Brake light is on.... and it won't turn off!!

[PrOxLaMuS©]

Well, in my '78 280Z...

and everyone else's Z.. when you pull up the E-Brake, the brake light on the tachometer lights up correct? I thought that brake light was only for the E-Brake...

however a few weeks ago I ran out of brake fluid and the light lit up, and would not turn off. I had my E-Brake down, and it was still lit, so i opened the hood and filled up the depleted brake fluid.

Now a few weeks later, my brake light is back on, and I checked the E-Brake sensor, checked all the fluids and it's all fine, but the lgiht will not come off. But now my brakes are beginning to squeek and the light is on...

why does the Brake light .. "light" up and what in the world could be wrong with it?

[Daniel]

Two choices.1)the emer brake switch is bad or such.Disconnect one side of the switch to see if it turns the light off.2)The 280 I think has the master cyl.switches in the caps.Check the wires/connectors and Look inside the caps for A stuck float or however those switches work.See if they feel the same when you move them.Disconnect one at a time to see if the light goes off.Remember those/that master cylinder switch has not been used in a long time easy to believe it stuck.Work it by hand a few times

[Z Babe]

PrOxLaMuS, since you "ran out of brake fluid":

1. Your loss of brake fluid could indicate a leak somewhere, so it would be a good idea to inspect the entire brake system for fluid leakage.

2. It is possible that you now have air in the brake lines. The brake warning light detects brake line pressure, and lights up when there is a 185-242 lb./sq. in. pressure difference between the front and rear brake systems. Also, the "squeaking noise" you're hearing could be caused from lack of brake fluid, due to air in the lines. You might try bleeding the brakes and see if the light goes off.

If the light is still on, that could mean you have a bad master cylinder. And, Daniel's suggestions were also excellent.

[Daniel]

ERRR--- AHHH---O.K--5 choices. Welcome Zbabe.I like your line of thinking.

[Z Babe]

Awe, thank you, Daniel. :classic:

[EScanlon]

I agree with Z Babe; that fluid didn't evaporate. I would be VERY cautious with a brake system that mysteriously went on a diet and lost liquid.

Remember guys, these are CLOSED systems. They're not exposed to the air, nor is venting of excess liquid part of their design.

Look below the Master Vac Boost, if the paint is peeling up from your frame, or on the boost canister itself, more than likely you blew a master cylinder.

2¢

[PrOxLaMuS©]

gotta love bad news.. really do

I will be taking it into a brake place tomarrow to have the whole thing looked at and inspected.

I did check all the wires and the floating thing on both the Master and the Slave cylinders. It is weird that it all disappeared, but I had no paint peeling, or any signs of leakage. However, when I looked at my passenger front fender well, I could see somethin was leaking, and the brake line looked like it was loosing pressure to the passnger front disc brake.

Or it's something else.

Z Babe... i'm so glad you joined the forum... gotta love it

[Z Babe]

Awe, thank you!