dash brake light goes on and off

[deepsleep]

The light for the ebrake goes on and goes off sometimes. I don't think its engaging though.

I've driven on some harsh gravel roads and stuff, could something be loose?

[85crownHPP]

The return spring on the pedals can go weak and not disengage the switch all the way. try pulling up on the pedal and see if that helps.

[deepsleep]

The return spring on the pedals can go weak and not disengage the switch all the way. try pulling up on the pedal and see if that helps.

I'll go try it out. So if it does go away from lifting it up, is the spring a easy fix?

[deepsleep]

okay so lifting the brake didnt seem to turn the light off but sometimes it will turn off after I let go of the brake quickly or something but then it turns back on.

[Archangel]

It's the contact switch on the e-brake pedal assembly, mine used to do that stuff as well, only it was so long ago that I don't remember how I fixed it... may have just pulled the wire off it.

[GM_Guy]

Check your brake fluid level.

Alex.

[85crownHPP]

You may also have a small fluid leak - check your wheel cylinders. My 85's light acted that way after I blew one out during a panic stop (some moron stopped dead in the road around a blind curve... for a groundhog)

[deepsleep]

The brake fluid level looks okay but its hard to see cause its so freakin dirty. How do i open that thing up?

And I really hope its not the wheel cylinder because I put in a brand new one 6 months ago...

[gadget73]

cap should be a 1/4 turn and pull off sort of deal if I'm not mistaken.

There isn't any brake fluid level sender on these cars though, so fluid level won't trip the light.

You have 2 wheel cylinders, one on each back wheel.

[deepsleep]

cap should be a 1/4 turn and pull off sort of deal if I'm not mistaken.

There isn't any brake fluid level sender on these cars though, so fluid level won't trip the light.

You have 2 wheel cylinders, one on each back wheel.

The wheel cylinders are the things inside the drum brake right? I had those replaced like 6 months ago... I'll check those but first, what about the "contact switch" thing on the ebrake JDG talked about?

[GM_Guy]

There isn't any brake fluid level sender on these cars though, so fluid level won't trip the light.

I thought he had an '89, which does have a sender.

Alex.

[gadget73]

88, which I don't believe does.

yes, wheel cylinders are inside the drum. One on each side.

Could be the parking brake switch. I dont quite know how it comes out, but there is a wire that you should be able to see plugged into the switch if you look up under the dash at the e-brake pedal assembly. Unplug the wire and see if the flickering goes away. That will tell you if its the parking brake or something else.

[deepsleep]

Okay I'll try unhooking the wire tomorrow, hope its just that.