What is this warning light?

[rennch]

I have a 69 911 with stock gauges. On my main tach, the red light obviously goes off when the engine gets up to speed. The top yellow light only *sometimes* shuts off though...often it's on as I'm driving.

I know my fluids (Oil and tranny) are fine...what does this gauge do? Is it brake related?

It's the top light in this image:

[rennch]

Oh, and before you freak out, the car was off when this was taken. My oil pressure isn't that bad.

[Pkaaso]

That's the "Change Engine" light...

[rennch]

Cool...I'll throw that 3.6 in then. Thanks!

[Jagshund]

Parking brake?

[rennch]

Well, that's when it shuts off. I need to find the switch or something...what makes it turn on and off? Is it directly connected to the eBrake handle?

[cmonref]

There's a switch at the rear of the parking brake handle. Pull up the carpet to expose the brake handle, remove the bolts that hold down the handle to get to the switch.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Brian K. Haggard

There's a switch at the rear of the parking brake handle. Pull up the carpet to expose the brake handle, remove the bolts that hold down the handle to get to the switch.

You may only need to adujst the switch so you can save some effort. On the passenger side of the brake handle, near the base, you can see a screw--that adjusts the position of the switch. Release the brake completely, them pull it up one "click". Loosen the screw and slide the switch up or dow until it just lights the warning light on the dash (don't forget to turn on the ignition.). Tighten the screw and you're done.

BTW, the dash light is also wired to the master cylinder warning lights, at least on some later cars--not sure about the 69. You may want to investigate there if the E-brake switch adjustment doesn't solve your problem.

[rennch]

Ok, thanks all...

Question...what does the master cylinder warning light indicate? Low brake pressure?

[911Etarga]

The top light will blink if you have a Master Cylinder problem. It will stay solid if your E-brake is on. Are your brakes mushy?

[911Etarga]

I believe it blinks because of low pressure in your master cylinder.

[rennch]

The light is staying on solid. I'm going to try and adjust the sensor first, and if that doesn't work, go from there...

[jlandreth]

There is a pressure switch on the master cyl.It's under a rubber boot.Try pushing the "button" in and see if the light goes off

[Christien]

Originally Posted by 911Etarga

The top light will blink if you have a Master Cylinder problem. It will stay solid if your E-brake is on. Are your brakes mushy?

Are you sure? Mine's the opposite - it blinks when the parking brake is on. My parking brake is all out of adjustment and I couldn't get it to stop blinking, so I just disconnected the lightbulb. And my brakes are fine - 2 year old master cylinder and tons of pressure (as was evidenced by some ********* in traffic in front of me last week, causing me to lock up all 4 wheels to avoid an accident).

I always assumed that a solid light was a warning for low oil pressure, hence the label "oel".

[911Etarga]

The bottom one on mine is the oil pressure light. It's a '71...might be different. The oil light in my car comes on when I start it and it is idling. When I rev it up the light goes off. Does this sound familiar?

[Christien]

Really? Never seen that before. Not that I'm an expert, by any means, but all the early cars I've ever seen have been oil on top, alternator on the bottom. In any event, the pic posted above says oil.

[911Etarga]

Maybe my wires/bulbs are in the wrong holes?

[Christien]

Could be - if you've ever had your gauges out you know how easy it is to mix them up! Whenever I pull a bulb I always make sure to wrap a piece of tape around it and label it, even if it's something like "9:00" or "far left". What does your gauge face say? There should be a little G symbol for generator, or alternator.

[911Etarga]

It looks the same as emptyo's.....

[rennch]

I don't know if that's the oil light...I've heard it's the brake light definitively. But, there are plenty smarter than I. Is it possible it's an oil light? If so, what is it connecting to?