[Darth Menace]

Hey, just when I thought I was finished I totally forgot about the e-brake light. I know the bulb does (or at least did) light up when I got the car as the brakes didn't work and I guess it was warning me.

Only issue now is that is brake light on the dash doesn't light up when the e-brake is engaged. I turn the ignition on and the tan wire does get power (both when the e-brake is pressed or not engaged). The little nipple thing above the tan wire does pop up when the e-brake pedal is pressed, but no success on the dash light.

Is there some way to adjust this thing or what seems to be the issue? I looked in the repair manual, but there was little to no information

[Darth Menace]

It appears it is likely the brake light warning switch....at least I hope this is the issue It kind of crumbled when I touched it. Kind of sucks there are none local.

[cuz68]

Have you checked the bub on the dash.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by cuz68

Have you checked the bub on the dash.

when I first got the car the brake light was on, since I had numerous issues with the brakes. When I fixed all of the issues the brake light went out. So I am assuming it isn't the bulb.

Princessauto has a switch so I am going to snag one and install it. I'm assuming that since the tan wire gets power that it isn't any sort of electrical issue (I don't know how this set-up works so this is just an assumption of mine.

[Darth Menace]

Nope, it's not the brake switch. I replaced it and no go.

I know I must just be missing something simple....this e-brake switch system seems relatively basic. I assume it just works by E-brake being engaged which makes the brake switch button pop up which then tells the brake light on the dash to turn on.

[Darth Menace]

Update: The 69 Pontiac repair manual is super obnoxious. On page 12-25 in the Chasis electrical Service section in the Brake Warning light switch area is says "It is necessary to remove brake line distributor to replace the brake warning light switch. instructions for removal of the switch can be found in Section 5"

Go to section 5 and in the brake warning light section is has the checking procedure. There is no mention on removal of the switch or the brake line distributor that was mentioned on page 12-25. In fact using the search function is shows that brake line distributor does not show up anywhere else in the repair manual. I think they failed big time in this section.

[cuz68]

Check your bub again.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by cuz68

Check your bub again.

bub works...I have again swapped it with a new bub..same result (aka no brake warning light). I swill swap the bulb holder with another one from the dash, that I know works, but I don't think that is the issue. Especially since it did work when I had an issue with the braking system earlier on, but never when pressing the e-brake pedal.

It seems like it should be an easy fix considering it is just 1 damn wire, but I guess if that wire isn't doing what it is suppose to

[Ben M.]

Simple test! Unplug both wires: from the parking brake setup and from the distribution block. Then ground each of them one at a time. If the light bulb is good and the circuit works, you will light the light in the dash. If it does it on one but not the other you've got a break somewhere. If it doesn't do either your bulb\circuit is the problem.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Simple test! Unplug both wires: from the parking brake setup and from the distribution block. Then ground each of them one at a time. If the light bulb is good and the circuit works, you will light the light in the dash. If it does it on one but not the other you've got a break somewhere. If it doesn't do either your bulb\circuit is the problem.

When doing this test, the key must be in the run position for the light to come on. Darth, the emergency brake light switch works just like the door jamb
swiches for the dome light. When you apply the parking brake, the switch grounds the wire. For the switch to work it must be firmly grounded to the emergency
brake pedal assy.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Simple test! Unplug both wires: from the parking brake setup and from the distribution block. Then ground each of them one at a time. If the light bulb is good and the circuit works, you will light the light in the dash. If it does it on one but not the other you've got a break somewhere. If it doesn't do either your bulb\circuit is the problem.

Thanks for the info. I did this, but there was no bulb lighting up at all. I think I will either give up on this one and have someone else do it, or at least I will try to run new wires and see if that is what's up.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

When doing this test, the key must be in the run position for the light to come on. Darth, the emergency brake light switch works just like the door jamb
swiches for the dome light. When you apply the parking brake, the switch grounds the wire. For the switch to work it must be firmly grounded to the emergency
brake pedal assy.

I did make sure that the ignition was in the on position. There is a new switch there so I assume that isn't the issue. I also made sure to scuff the area where the switch is to make sure there is good contact.

I then played with the bulb/socket including new bulbs, but no go. It seems that of all the possible issues, none seem to jump out as being the problem.

[Ben M.]

Darth, it's your bulb socket or the printed circuit board on the back of the dash. Been there, done that. Just because you put a new bulb in doesn't mean it will work - I fought this fight recently myself.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Darth, it's your bulb, socket or the printed circuit board on the back of the dash. Been there, done that. Just because you put a new bulb in doesn't mean it will work - I fought this fight recently myself.

Don't take this as me second guessing you wisdom, but if it is the circuit than how did the brake light work when I first got the car? The brake light was on because my brakes were all messed (and I felt on top of the world when I finally got that light to go out). The circuit/those bulbs were not touched since then.

If there is a circuit problem, is there a way to "easily" troubleshoot this or run some wires up to the bulb?

I just want to clarify I did the previous test 100% correctly. I put the ignition to on, unplug both wires (both unplugged at the same time), and one at a time I attempt to ground them which in turn should cause the brake warning light to come on.

[Ben M.]

It's 45 years old. You've been in and out of the car working on all kinds of things. My Seat Belt warning light went out the other day with no reason, nothing having been touched. My '69 brake light just up & stopped working too despite working just fine 2 weeks ago. It just happens.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

It's 45 years old. You've been in and out of the car working on all kinds of things. My Seat Belt warning light went out the other day with no reason, nothing having been touched. My '69 brake light just up & stopped working too despite working just fine 2 weeks ago. It just happens.

Wow...so in the end my circuit board could be gone. This sounds catastrophic. And there is no way to wire directly to that bulb, correct?

[Darth Menace]

And then there was light....Turns out it was a bad socket.

Cuz68, GTOhurstjudge, and BenM, this Saturday I am going to have a drink for each of you. I honestly can't thank you guys enough for the extreme help you have given me not only in this thread, but countless threads. My to do list related to the provincial inspection is now completely blank. I plan to move onto more fun stuff so I will still have projects, but I feel like I am finally out of this horrible tunnel that is (was) this Pontiac.