The brake light on the dash comes on intermittently, and it happens while driving, and after I've just released the hand brake sometimes. Is the idiot light important or could it be just telling me the 'system' needs to be serviced? Also, I had no idea this truck had antilock brakes when I bought it But that light came on once or twice during the 1400 mile trip too. Only stayed on for 30 seconds, but still The brakes seemed to suck on the steep grades, and I'm not sure if they are overheating or not? The rear are drum/shoe rigs from what I figured out by reading the Hannes manual. I had the front brakes checked out before I left, and the rotors and pads were ok. The rear drums did not come off, but were hand tested by me and the mechanic I took it too and he said they seemed ok.
check your reservoir..probably low on oil..it comes on when your driving because the oil sloshes around tripping the sensor
When the brake light comes on like that then it can mean your alternator is possibly going bad. The light is a warning on these trucks to let you know that something is wrong. Go have the alternator check along with the battery cause its always better to be safe then sorry!
I've had three mini's and the E-brake dummy light has been a bitch on all of them, I always have to reset it to get the light off after disengadging the E-Brake, never hurts to test the alt.
awesome, cuz mine has been doing this to me lately as well, i kno i need to put some new brake pads on too but that light is pissing me off, as well as my truck sounding like its gonna die while its idle-ing. spits black smoke too. any ideas?
Me too on the brake fluid reservoir. Check the little float inside cap and make sure there's enough fluid for it rise up. Also make sure the e-brake handle isn't making the light come on.
Black smoke would tell me your running rich. If it's idling rough and almost shutting off, check for misfire on one or more of your cylinders... that would definitely cause a rich condition. Start by pulling plugs to see which one is fouling out. The white part in the center of the plug should be a nice shade of light brown. If it's covered in oil or gas, change them out and see if it clears up (Don't forget to gap them). Then work your way back through the wires( no burn marks in the wire from arching or connections falling off), and then check your cap and rotor. Scrape off any oxidation or pitting that is forming on the little tabs that hang down inside the cap and tip of the rotor. Also check the little carbon contact in the center of the inside of the cap. If any of it is worn down, replace them. Good luck
Thanks Guys, I do always set the hand brake (E brake) when I park the truck prior to shutting off the engine. I figured out that the *Brake!* light must be connected to the hand brake because it would go off if I messed with the hand brake sometimes. Other times it would stay on or come on out of the blue. I am going to pull the rear wheels tomorrow and check the shoes. If they need to be replaced I'm getting new hardware kits and shoes to throw on. Fluid level is ok in the resiovor, but my spelling sucks! Testing the alternator is something I did not think of as it's a newly remanufactured unit, that seems to be keeping the battery at full charge and nothing is dimming while on.
