e brake light stays on, blinks sometimes

[mc89chevy]

so my brake light on my dash has been on for a year and a half now and its getting annoying. i dont want to just cover it up, just wondering why it does this. it just started blinking about a week ago, and its random (if you know what im trying to say) but it just started after i was in a fender bender and had to replace the brake light switch on the brake pedal. any ideas?

[hornsfan10609]

It could be your e-brake handle is worn out and it doesn't retract all the way so it triggers the light, or you have a stored code for a problem with the brake system and you're truck is trying to tell you about it.

[mc89chevy]

i know i have a super miniscule brake fluid leak (im talking it goes down a half inch every 6 months at least) but i just didnt think that an 89 was that high-tech to tell me about it:eek:

[Chevy Fireman]

Mine does this. To fix it i pull the e brake release and use my foot to pull the foot pedal all the way towards me. The spring is gone just enough to not retract it all the way.

[BHB]

Might be time to replace the master cylinder.

[ksukats57]

if you had a problem in the brake sys wouldnt the abs light be the one to light up? i thought the whole purpose of the other light was to remind you your ebrake was on

[BHB]

ABS light will come on if there is an ABS fault. If the master cylinder is failing, the brake light will come on.

[ksukats57]

ABS light will come on if there is an ABS fault. If the master cylinder is failing, the brake light will come on.

Good to know.

[twobluechevy]

Yea mine came on a few months ago when i got a pin hole in my brake line...

[mc89chevy]

what wuld cause it to blink sparatically?

[hornsfan10609]

if you had a problem in the brake sys wouldnt the abs light be the one to light up? i thought the whole purpose of the other light was to remind you your ebrake was on
His truck doesn't have an ABS light in the cluster.

[gotnitro]

i have the same problem, bu mine started after i got my radio put in. there is no codes coming up on the computer and none of the brakes are sticking also theres not a leak. the light just comes on whenever you get into 3rd gear then it just stays on till the truck gets turned off

[Trolin]

My step dads 1995 had the e-brake light come on after I installed a new head unit. He blamed me but I told him to check out his brakes. He took it to the shop and ended up getting some new pads and rotors turned, and new shoes and such in the back. Long story short when he left the shop the light was off and hasn't had any problems since.

[ChadM89]

My '90 does the same thing. It was just staying on all the time, but lately it's been blinking.

I took it to a mechanic for a code diagnostic and he told me that it's the ABS computer. It's a black box attached to your master cylinder. Over time those will just stop working and that's when you'll get the dash light issue.

The ABS on our trucks only worked on the rear brakes, so not having the system working doesn't pose any particular danger since 90% of your stopping comes from your front brakes. I just ignore the light. If I get bothered enough, I'll pick up a replacement ABS module (they're about a hundred bucks) and replace it.

[dave89iroc]

My '90 does the same thing. It was just staying on all the time, but lately it's been blinking.

I took it to a mechanic for a code diagnostic and he told me that it's the ABS computer. It's a black box attached to your master cylinder. Over time those will just stop working and that's when you'll get the dash light issue.

The ABS on our trucks only worked on the rear brakes, so not having the system working doesn't pose any particular danger since 90% of your stopping comes from your front brakes. I just ignore the light. If I get bothered enough, I'll pick up a replacement ABS module (they're about a hundred bucks) and replace it.
if you want the light to go out, unplug the black electrical connector at the ABS module

[Motley aka Yeti]

not trying to thread jack but i'm worried about this. i've been having this problem too. over the past 3 months i've been battling the brakes. at first the ABS and Ebrake light were one. plundered around and found one of the ABS lines was snapped. reconnected it and the ABS light went off. my ebrake does not even work. replace every part in the brake system except the lines and master cylinder. so would me Ebrake light staying on and my crappy feeling brakes be due to a dying Master Cylinder? please help guys

[t-money22]

i just put in a new head unit takin out the factory stero and cassette deck. in my 91 and thats when my brake light started comin on. ive had the truck for a couple years and havnt done the rear brakes yet but it was also sittin for a bout a year. so its only been driven for about a year. and my power booster is leaking too. so i know its time to replace that. doin all that crap this weekend.

[SPED]

My '90 does the same thing. It was just staying on all the time, but lately it's been blinking.

I took it to a mechanic for a code diagnostic and he told me that it's the ABS computer. It's a black box attached to your master cylinder. Over time those will just stop working and that's when you'll get the dash light issue.

The ABS on our trucks only worked on the rear brakes, so not having the system working doesn't pose any particular danger since 90% of your stopping comes from your front brakes. I just ignore the light. If I get bothered enough, I'll pick up a replacement ABS module (they're about a hundred bucks) and replace it.

What he said, mine was the module too, replaced it for about 100 and no more light, although i think if i had to do it over again i'd unplug it, cuz the rear abs works like a$$.