Emergency Brake Warning Light

[jacks71c10]

Trying to get my 71 C10 to pass VA safety inspection and inspector is telling me the brake light in the dash must illuminate when the e-brake is depressed. I crawled under the dash and don't see a switch there, nor do I see any previous wiring that would lead me to believe there ever was one. New to this state and hate it already! Can anyone tell me if my truck came with this switch and if so, where do I find one? Searched LMC for it and could not find it either? Appreciate any assistance! New here and new to the 67-72 C10s, but not new to older cars. Thanks!

[72supr]

That light comes on if something is wrong in system. Don't think it has anything to do with the E brake.

[jacks71c10]

I tried pleading that case, but the know-it-all inspector said the truck came equipped with an e-brake warning. I cannot find anything to validate his supposition, but burden of proof it did not come equipped is now my problem. Looking for some help on here...

[Stocker]

That light absolutely does NOT come on with e-brake operation. As noted, its only purpose is to indicate a problem in the system, such as low brake fluid. Either find a different inspector or get Mr. Smarty Pants to prove it to you. Oh BTW, he is dead wrong on this one, no question about it. Sorry I don't have a link to positive proof.... someone should jump in here with help.

[jacks71c10]

Is there a wiring diagram or something I can use to defend my position?

[jacks71c10]

BTW, thank you for the replies!

[H20cooled]

I added one to my 68 C10 but it required drilling a whole in the ebrake setup and adding the switch it was defiantly not stock on these trucks.

[AirSpeed]

These trucks never had a light to indicate the parking brake is on, I converted mine to do so though, pretty easy to do with just a switch tapped into the wire going to the proportion valve.
If you have an owners manual it will describe what the brake light indicates. It absolutely never illuminated the brake light in the dash to let you know the brake is on. All the light does is let you know if you have a bad break line, fluid leak. As you step on the pedal if there's a leak in either the front or rear brake system the fluid will push the piston in the prop valve that activates the switch built in.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by jacks71c10

Is there a wiring diagram or something I can use to defend my position?

I've been searching but have not yet found it.


EDIT: Try this link. Not sure if it's all you need though. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/...c2a8064d_o.jpg The brake warning switch is at the bottom center of the page.

Here's more: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/...59575fe1_o.jpg It appears the 20T (tan) wire is the correct one but I can't find where it connects to the light.

[cdowns]

disconnect the wire to the proportioning valve and the light will go off/// but you will still have a problem with your brake system with or without the light is on // me i'd much rather have a full.y functional brake system

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by cdowns

disconnect the wire to the proportioning valve and the light will go off/// but you will still have a problem with your brake system with or without the light is on // me i'd much rather have a full.y functional brake system

That's not his problem though, Cliff. He needs to prove to an uninformed state inspector that the light isn't supposed to come on when the e-brake is depressed.

OP, I haven't found anything else. You may need to buy a factory manual. Or add an e-brake switch... can't be too difficult.

[davepl]

The wiring diagram in the factory assembly manual clearly shows the PCB's trace for the brake warning light going going to the brown wire which ONLY goes to the prop valve, and NEVER to any other location like the brake switch.

You could also show him the 3/4" hole the last owner drilled in my dash to mount his own e-brake light!

I think the wiring diagram is your best bet. It shows it unambiguously.

[hamjet]

Must be a youngster, do they have any older and wiser inspectors locally?

[jocko]

Go to a manager - or, better yet, go somewhere else. Can understand your frustration. As stated above, the light was never intended as a Parking Brake indicator. It is actually an emergency light that indicates a pressure differential between front/rear mc reservoirs and, when it sense this, isolates the systems so you don't bleed everything out. If the light is off when running, you should pass inspection - on the other hand, if the light remains on, you should not pass inspection.

[swamp rat]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=185856

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...95&postcount=4

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...26&postcount=1

http://s98.photobucket.com/user/Spsp...65637441827232

[FirstOwner69]

Here's a picture from my 1969 owner's manual that describes what the light is intended to do. Perhaps you can print the picture and show it to them. Granted it's for a 69 but your 71 is the same. He doesn't need to know it's from a 69 manual.

[jacks71c10]

Thank you all for the assist! I should have enough info to support my case. The inspector has been doing this for decades and knows more about these trucks than I ever will. I only know because he had to tell me when I questioned him on the brake warning light write-up. If this does not work I will go elsewhere. I greatly appreciate the support and will let you all know how it goes Mon.

Cheers,
Jack

[hamjet]

"""The inspector has been doing this for decades and knows more about these trucks than I ever will."""" yea, but 2 decades or 4 decades.

[jacks71c10]

So I went back armed with good info and after lots of discussion he passed the truck. Greatly appreciate all the assistance!

[9teen69]

Hope he apologized and reimbursed for the fuel. Glad it worked out.

Had the same issue when inspecting my son's Camaro a couple yrs ago. Inspector insisted the light had to be blue when high beams were on, the lens fell behind and was only white. After all the frustration and gluing the lens back he passed me. The bonehead didn't notice I hadn't installed the emergency brake.

[leftybass209]

I'm a firm believer that you can't expect people to know everything about every make and model vehicle. However, in your circumstance the tech should have been more open to learning something new, and a whole lot less arrogant.

There is no substitute for proper documentation, and I'm glad you got it taken care of.

[Stocker]

Glad it finally worked out OK! And Mr Know-It-All learned something in the process. That alone should help someone else in the future.

[biketopia]

In the future you can contact the State police inspection division direct and contact the resource officer for the station. I'm a VA state safety inspector, any other questions or if you need contact info let me know and I'll get you going the right way. Sorry about the frustration, VA is a great state, glad it got resolved!

[jacks71c10]

It did all workout. It was more painful than it needed to be, but did work out. I could not have done it without all of your assistance. Greatly appreciate it!