[rkeysor]

From time to time my emergency brake lights on the dash stay on upon startup. I put a drop or two of Break Free on the switch at one point, and the light stopped coming on. But now it has resumed doing it, but only occasionally. I know this happens when we don't fully lower the brake lever, but that's not what's happening here. Solution?

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[flash]

likely the handle is out of adjustment. there is a sensor down there at the base of it. if the handle doesn't go down all the way then the light will come on.

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[rkeysor]

As I mentioned, I had put a drop of Break Free on the switch that the handle depresses to keep the light from coming on. If it were an adjustment issue, it wouldn't change from time to time. I drove the car twice today without the light staying on. I know to make sure the e-brake handle is all the way down and in contact with the switch to extinguish the light. I have had a couple of other anomalies lately, so maybe I'm headed for some real electrical issues. What if I told you the center dash red light was on when I drove the car last night, as well as a red light suggesting an engine oil check? I've never seen that message before, and of course the oil level is as it should be. Today, no problem. Thanks.

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[DaveN]

I had a problem once with the parking switch bu tit was the spade connector not the switch. Maybe remove it for a cleaning and tightening.

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[flash]

if it is out of adjustment, it won't sit in the right spot, and WILL make the contact with the switch intermittent. you can test this for yourself by merely lifting up the slightest bit on the handle, or when the light is on, push down. if it goes out, you have found your problem.



that being said, if you have other issues, then i would look to the connectors at the back of the cluster

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[94SilverCab]

When the "!" light is lit it is in conjuntion with another warning light (i.e. check oil, brakes, etc.)



Jay

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[rkeysor]

Yes. It happened this morning, and I got the small red warning text about checking the oil. This has happened before. I drove the car more than 60 miles earlier in the week without the light going on. My fear is that I'm about to get one of those nasty, difficult to solve electrical issues. I am looking at the Owner's Manual, p. 43, and it says this about the Central Warning Light (same light as the emergency brake light). "This light monitors functions displayed by the instruments. If one of these functions fails, the central warning light and the pertinent indicator light come on until the malfunction has been corrected. The vehicle should immediately be taken to the nearest authorized workshop." Ouch. I had checked the oil pressure light and the sump oil level earlier when the oil warning light went on, and both were as normal. Finding this bit in the Owner's Manual is concerning. Puzzling why it is intermittent.

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[94SilverCab]

My oil level sensor is VERY sensitive (even 1/4 qt low)...try the simple before you go to the harder stuff.



Jay

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[DaveN]

All it takes is parking on a slight hill to get the oil level light to come on sometimes and them it stays on for 2 minutes (?) even if you are level as there is a software timer I believe.

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[Langley968]

I agree with the "oil level sensor is VERY sensitive (even 1/4 qt low)" statement. Keep that oil level up!

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[rkeysor]

I think Jay and Jake and others hit on the answer. I checked my oil level today with the car cold, and it was down nearly a quart. I have virtually never added oil to this car between changes--I drive relatively little since moving to Florida--and I simply change it once a year--Mobil One in my case. I think I overlooked the oil warning light until driving the car at night. Being geriatric and requiring reading glasses probably contributed to the error. Contributing to this was an assumption that the center red light pertains only to the emergency brake. In any case, I've topped off the oil and will report if the light comes on again. I don't think it will.

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[DaveN]

Your lucky, at least it was working. I had to add 2.5 L to my car as the light never came on until then; talk about panic! I have removed and checked the sensor and it seems fine when compared to my spare <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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