Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

brake warning light on

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:03 AM
  #1  
DupermanDave's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Northern Colorado :-(
brake warning light on

lately its been getting colder at night. Whenever i leave work to go home my brake warning light flicks on. I have the parking brake light switch disconnected below the dash, so this shouldnt be happening. ill start driving and it will flick on until i go over some rough bumps or wait until it goes off on its own. Whats up? Is this a warning for something?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:08 AM
  #2  
just a 22re's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 2
From: milwaukee, WI baby muddin in the streets!!
check your bake fluid is it low? or it could be the little dohicky inside the res that tells you its low make sure it moves nicely and free
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:16 AM
  #3  
Jay351's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 10
From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Well, on my truck, the e-brake doesnt retract 100% in the morning. So I have to drive a few mins and then push the handle down again. This turns it off... Are you sure your e-brake handle is fully depressing the switch?

Also check the fluid, fill it past full. giggle the sensor on the lid to make sure its working accuratly.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:17 AM
  #4  
just a 22re's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 2
From: milwaukee, WI baby muddin in the streets!!
the wire on the e-brake switch is diconected
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:28 AM
  #5  
Jay351's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 10
From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
My bad....im tired.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 10:35 AM
  #6  
Matt16's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 5
Mine does the same things when its been cold and I park on a hill. There's nothing wrong with the brakes on mine except the pads are wearing thin.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 11:25 AM
  #7  
22mr2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: new baltimore ny
Low brake fluid indicator? Id check the fluid level.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 11:31 AM
  #8  
Matt16's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by 22mr2
Low brake fluid indicator? Id check the fluid level.
When its cold, sometimes the light goes on anyways.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 12:32 PM
  #9  
DupermanDave's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Northern Colorado :-(
Fluid levels are okay. Could use a little more as it's on the "min" level. But everything else is okay. Checked the rear brakes to make sure they weren't still clapped onto the wheel. Everything is disengaged. When I drove to work I didn't get the light, but I know for certain tonight (it will be cold tonight) that the light will come on.

I was reading another thread for a newer 4-runner. The issue was almost the same, and the problem turned out to be the speed sensor. Do the 89 truck 4x4 models have a speed sensor, or is it just cable driven?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 12:41 PM
  #10  
Cyberman's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 0
From: Dillsburg, PA
I'd still say fill up the brake fluid, and see what happens. And what year is this 4Runner? The speed sensor they're talking about is probably for ABS.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 12:44 PM
  #11  
pwd's Avatar
pwd
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
From: North Bay, Ontario
After I replaces front brakes, I had the light come on. I topped the fluid up past the MAX and it has been fine ever since.I got that suggestion here on yotatech.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 02:46 PM
  #12  
blacklabel's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB
sounds like the brake failure warning valve aka pressure differential valve. you've probably got a leak somewhere in your brake system.. does the brake pedal travel far down to the firewall?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 02:52 PM
  #13  
apalmer1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: Bend, OR.
Originally Posted by DupermanDave
Fluid levels are okay. Could use a little more as it's on the "min" level. But everything else is okay. Checked the rear brakes to make sure they weren't still clapped onto the wheel. Everything is disengaged. When I drove to work I didn't get the light, but I know for certain tonight (it will be cold tonight) that the light will come on.

I was reading another thread for a newer 4-runner. The issue was almost the same, and the problem turned out to be the speed sensor. Do the 89 truck 4x4 models have a speed sensor, or is it just cable driven?
does your vehicle have ABS? that is the speed sensor they are reffering to. usually problems with the reluctance sensor turn on an ABS light though not a brake warning light. If you ebrake wire is unplugged fill the reservoir to the max and go from there. i dont think there are even any other warning indicators on a rig that old...
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 04:45 PM
  #14  
DupermanDave's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Northern Colorado :-(
Originally Posted by Cyberman
I'd still say fill up the brake fluid, and see what happens. And what year is this 4Runner? The speed sensor they're talking about is probably for ABS.
It was a 2005 4runner, I believe. My truck is an 89, though. Pretty sure it doesnt have ABS or even half the amount of sensors in a newer 2005 model.

I'll go ahead and fill up the brake fluid. I was going to do that anyway, along with the transmission fluid.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 06:14 PM
  #15  
blacklabel's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB
the brake system is a CLOSED system. if your fluid is low enough to throw the warning light then either A) you have a leak somewhere and you're loosing fluid, or B) your brake linings are VERY worn

either way i would have someone that knows what they are doing check it out for you.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 06:38 PM
  #16  
scuba's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,338
Likes: 120
From: Austin, Texas
Check your blinker fluid level

[/A-Hole mode]
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 06:41 PM
  #17  
Matt16's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by scuba
Check your blinker fluid level

[/A-Hole mode]
You mean the brake light fluid?

Last edited by Matt16; Oct 8, 2008 at 07:33 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 07:24 PM
  #18  
scuba's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,338
Likes: 120
From: Austin, Texas
Originally Posted by Matt16
You mean the brake light fluid?
No, i was just bored
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 07:32 PM
  #19  
Matt16's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by scuba
No, i was just bored
read it again, so was I.
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2008 | 01:13 AM
  #20  
cbrsport17's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Okinawa, Japan Originally from NJ
Originally Posted by pwd
After I replaces front brakes, I had the light come on. I topped the fluid up past the MAX and it has been fine ever since.I got that suggestion here on yotatech.

Same thing for me, after i bled the brakes when i installed the lift it started coming on, checked yotatech and found out that the light is for the brake fluid as well, so i filled it to max and havent seen the light come back on yet, unless i pull the parking brake....
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:20 AM.