e-brake light problem

Ok so a few days a go i get in my truck and start it up. I release the brake and drive away....about .5 miles later the e brake light comes on after a right hand turn, stays on for a little bit then turns off. It only really does it after turns. Is there a censor that could be going bad?

 

but my ebrakes are drums and dont have fluid...

 

sometimes my handle doesn't settle all the way in place and the light will flicker a bit. usually, if i give it a little extra push, it stays alright. some might suggest checking the springs under the truck that pull the handle back in place...if they're not pulling tight (or a lever is rusty), it might cause the light to illuminate.

 

I thought that to but the lever is all the way in....The spring that is mounted under the truck was rust so i soked it in PB Blaster, but that was about 3 months ago.

 

the switch might be sticking, or the brake fluid might be getting low tripping the light on. u also might wanna check if anything is leaking... reservoir, master/booster, front calipers, rear wheel cyl., etc.

 

hmmm my brakes have squeeled from the day i bought it......looks like ill be doin my brakes soon.....does the taco take dot 3 fluid?

 

also this may sound stupid, but i dont understand what brakefluid has to do with the emergency brake.......i thought the brake fluid only went to the front brakes.

 

I had my brother...also my mech....check my pads out and he said they were still good

 

ur brakes are hydraulic. ebrake is mechanical. two separate systems. front and rear brakes (disc and drums) use hydraulic brake pressure to stop the vehicle. when u use the ebrake, its a cable that manually spreads the brake shoes to hold the vehicle mechanically. making sense? howstuffworks.com ... just a suggestion.

 

Happened to me once, I just ignored it and when I got the brake pads changed I just asked them to take a look at it and they said it was dirty (I had gone mudding a few weeks earlier, right before it came on), they didnt go into much detail, so I guess if you took it to a car wash that has the undercarriage spray, then just pull the ebrake on and off while that is spraying.

 

Yes I understand that. Thats why i was askin why the brakefluid level had anything to do with the Emergency brake light if there is never any fluid dealing with the e-brake.

 

I have been doin some mudding due to all the thunderstorms....maybe its that. I dont know. I mean it dosnt affect the way it drives, its just a pet-peve of mine to have lights on my dash lol

 

the brake fluid may have just been low to begin with, after driving for some time, brake pads/shoe material gets low n so does the fluid. basically. u may just be low on fluid. just hope u dont have a leak somewhere causing the low fluid level

 

ya ill check it out....it shouldnt be the fluid casue i check all fluids at 3k. ill start with fluids and if its low ill look for a leak. if its not the fluid ill get under the tco and look for censors

 

I hope not cause that could cause confusion lol.....but they did make square cup holders so who knows lol

 

Probably just a sticky/rusty linkage problem.
Happens all the time.

I've replaced 6 e-brake cables in the last 25 years on my Toyota pick-ups.
Eventually, the light will come back.

Other than the original cables when everything was rust-free and new, the light comes on enough that I discount it.

I usually have the mechanic clean and adjust when I'm at the dealer.
Sometimes it'll go for a year, more or less.
Always the linkage.
I thought it would last quite a while after my frame replacement a year ago. (Got a new e-cable.)
It still comes on.

 

check the pads/shoes before looking for leaks, its easier. if they are low then that should solve the prob. just add a little more fluid. unless u do wanna look for leaks, just to be safe.
the "float" sensor is usually inside the brake fluid res. u should see a little connector n wires going to it. n the ebrake sensor is on the ebrake bracket somewhere. should be easy to spot though.