Brake Warning light

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slprime
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Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:01 pm
Membership No: 20-933
Year: 1980
Model: Trans Am/clone
Engine: 403
Name: steve
Location: bishops wood - South Staffordshire
Location: bishops wood - South Staffordshire
Contact:

Brake Warning light

Post by slprime » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:38 pm

Hi all - just a quick question regarding the brake warning light on the dash of a 1980 2nd gen - can any one tell me
if the brake light should light up when you 1st turn on the ignition ( for a bulb check ) - because mine doesn't - but its
been off the road with the clocks out for so long I cant remember if it should - it lights up ok when the foot/handbrake
is applied - I have fitted new brake proportioning valve fitted that came with a new switch already installed on it
- I have checked the feed to the switch witch reads 12v - how should this light work ??)

Many thanks steve
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bhm1712
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Posts: 2672
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Membership No: 20-607
Year: 2001
Model: Trans-Am WS6
Engine: 350
Name: Ian
Location: Nottingham
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Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bhm1712 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 1:40 pm

Hi,

That light only comes on if the brake is applied so if you turn the ignition on with the park brake off it won't light up.

The only other time it comes on is if there is a fluid or pressure issue. Yours sounds like its fine .
Ian Hopkinson - Membership Manager & Forum Administrator
Northern England & Midlands Rep

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bhm1712
Site Admin
Posts: 2672
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 4:58 pm
Membership No: 20-607
Year: 2001
Model: Trans-Am WS6
Engine: 350
Name: Ian
Location: Nottingham
Location: Nottingham
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bhm1712 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 1:43 pm

There is no bulb check as such in the second gen. The oil, temp and volts lights come on when you turn the ignition on because the relevant switches and sensors are closed circuit until the engine runs when the grounds are then removed ( turning the lights off) until the ground is reinstated due to the switch or sensor being operated by a fault.
Ian Hopkinson - Membership Manager & Forum Administrator
Northern England & Midlands Rep

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slprime
POC Newbie
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:01 pm
Membership No: 20-933
Year: 1980
Model: Trans Am/clone
Engine: 403
Name: steve
Location: bishops wood - South Staffordshire
Location: bishops wood - South Staffordshire
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by slprime » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:01 pm

Many thanks - that has put my mind at rest :thumb:
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1980 Supercharged Firebird
1979 Firebird Redbird

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bhm1712
Site Admin
Posts: 2672
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 4:58 pm
Membership No: 20-607
Year: 2001
Model: Trans-Am WS6
Engine: 350
Name: Ian
Location: Nottingham
Location: Nottingham
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bhm1712 » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:57 am

No problem !
Ian Hopkinson - Membership Manager & Forum Administrator
Northern England & Midlands Rep

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bigbadbob
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Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:11 pm
Year: 1980
Model: Trans Am
Engine: 406
Name: Rob
Location: Maidenhead
Location: Maidenhead
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Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bigbadbob » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:42 pm

Thought I had a problem as I've noticed that my brake light doesn't come on with the ignition like it used to, but it does light only briefly when starting (then goes out as it should as engine runs). However my parking brake is on so guess there's a wire to check that is connected on that pedal? (Unless it has anything to do with my reverse light that has also stopped working?) I was worried no brake light at ignition was an alternator fault but the volt gauge is reading fine and battery is relatively new and holding charge fine. So nothing to really worry about then?
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bhm1712
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Posts: 2672
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 4:58 pm
Membership No: 20-607
Year: 2001
Model: Trans-Am WS6
Engine: 350
Name: Ian
Location: Nottingham
Location: Nottingham
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bhm1712 » Fri May 01, 2015 6:50 am

The switch is on the pedal assembly and there is a single wire coming from it which can get knocked with feet etc.

Another common issue is the lamp connection on the binnacle. The binnacle has a very simple and crude PCB on the back which peels away from the rear of the binnacle with age, and also the tracks can get worn down. Mine had the same issue and so I took it out and glued the PCB back down and built up the circuit board tracks with a bit of conductive paint to make a good connection for the lamp.

The brake light should not come on with the ignition turned on unless the park brake is applied. Oil and volts lamp should come on until the engine is running.

Try those!
Ian Hopkinson - Membership Manager & Forum Administrator
Northern England & Midlands Rep

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bigbadbob
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Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:11 pm
Year: 1980
Model: Trans Am
Engine: 406
Name: Rob
Location: Maidenhead
Location: Maidenhead
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bigbadbob » Fri May 01, 2015 12:45 pm

Oil and volts lamps? Don't remember ever seeing those but the oil pressure gauge and volt gauge certainly move when ignition switched on. Only ever had a red brake light appear. But then again, my clock (within tach) doesn't work either! Old electrics eh! lol. Thanks Ian.
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bhm1712
Site Admin
Posts: 2672
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 4:58 pm
Membership No: 20-607
Year: 2001
Model: Trans-Am WS6
Engine: 350
Name: Ian
Location: Nottingham
Location: Nottingham
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning light

Post by bhm1712 » Fri May 01, 2015 6:30 pm

ah you probably don't have the oil and volts lamp as you had original "Rallye" gauges installed from the factory. Some cars had warning lamps instead.
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Northern England & Midlands Rep

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