DieselDetroit
I'm Awesome
Hey guys, so I had this issue on my last truck (93). I ended up disconnecting the RWAL black box, and the e brake light turned off. I spent months looking for a functioning black box, couldn't find one, and gave up.
So I got this new truck last year (94), took the cluster out, replaced a bunch of bulbs, and noticed that my E brake light stayed on again. Being the expert that I am, I just unplug the black box, but it didn't solve my issue. I did notice that in my last vehicle, The E brake light was dim, and once applying the E break, would brigen further. But this vehicle, the light was as bright as it could get, and applying the E break didn't brighten it anymore. I checked around for a Siezed e break, and I made sure that my E brake pedal was in the Fully disengaged position, but still no luck.
I then went under the hood and started disconnecting the sensors going to the black box. And the light was still on! I noticed a little tiny plug on top of the proportioning valve. I unplugged it, and the light went off. OK, I just left it like that for a few months.
Fast forward a couple of months, I took off my rear drums, and noticed that the shoes were completely cracked and in one instance almost broken in half. The rear brakes were so seized that I had to use a blowtorch on the toothed adjusters, and I had to replace the wheel cylinder, and both hardlines going to the rear brakes. The first time I bled the brakes, I didn't do a very good job. I noticed my E brake light will turn on and off if I pump the brakes. After properly bleeding the brakes, I noticed that my E brake light turned off.
My guess is what happens in the end, is that there is a little tiny sensor inside the proportional valve, and if it is maxed out or all the way to one side, it will throw a brake code. I remember on my old truck, 1993, there was actually a way of diagnosing a lit e break light. It almost behaved like a check engine light if I remember correctly.
Anyways, I know this is a bit of an essay, but hopefully it helps someone. The first thing to note, is if the light is dim or brightly lit, and then go from there. I guess this truck I'm driving hasn't had a rear brakes since I've owned it.
So I got this new truck last year (94), took the cluster out, replaced a bunch of bulbs, and noticed that my E brake light stayed on again. Being the expert that I am, I just unplug the black box, but it didn't solve my issue. I did notice that in my last vehicle, The E brake light was dim, and once applying the E break, would brigen further. But this vehicle, the light was as bright as it could get, and applying the E break didn't brighten it anymore. I checked around for a Siezed e break, and I made sure that my E brake pedal was in the Fully disengaged position, but still no luck.
I then went under the hood and started disconnecting the sensors going to the black box. And the light was still on! I noticed a little tiny plug on top of the proportioning valve. I unplugged it, and the light went off. OK, I just left it like that for a few months.
Fast forward a couple of months, I took off my rear drums, and noticed that the shoes were completely cracked and in one instance almost broken in half. The rear brakes were so seized that I had to use a blowtorch on the toothed adjusters, and I had to replace the wheel cylinder, and both hardlines going to the rear brakes. The first time I bled the brakes, I didn't do a very good job. I noticed my E brake light will turn on and off if I pump the brakes. After properly bleeding the brakes, I noticed that my E brake light turned off.
My guess is what happens in the end, is that there is a little tiny sensor inside the proportional valve, and if it is maxed out or all the way to one side, it will throw a brake code. I remember on my old truck, 1993, there was actually a way of diagnosing a lit e break light. It almost behaved like a check engine light if I remember correctly.
Anyways, I know this is a bit of an essay, but hopefully it helps someone. The first thing to note, is if the light is dim or brightly lit, and then go from there. I guess this truck I'm driving hasn't had a rear brakes since I've owned it.
