Parking Brake (Emergency Brake) on '68 RR ??

[Chi Town Runner]

On my '68 RR is the "Brake Light" on the dash supposed to illuminate when the parking brake is applied?
Mine doesn't but don't know if supposed to.

Thanks all.

 

[roadrunnerh]

Yes.

 

[Chi Town Runner]

Yes.

Thanks

 

[threewood]

There is a switch on the pedal that grounds when the pedal is pushed. Make sure the plunger works and it is plugged in.

 

[Basket case]

and the dash light isn't burnt out.

 

[Chi Town Runner]

No. The dash light is functional.

 

[Chi Town Runner]

A little description where the switch is located in relation to the parking brake pedal.

Thanks again

 

[Basket case]

look at the E Brake Pedal itself....follow it upward...you'll see a switch like the domelight switch in the door post. Might be a broke switch, or the wire to the switch.

 

[Chi Town Runner]

look at the E Brake Pedal itself....follow it upward...you'll see a switch like the domelight switch in the door post. Might be a broke switch, or the wire to the switch.

OK

Thanks

 

[Chi Town Runner]

Ok. Problem not solved.
Please bear with me as I try to describe the issue and my question afterworld as I try to explain my problem.
I get a "BRAKE" light intermittingly lighting and/or flickering on the instrument panel. (on occasion)
I checked brake fluid - OK
The light NEVER illuminated when my "parking brake" had been engaged since I had the car since 1996..

Based upon info provide by "Basket case" here, which I truly value, I checked for the switch on the parking brake.

I found the gromet for the switch and found the drawing in my "Service Manual"
No switch there. No errant wire visible either....

When I checked my wiring diagram it shows the wire from the "Brake Failure Warning" (from the distribution block for the brakes) and that connects to the "Brake Light Switch".

On my brake pedal there is the brake light switch connection and a second elect connector. Could that be the connection from the parking brake?
I don't need a "Brake warning light" for my parking brake.
Its a 4-speed car so I always engage the parking brake and never leave without disengaging it.
I can't any think what the second connector on my brake pedal is for other than the parking brake.

Any thoughts.
Thanks for bearing with me on this.

 

[TT from NH]

I am pretty sure the (emergency) brake light is/should be activated by one thing only: the emergency brake pedal. Pressing the normal brake pedal should NOT activate the light. The (emergency) brake light is only there to remind you that you left the emergency brake engaged. That said, you may have at least two issues: 1) As you've identified, you're missing the plunger switch (and associated wiring) at the emergency brake; this would explain why engaging the parking brake doesn't light up the bulb. 2) There's a short somewhere that occasionally closes the brake light circuit, lighting up the bulb. I would use your electrical wiring diagram to chase the wire back from the bulb through the ignition switch to the bulkhead connector and then, from the engine compartment side, chase the wiring from the bulkhead connector to the plunger switch (which you may want to buy). Even if you decide NOT to put the plunger switch in, you may discover what's shorting out to cause the flickering. I don't have my RR manual anymore (sold my 69 a while back) but I suspect it's similar to my Coronet in which case, you may want to focus your attention on the W slot on your bulkhead connector. The W slot is the lowest slot on the left hand side as you're looking at the connector in the engine compartment. I'm guessing there might be a loose wire or a cut wire that might be grounding out. ...or not: electrical is mind-numbing....

 

[bobsgtx]

I think it is also connected to the brake pressure differential switch.

 

[Bird 426]

Can not think of a reason why someone would cut the switch wire, it's probably hiding under there somewhere. Bouncing around and making occasional contact.

 

[hunt2elk]

I am pretty sure the (emergency) brake light is/should be activated by one thing only: the emergency brake pedal. Pressing the normal brake pedal should NOT activate the light. The (emergency) brake light is only there to remind you that you left the emergency brake engaged. That said, you may have at least two issues: 1) As you've identified, you're missing the plunger switch (and associated wiring) at the emergency brake; this would explain why engaging the parking brake doesn't light up the bulb. 2) There's a short somewhere that occasionally closes the brake light circuit, lighting up the bulb. I would use your electrical wiring diagram to chase the wire back from the bulb through the ignition switch to the bulkhead connector and then, from the engine compartment side, chase the wiring from the bulkhead connector to the plunger switch (which you may want to buy). Even if you decide NOT to put the plunger switch in, you may discover what's shorting out to cause the flickering. I don't have my RR manual anymore (sold my 69 a while back) but I suspect it's similar to my Coronet in which case, you may want to focus your attention on the W slot on your bulkhead connector. The W slot is the lowest slot on the left hand side as you're looking at the connector in the engine compartment. I'm guessing there might be a loose wire or a cut wire that might be grounding out. ...or not: electrical is mind-numbing....

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The warning light should also come on if pressure is lost in the hydraulic system.

 

[TT from NH]

I was wondering if there was something else that might trigger the brake light but I just couldn't see in the the electrical diagram where that other something linked to the brake light bulb. Maybe it's the P2-18BK wire in Diagram #3.... (God, I hate electrical....)

 

[TT from NH]

Here are a couple more pics of the e-brake plunger switch and mounting bracket if you need them. (If the plunger and mounting bracket are missing, these pics might help.)