Emergency Brake Warning light problem

[Michael J.]

In going through my '66 L79 coupe, I now need to tackle the tough stuff, like the emergency (parking) brake warning light on the dash. The light does not work. But before I buy a new switch, bulb, etc. I have tested the single wire coming into the switch at the base of the brake shaft and it shows no voltage. I am assuming it should, since when it is closed (out) the brake is engaged and the light on the dash should light, right?

Also, there is a light bulb hanging down behind the instrument cluster with a beige socket that is on whenever the ignition key is on. I am worried this is the emergency brake light that was pulled from the upper dash mount and was driving the previous owner nuts with the red "brake" light on all the time!

Any help in diagnosing this is welcome. I am sure putting that bulb back in the mount on the upper dash will test my back!

[Peter J.]

Re: Emergency Brake Warning light problem

Michael,
My parking brake socket is black and the wires are: Pink & dark yellow. This is a repop Harness but I have the original if nobody else chimes in and I can send you a pic if needed.
Pete

[John H.]

Re: Emergency Brake Warning light problem

Michael -

The park brake warning bulb socket has two wires on it - the pink one is power (from the top fuse in the fuse block) with the key in "on" or "accessory", and the other one is tan, and runs to the switch on the parking brake shaft, which is open with the handle in the released position. When you pull the parking brake handle, the switch closes, grounding the circuit, and the light comes on.

You should see power on the tan wire at the switch with the key on. If not, either the fuse is blown (which also serves the coil, gas gauge, gas tank sending unit, and temperature gauge), or the bulb is bad, with an open across the filament. The bulb socket doesn't have to be in the cluster to work - the tan wire is the ground.

[Michael J.]

Re: Emergency Brake Warning light problem

OK, thanks, yes the wires in the dangling bulb socket are pink and dark yellow. And it does come on when you turn the key on. But the rest of everything in my instrument cluster works fine, just no power going to the switch at the base of the parking brake shaft. If the bulb is working, maybe I can splice in a jumper wire from the dark yellow (tan?) wire on the bulb socket to the dark yellow (tan?) wire going to the switch on the parking brake shaft? Sounds like that is the same wire, right? Thanks for all the help.