Brake light now on. Loose connection?

[mholbrook38]

I have been working around under the dash for a couple weeks now getting a new stereo installed. Everything is in and works fine and a couple days ago the brake light (under the seat belt light) by the ash tray comes on and won't go out.

In the past, this indicated that the hand brake was not fully down. Now it won't go off. I can't see a microswitch around the hand brake so I guess it must be under the car? Could I have bumped a connection which might have caused the light to stay on.

The hand brake works properly and is not dragging and does stop the car well. I can feel it working correctly on both sides so I don't think there is a fault in the brake. The tail lights also seem to be working correctly. Brake and tail lights.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by mholbrook38

I have been working around under the dash for a couple weeks now getting a new stereo installed. Everything is in and works fine and a couple days ago the brake light (under the seat belt light) by the ash tray comes on and won't go out.

In the past, this indicated that the hand brake was not fully down. Now it won't go off. I can't see a microswitch around the hand brake so I guess it must be under the car? Could I have bumped a connection which might have caused the light to stay on.

The hand brake works properly and is not dragging and does stop the car well. I can feel it working correctly on both sides so I don't think there is a fault in the brake. The tail lights also seem to be working correctly. Brake and tail lights.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

According to my Bentley, for the '86, the parking brake switch is located at the rear of the hand brake bracket.

[porschenut]

Try disconnecting the battery ground cable for a few minutes, then reconnect. This is the typical procedure to extinguish the light. It just needs a reset. Of course, if that doesn't work, the switch would be the likely culprit.

[rs6er]

Search on here. There are many posts about this, including the switches on the master cylinder. I gave up and disconnected the light.

[86 911 Targa]

Here are the schematics for the '84 (Bentley), and the '86 (factory manual).

Hope it helps.

And please let the members know.

Good luck,

Gerry

[Winter]

I'm sure you've already checked, but is your brake fluid level correct? Not familiar with your car, so maybe you have a different light to alert you to that, but thought I'd throw it out there just in case the problem isn't related to the install you did, and just happened - coincidentally - at the same time.

Good luck.

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Tom '75 targa