My indicator light for the parking brake does not work. I need it to work to pass a brake and lamp inspection to get tags. Last time car was registered was 20years ago. It passed smog no problem. I thought smog was going to be the hard part. But this parking brake indicator lamp is giving me more trouble. I've replaced the bulb switch. Still not working. Very simple system. Does anyone know where the "brake warning light checker" is? I can't find it . Only thing left I haven't checked.

 

Many times the issue with the is the tension on the end of the hand brake cable. Take the cover off the hand brake and there is a long "nut" with a slot that can be used to tension the cable. Not too tight/not to loose.

 

I'm trying to get the light to turn on. When the brake is on. The switch is open. Brake off ( no light) switch is closed to ground. Some where between the lever and the dash. The wire is going to ground. Adjusting the switch and cable was the first thing I did. But I'm starting to suspect it's a flood car. There is a lot of corrosion under the dash. Passed smog but can't get the tags because of this stupid light.

 

Yes - there is a switch on the hand brake itself that controls this and that adjustment does the control.

 

I know about that. But no matter how I adjust the switch and the cable. Light won't turn on. Even If I unplug the switch it should turn on. Because it's a normally closed switch. Open turns it on.

 

I just checked the wiring diagram and that switch is not normally closed. It is normally open and applies a path to ground to activate the dash light.

 

Your right about the switch. It's normally closed. I check continuity on all the wires and the board on the back of the dash. Including the brake master level sensor. All check out. So I took a spare console light that I had. The little ones from back of the fan control on fb's. Plugs right in the dash. Found 12v and wired the switch to ground. Hand brake idiot light working. Now the car can get tags and a license plate. Not cool riding with no registration or license plates. They wouldn't even give the car temporary tags until it passed brake and lamp inspection. Even though the car passed smog with flying colors. In California that's no easy task. They do a load test on the rollers at 2500 rpm and idle. Newer cars they don't even use the sniffer in the exhaust. Thanks KC

 

Nice work getting it fixed.