track.)
If so,Which Light is showing??
Old 01-10-13, 01:45 AM
  #12  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
barkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Hampsha
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
^ one is to let you know a taillight is out
Old 01-10-13, 02:11 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
It was just getting low on brake fluid. I filled it up and the light went off. I will check for leaks when I get the chance, but I will check it again in a few days and see if it loses a decent amount again. To get an idea of how much is leaking.
The following users liked this post:
RICK 09 (10-30-19)
Old 01-13-13, 05:37 PM
  #14  
Retired Moderator, RIP

iTrader: (142)
 
misterstyx69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 0
Received 131 Likes on 114 Posts
Originally Posted by ryan2949
It was just getting low on brake fluid. I filled it up and the light went off. I will check for leaks when I get the chance, but I will check it again in a few days and see if it loses a decent amount again. To get an idea of how much is leaking.
If it is losing fluid then you should not drive it.Fix it.
If you fall off a bicycle you can get back up.If you fail to stop and hit a family of 4 then you will never "get back up"..
Old 01-14-13, 02:18 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Checking it out tomorrow. It's nice now that my dad opened up his business again = heated shop.
Old 02-07-13, 11:17 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
So it keeps losing fluid meaning I have a leak and not worn pads, right? Are there any areas that leaks are more common on rx7's or other vehicles? I'll take a look at all the pads and rubber hoses and where they connect to hardlines etc. But could the hardlines be a problem at all?
Old 02-08-13, 01:06 AM
  #17  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
barkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Hampsha
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by ryan2949
So it keeps losing fluid meaning I have a leak and not worn pads, right? Are there any areas that leaks are more common on rx7's or other vehicles? I'll take a look at all the pads and rubber hoses and where they connect to hardlines etc. But could the hardlines be a problem at all?
check all fittings first, could just need to tighten one. after that start looking for cracks. or just have a buddy pump the pedal while you look for drips to get an idea of where its coming from.
Old 02-12-13, 01:26 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Brought it to a mechanic and they can't find any leaks... They also said my pads/rotors still have more than 50% life left in them. I'll replace the master cylinder and hope that's the issue.

Also, I told the idiots that they can't just start the car up and shut it off right after because it could flood and they ended up flooding it. They then began to stare at me and ask me "what are you going to do now?" assuming I was going to tow it myself on my dollar... They said they had the car running all morning looking for the brake leaks and exhaust leaks yet the car wasn't warmed up at all. -.-

Last edited by ryan2949; 02-12-13 at 01:29 PM.
Old 02-12-13, 10:29 PM
  #19  
Full Member

iTrader: (10)
 
Leftthefear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just to shoot another possibility, a shorted wire?
Old 02-13-13, 01:13 AM
  #20  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
barkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Hampsha
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
seal in the master bad, leaking back into booster?
Old 02-13-13, 02:29 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I was told by someone else that could be the issue. I'll check to see if the booster has any fluid in it.
Old 02-14-13, 07:56 PM
  #22  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (10)
 
DC5Daniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peachtree City, GA
Posts: 1,631
Received 84 Likes on 63 Posts
I was low on fluid; sure enough a top up fixed the light staying on.
The following users liked this post:
RICK 09 (10-30-19)
Old 02-15-13, 01:33 AM
  #23  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
barkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Hampsha
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by DC5Daniel
I was low on fluid; sure enough a top up fixed the light staying on.
i think we're past that... but thanks
Old 02-15-13, 08:16 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
welfare's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: vancouver, bc
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
check the cabin side of the firewall. near the pedal assy. not sure on these cars, but some hondas are notorious for leaks there.
how does the brake pedal feel though? does it feel firm, then slowly sink to the floor? if it's leaking, it won't hold pressure. if the shop you brought it to is as incompetent as they sound, then i wouldn't take their inspection seriously.
if there are brake lines that run through the inside of the chassis, there may be a spot that they've rusted/rubbed through and is not visible without pulling up carpet.
usually an external leak that happens out of the blue, and not after work was performed, will be due to a rusted line, leaking caliper piston seal, or ruptured soft line
Old 02-15-13, 10:08 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
ryan2949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Azilda, Ontario
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by welfare
check the cabin side of the firewall. near the pedal assy. not sure on these cars, but some hondas are notorious for leaks there.
how does the brake pedal feel though? does it feel firm, then slowly sink to the floor? if it's leaking, it won't hold pressure. if the shop you brought it to is as incompetent as they sound, then i wouldn't take their inspection seriously.
if there are brake lines that run through the inside of the chassis, there may be a spot that they've rusted/rubbed through and is not visible without pulling up carpet.
usually an external leak that happens out of the blue, and not after work was performed, will be due to a rusted line, leaking caliper piston seal, or ruptured soft line
I know brake fluid ***** paint up and notice the paint between the brake booster and master cylinder is peeled off easily like paint thinner was used on it. It wiped off very easily. The pedal doesn't feel that firm, but it doesn't go to the floor no matter how hard I press on it. There's still plenty of pressure in the system.


Quick Reply: Parking brake light stays on.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 PM.