Parking break

For some reason my parking break light on my 2000 SR5 Tacoma won’t turn off. Any suggestions on how to fix?

 

Does the light just say BRAKE or PARKING B R A K E?
Check the brake fluid.

 

What broke that caused the brake to break?

Check the switch on the parking brake handle under the dash. Does the brake feel normal when you apply it?

 

I only have a light that says BRAKE when I engage my parking brake. My fluid is fine and nothings broken. The hand brake feels fine, it engages, the button on the back feels fine

 

From least expensive to diagnose/replace:

- Intermediary lever is stuck, not allowing the cable to fully retract (right under driver's seat)
- Intermediary lever spring broken from rust
- Coupler on rear brake cable by intermediary lever too loose, tighten down (without breaking it)
- Rear brakes out of adjustment
- Front cable slightly stretched or frayed and about to break, causing it to not fully retract when released
- Brake switch actually stuck (unlikely, work it with your finger to test)

After going through the intermediary lever fix-up (lots of grease on it, so it doesn't rust) replacing the rear cable (probably didn't need to) I found it was the front cable that made the #$%@^& light go out. It was stretched just enough so it wouldn't press the lever. Mine's an '03, I expect on an 00 it has had more time to stretch.

In a pinch, you can put a small piece of fuel hose over the push lever shown in the below pic until you can get a proper fix. The arrow points at the switch itself, I'm talking about the lever pushing it down.

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The coupler that is likely rusted and will break the thread off the rear cable

 

If the brake switch on the handle is getting fully pressed like the above post shows then I would get a multi meter out and check the switch to make sure it is still making contact internally

 

When I bought the truck the light would only come on when I pulled the parking brake. Then it came on and would go away when I made a left turn and now it’s on all the time

 

Whoa now that's way out of the ordinary. Something is shorted out, someone has made a mod, or had to disconnect something and got it wrong putting it back together.

See pic above. The brake switch is a NC (normally closed) switch, meaning when the brake is applied the switch is not pressed and current flows through lighting up the brake light. When the brake is released, it should push the switch into the open circuit position and the light should go out. Not quite sure where you should start other than tracing back from the switch, it could be a mod or something connected wrong on re-assembly.

 

Need to test the switch with a multi meter. The switch could have a loose contact in it which is why it came on when turning. Start simple then start tracing wires.

 

Like others said faulty sensor .

 

That indicates to me fluid level, or the float/sensor being stuck.

 

I fixed it. Turns out my brake fluid was low. Now the light is off and only comes on when I engage the parking brake

 

You’re right. I topped up the brake fluid and it fixed it