Parking brake light problem

I have a 02 Taco 4x4 and for some reason when i release the parking brake and the handle goes all the way in to push on the switch and make the light go off on the dash the spring tension in the switch pushes the handle back toward me enough to make the brake light on the dash come back on again. I got under the dash looking for an adjustment on the switch but did not find one. I looked in my Haynes manual for answers but found nothing on it...just how to do the adjustment for brake engagement. I had an 84 many yrs ago and seem to remember it having a spring that when the parking brake was released it forced the handle into the dash engaging the switch. Any ideas or fixes would be much appreciated!!!!!

 

Normally when the light comes on w/ the e-brake not engaged its low brake fluid level. Have you checked that?

 

yes...checked that....i know its the parking brake switch pushing the handle because i watched it do it under the dash and when i push the handle back the light goes off....theres just too much play in the handle and i do not know if that can be tightened up or not

 

Wow. Thank you Tacomaworld.

I just went wheeling at the dunes last night and I hit some big whoops that loosened my driver's side brake banjo bolt. Had to tighten it up and bleed it on the trail. Then my E-brake light kept coming on, and I thought it actually had to do with my E-brake.

Well, you just saved me a day of pointless tinkering.

 

Welcome. That is what we are hear for. And sometimes we over look the little things that can be a simple fix in a hardship time. Glad we can help.

 

Thanks!!!! I'll give it a shot and let ya know if it worked or not....

 

Well....I gave what you suggested a shot and it worked like a charm!!! After working in the WD40 i put some grease on all the moving parts, the lever pivot and the cable pivots. Works great now and pulls the brake handle into the switch nice and snug.....thanks for the suggestion!!! What a great forum....

 

A little lube can go a long way...

And for me, I just went to Autozone, bought a 3 dollar thing of brake fluid, topped it off, and proceeded to go wheeling again!

 

shit im having the same problem, but mine will come on and off when i hit a bump, im not sure if some one said that but good thing i found this page, now im going to try the things you guys said, thanks

 

Mine did the same thing.....bumps would make it go on and i would have to push the brake handle back down to get it to go out...very annoying!!! all is better now....hope it works for you too....I am learning quickly that under chasis lubrication is a must whether you go off road or not

 

well thanks alot guys, i did what you guys said, sprayed so lubrication and added some brake fluid and the light stopped coming on, i think i was low on fluid but i blind and i thought it was in the middle and it was low. stupid of me but its all good now. thanks alot guys

 

This happens to me too! except that it happens on the street. off stop lights, when i accelerate the Ebrake light will come on, and then after shifting it will go off... It so annoying

 

Thanks for posting about this CMAK. Worked perfectly!

 

Yeah the taco's are finicky on the fluid level when it gets close to the line on the reservoir. Found that out the hard way too...lol Damn thing will look like it still has enough in it but the light will be on.

 

I have a 2001 Tacoma 2x Reg cab. For a while now, my brake light on the dashboard would light-up every time I hit a bump in the road. So instead of using WD-40, I used an Orange Cleaner which smells a whole lot better. I sprayed down all of the mechanisms related to the Parking Brake Release under the dash. Worked!

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I have to mirror your comments! Same issue with a family members 1995. Been sitting idle for a little while but this problem has existed for quite some time. I also lubed the tension spring and BINGO!, light is now out. Can't wait to show the wife and explain how rediculously easy is was to fix.

First post here, but I highly suspect it will not be my last.