Weird newbie Question - Speedo related

[Ricklandia]

Gents,

I am working to buy a '73 240 from out of my area (another state), and the owner sent me a video as he drove the car. I noticed that on there was a red indicator light on the speedometer just under the the odometer. Can someone please tell me what this light "indicates"? The light did not got out immediately after engine start, but did go out after about 30 sec of driving. Since the Z's have an oil pressure guage (correct?) I don't think it's that. Can someone clue me in? So far, I think I'm getting a rather sweet deal on this car so I don't want to wizz off the seller with too many nagging questions. :tapemouth

Many thanks in advance!

[sblake01]

On my 78, that light indicates that either the emergency brake is on or the brake fluid level is low. A 73, if I reacall doesn't have the sensors in the caps for the brake fluid level. Are you sure he was driving? Maybe he was just warming up the car and still had the emergency brake on during that 30 sec period.

[Ricklandia]

On my 78, that light indicates that either the emergency brake is on or the brake fluid level is low. A 73, if I reacall doesn't have the sensors in the caps for the brake fluid level. Are you sure he was driving? Maybe he was just warming up the car and still had the emergency brake on during that 30 sec period.

He was definitely driving the car. If the indicator light is for the parking brake then I'm not worried. If it's for the brake fluid level then that brings up some questions. Any 240 owners out there wanna add thier $0.02? The light did go out at the second stop sign he came to. He took the car out on suburban streets and although not "hustling" the car, he wasn't babying it either so it's either not a concern of brake pressure or he's got real big ones!

[MikeW]

The indicator light is definitely for the parking brake. My understanding is that the light also comes on if there's an imbalance in the system. This is often caused by low fluid but it's not like there's a float in the reservoir that measures the fluid level. The fact that it went back out immediately after braking simply sounds like the imbalance was temporarily resolved.

[deadflo]

My parking brake light on my 71 will come on or stay on if the parking brake is not quite fully relased. if I push it down to the console, the light goes off.

[Ricklandia]

Thanks guys. By the way the guy was drivin the car, it certainly didn't seem like he was concerned at all about it. Hopefully (HOPEFULLY!) I'll be able to post the news that the ride is mine sometime soon. The seller is getting rid of the car as he is so busy he never has time for it. Because of that very reason, getting the transaction done (via emails and phone calls) has been agonizingly slow (for me, I would like to have the car in my garage YESTERDAY!) but I'm trying to be patient as I can completely understand where he's coming from.