Oil pressure guage light help

[puddy]

This afternoon while driving home from the track I had these two lights come on. Can you tell me what they both mean? I took this picture while the car was sitting in my garage but on the road the pressure needle was fine, up around 4 or 5 where it usually is while driving.

[J-Mac]

Top one is your parking brake and other is your alternater light. If that is lit it usually signifies that the alternater is not charging your battery.

[puddy]

Ok that's strange. I just reassembled my parking brakes last week but have driven the car a bunch since I did that, with no light.

The fact that both came on at the size time perhaps there is something else wrong?

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by puddy

Ok that's strange. I just reassembled my parking brakes last week but have driven the car a bunch since I did that, with no light.

The fact that both came on at the size time perhaps there is something else wrong?

For the parking brake, have a look at the parking brake lever/switch wire,

most probably grounded, as is also for the oil light.

Gerry

[HaroldMHedge]

I agree with Gerry that since both lights came on at the same time, it's most likely to be a ground.

It's also important to realize that a generator light on the older air cooled cars could mean the belt is broken and you have lost cooling air to the engine. If I get a generator light, the car is shutdown until I ensure I still have cooling.

[puddy]

Hmmm my car is a hotrod and there is to parking break switch that is active.

[donporfi]

But probably the cable for the parking brake is loose and it is grounded and that closes the circuit for the indicator lights.
When you cancelled the parking brake switch did you isolate the cable ?

[puddy]

When I reinstalled the parking brake cables last week they were tighter than ever, I don't think thats my problem.

[donporfi]

I mean the electric cable that goes to the parking brake switch, probably it is not connected.

[E Sully]

The brake light is also activated by the sender on the brake master cylinder.

[RedCoupe]

I would check battery voltage at idle to see if the alternator is charging.

[puddy]

OK i'll check voltage on battery first.

My car is a 1975 so i think it's wiring harness is much simpler than the SC's etc that can have brake warning lights when theres a problem with fluid levels or master cylinder. I dont seems to have any wires loose or worn on my parking brake handle or pedal box.

[E Sully]

This is for a 1973, and should be very similar to yours. If your wiring on the gauge is correct, neither indicator would affect the other.

The light for the alternator is lit when the voltage on the blue wire from the alternator is less than the battery voltage. With the engine running abround 1,500 or more you should read 13.5V or slightly more.

The brake warning light is activated by the parking brake contact and the master cylinder sender.