Jeff Strickland

My CJ5 turns the light on depending on the position of the ignition switch.
I have to physically roll the switch towards OFF (away from START) to turn
the Brake light off.

This light is also used to indicate a problem with the brake fluid level
and/or the brake system in general.



"Chip L" <chiplong@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164300739.233527.53200@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> '94 GC 160k miles.
>
> Dash emergency brake light indicator always on.
>
> Pulled armrest box to get to switch at emergency brake arm. Cleaned
> and adjusted to ensure contact. Light still on whether brake on or
> off, whether terminal is on or off at switc.
>
> Thought appreciated. Thx
>
> Chip L
>

Jeff Strickland

"Chip L" <chiplong@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164325668.417033.299060@l12g2000cwl.googlegr oups.com...
> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
> break.
>
> I'm sure thats it..
>



Me too.

IF IT HAS SUCKED AIR, then you need to bleed the system before the brakes
will be reliable again. By your description, it HAS sucked air.

Jeff Strickland

"Chip L" <chiplong@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164325668.417033.299060@l12g2000cwl.googlegr oups.com...
> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
> break.
>
> I'm sure thats it..
>



Me too.

IF IT HAS SUCKED AIR, then you need to bleed the system before the brakes
will be reliable again. By your description, it HAS sucked air.

Jeff Strickland

"Chip L" <chiplong@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164325668.417033.299060@l12g2000cwl.googlegr oups.com...
> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
> break.
>
> I'm sure thats it..
>



Me too.

IF IT HAS SUCKED AIR, then you need to bleed the system before the brakes
will be reliable again. By your description, it HAS sucked air.

Jeff Strickland

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:w6GdnUe7-L8IqvvYnZ2dnUVZ_sKdnZ2d@softcom.net...
> Chip L wrote:
>
>> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
>> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
>> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
>> break.
>
> Mystery solved. If no fluid is visible, there may be a leak or the brakes
> are extremely worn and require replacement. The seals in the master
> cylinder may have also been damaged from the lack of fluid. Have
> everything examined and serviced before she drives it again.
>
> Something for you to ponder as a FAR more important issue than the braking
> system on her Jeep: the need to regularly check vital fluids.
>
> Take her aside for 10 mins, open the hood, and show her how to check all
> important fluid levels, then have her do it while you're standing there to
> be sure she knows how. This is a very important skill for young ladies to
> have, and it is an important lesson that parents should teach any aspiring
> driver.


I truely hate to be the guy that mixes apples and oranges, but many eurpoean
countries REQUIRE drivers to be able to identify these vital reserviors and
how to get them open. This is an elementary skill to say the least.

Jeff Strickland

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:w6GdnUe7-L8IqvvYnZ2dnUVZ_sKdnZ2d@softcom.net...
> Chip L wrote:
>
>> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
>> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
>> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
>> break.
>
> Mystery solved. If no fluid is visible, there may be a leak or the brakes
> are extremely worn and require replacement. The seals in the master
> cylinder may have also been damaged from the lack of fluid. Have
> everything examined and serviced before she drives it again.
>
> Something for you to ponder as a FAR more important issue than the braking
> system on her Jeep: the need to regularly check vital fluids.
>
> Take her aside for 10 mins, open the hood, and show her how to check all
> important fluid levels, then have her do it while you're standing there to
> be sure she knows how. This is a very important skill for young ladies to
> have, and it is an important lesson that parents should teach any aspiring
> driver.


I truely hate to be the guy that mixes apples and oranges, but many eurpoean
countries REQUIRE drivers to be able to identify these vital reserviors and
how to get them open. This is an elementary skill to say the least.

Jeff Strickland

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:w6GdnUe7-L8IqvvYnZ2dnUVZ_sKdnZ2d@softcom.net...
> Chip L wrote:
>
>> thanks all. Didn't realize that it was tied into the hydraulic system.
>> My daughter has had the car at college and it was VERY low on fluid (ie
>> no fluid visible) in one of the vessels when she came home for fall
>> break.
>
> Mystery solved. If no fluid is visible, there may be a leak or the brakes
> are extremely worn and require replacement. The seals in the master
> cylinder may have also been damaged from the lack of fluid. Have
> everything examined and serviced before she drives it again.
>
> Something for you to ponder as a FAR more important issue than the braking
> system on her Jeep: the need to regularly check vital fluids.
>
> Take her aside for 10 mins, open the hood, and show her how to check all
> important fluid levels, then have her do it while you're standing there to
> be sure she knows how. This is a very important skill for young ladies to
> have, and it is an important lesson that parents should teach any aspiring
> driver.


I truely hate to be the guy that mixes apples and oranges, but many eurpoean
countries REQUIRE drivers to be able to identify these vital reserviors and
how to get them open. This is an elementary skill to say the least.

Jeff Strickland

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:45663D58.5CD23DFB@sympatico.ca...
> She really needs an automotive education.
>
> When the Brake failure warning light comes on, the vehicle is no longer
> safe for the road until it has been determined the failure.
>
> When one reservoir goes empty, it puts serious stress on the seal
> between the master cylinder chambers which can lead to a 'total' failure
> there 'very' soon after one goes dry.
>
> When this happens, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle has
> only the emergency brake left.
>
> Does she know how to stop a vehicle using only the emergency brake?
> Does the emergency brake work?
>

It kills me to hear people cal this an Emergency Brake. It is more
accurately a Parking Brake. The question is, "does one know how to stop a
vehicle using the parking brake?" And, "does the parking brake work?"

There is a huge difference in using the Parking Brake in an emergency and
using the Emergency Brake to park.

Jeff Strickland

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:45663D58.5CD23DFB@sympatico.ca...
> She really needs an automotive education.
>
> When the Brake failure warning light comes on, the vehicle is no longer
> safe for the road until it has been determined the failure.
>
> When one reservoir goes empty, it puts serious stress on the seal
> between the master cylinder chambers which can lead to a 'total' failure
> there 'very' soon after one goes dry.
>
> When this happens, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle has
> only the emergency brake left.
>
> Does she know how to stop a vehicle using only the emergency brake?
> Does the emergency brake work?
>

It kills me to hear people cal this an Emergency Brake. It is more
accurately a Parking Brake. The question is, "does one know how to stop a
vehicle using the parking brake?" And, "does the parking brake work?"

There is a huge difference in using the Parking Brake in an emergency and
using the Emergency Brake to park.

Jeff Strickland

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:45663D58.5CD23DFB@sympatico.ca...
> She really needs an automotive education.
>
> When the Brake failure warning light comes on, the vehicle is no longer
> safe for the road until it has been determined the failure.
>
> When one reservoir goes empty, it puts serious stress on the seal
> between the master cylinder chambers which can lead to a 'total' failure
> there 'very' soon after one goes dry.
>
> When this happens, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle has
> only the emergency brake left.
>
> Does she know how to stop a vehicle using only the emergency brake?
> Does the emergency brake work?
>

It kills me to hear people cal this an Emergency Brake. It is more
accurately a Parking Brake. The question is, "does one know how to stop a
vehicle using the parking brake?" And, "does the parking brake work?"

There is a huge difference in using the Parking Brake in an emergency and
using the Emergency Brake to park.