I have a 1991 Toyota P/U 4x4 22RE.


The Brake Light on my Instrument Cluster sometimes stays on when I turn on my headlights, sometimes it goes off. Even with my headlights off, sometimes it goes on. Does not matter if I disengage the parking brake.


This is more of an annoyance than anything else.


Any ideas?

 

Checked your brake fluid level?

 

Front brake pads need replaced or you have a leak and need fluid.

 

I was going to make a sparty pants comment but I figured I would try and help. If you look in the FSM, at least on my 88 which is similar to yours...it can only be a few things.

The ground that is used for the indicator light is common for the low brake fluid switch and the parking brake switch. The output of these switches goes to the cruise control computer and your brake indicator light.

Either the switches are flaky or a wire is shorted to ground. Unplug the harnesses to the switches one by one and see if it goes away. If it doesn't then you have a short somewhere. That's a whole new can of worms.

 

Thanks for all the advice. My brake fluid level is good. No leaks in the system. My front break pads are good.


Seems like it could be a switch issue. Let me take a look at the FSM and get back to all of you.

 

I checked the 1993 FSM posted here on this page:
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...15troubles.pdf


See Part 3.


I assume the brake indicator light on my instrument cluster is the same at the "Rear Anti Lock" Warning Light?


The wires look alright. I think I will replace the switch. I checked o'reilly auto parts and they have a "Brake Switch" available. Is this the same as the "Parking Brake Switch" and "Brake Fluid Switch" mentioned by Admiral Yoda? if not, where do you recommend I purchase these switches?

I assume these switches are located under the dash, likely to the right of the steering column?

 

The parking brake light switch is near the shaft of the parking brake. This activates the brake light on the dash that you see flickering. This same dash light is also triggered by the cap on the brake fluid reservoir if the fluid reaches a certain level (low).

There is also a switch near the brake pedal that activates the brake lights. Thats most likely what you are seeing at Oriely. This switch is near the brake pedal pivot.

 

Where do you recommend I purchase a Parking Brake Light Switch? O'Reilly Auto Parts appears not to have them. I could try the dealer, but they usually charge totally outrageous prices.

 

Don't replace a part until you know it is broken and are sure that replacing it will fix your problem.
It could be a more advanced problem, like ABS, but wouldn't you like to check the simple things first, and buy less expensive parts, IF you really have to?

Try unplugging the connector to brake switch. IF the problem goes away, then it could be:

• A brake switch that's bad and is intermittently shorting even IF the mechanical adjustment is good.
• Brake switch mechanically stuck to almost (hence intermittent) closed position
• Just dirt on brake switch that causes it to stick - may be washed off
• Just dirt on brake switch that causes contact to short out- may be washed off.
• Poor mechanical adjustment, so switch does not open even when parking brake is released. There is usually a tab or a pin on the parking brake stem that depresses the switch button to open contact when P brake is in fully released position.