E-brake light coming on?

[musclecar64]

Every time I accelerate hard, my e-brake light comes on when I shift. It seems to happen when the load of the car shifts to the front. It just started doing this a few days ago, it was occasionally at first, now all the time. The light used to just flicker on and quickly off, but now it stays on for a few seconds at a time. I just completely did my brakes front and rear in January front/February rear. (Front: calipers, caliper brackets, rotors, pads, hoses. Rear: Wheel cylinders, drum hardware kit, drums, shoes).
My e-brake also doesn't seem to be as strong as it should be.

Edit: also forgot to mention that the e-brake lever has some play in it.

What's going on?

[Loneyc]

When mine did that there was a leak is the master cylinder
Check your brake fluid level to make sure its not running low.

[PhatRoyale]

+1 on checking your brake fluid level.

It would be a good time to perform a full flush with fresh fluid if you haven't done so for a while.

[sequoiasoon]

The light is coming on because it "probably" senses low fluid as already mentioned. Check the fluid level accordingly.

The second possible if your fluid seems pretty full is that also as mentioned, you might need to flush the fluid. The fluid picks up moisture normally and you get corrosion etc. from the brake lines. Mine did this exact thing until I figured it out. The sensor is actually a photo eye under the float. As the fluid drops and float gets close it triggers low fluid. Same light reduction might be happening from the dirt sitting at the bottom of the reservoir. That is what happened to mine and I actually drained the fluid, removed the screw holding the tank, took it off and sprayed it out with brakekleen. Let it dry, reassembled and flushed the fluid to replace all of it.

The e-brake not being tight is probably from the adjusters not working correctly. Also happened to me until I dis-assembled the rear brakes removed the star wheel adjuster, wire brushed REAL GOOD to remove corrosion and then reassembled it using some copper anti-seize. Never had a problem after that but you do need to make sure that you use the e-brake often to adjust it. Works best when baking up as the shoes shift and use the self adjusting mechanisms.

[musclecar64]

Checked fluid reservoir. Just a hair below min mark. Topped it toff to max mark and now no more brake light.

[Bitter]

Originally Posted by sequoiasoon

The light is coming on because it "probably" senses low fluid as already mentioned. Check the fluid level accordingly.

The second possible if your fluid seems pretty full is that also as mentioned, you might need to flush the fluid. The fluid picks up moisture normally and you get corrosion etc. from the brake lines. Mine did this exact thing until I figured it out. The sensor is actually a photo eye under the float. As the fluid drops and float gets close it triggers low fluid. Same light reduction might be happening from the dirt sitting at the bottom of the reservoir. That is what happened to mine and I actually drained the fluid, removed the screw holding the tank, took it off and sprayed it out with brakekleen. Let it dry, reassembled and flushed the fluid to replace all of it.

The e-brake not being tight is probably from the adjusters not working correctly. Also happened to me until I dis-assembled the rear brakes removed the star wheel adjuster, wire brushed REAL GOOD to remove corrosion and then reassembled it using some copper anti-seize. Never had a problem after that but you do need to make sure that you use the e-brake often to adjust it. Works best when baking up as the shoes shift and use the self adjusting mechanisms.

its not a photo-eye, its a magnetic switch. theres a tiny tiny reed in there and the float has a magnet in it.

[sequoiasoon]

Originally Posted by Bitter

its not a photo-eye, its a magnetic switch. theres a tiny tiny reed in there and the float has a magnet in it.

That could be but it looks like a photo eye. If it is magnetic then there might have been a lot of metal particles in mine also. My light came on just as his did and iwas more than 3/4 full on fluid all the time.

@ Musclecar64 just remember that the fluid being low is normally an indication that it's time for brakes also unless you have a leak. Just topping it off won't fix that part and remember to drain some fluid out of it before you push teh pistons in when you change pads/shoes. If you don't it makes a huge mess real quick.

[Bitter]

sometimes theres gunk that will cause the float to get stuck.

[musclecar64]

Originally Posted by sequoiasoon

That could be but it looks like a photo eye. If it is magnetic then there might have been a lot of metal particles in mine also. My light came on just as his did and iwas more than 3/4 full on fluid all the time.

@ Musclecar64 just remember that the fluid being low is normally an indication that it's time for brakes also unless you have a leak. Just topping it off won't fix that part and remember to drain some fluid out of it before you push teh pistons in when you change pads/shoes. If you don't it makes a huge mess real quick.

I just did my brakes (Front pads, rotors, calipers, caliper brackets. Rear drums, shoes, wheel cylinders and drum hardware kit) like less than 3000 miles ago. Brakes feel fine. Only thing weird to me was the light coming on.

[Bitter]

well fluid is not magic, it went somewhere. either is leaking or the brakes are worn out, since yours are new...you may have a pinhole. start the car and hold the brake pedal firmly. it should NOT sink, if it does you need to find out why.