Bushwack Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I think I need confirmation/assurance its not a pump issue.1990 Reatta just had a brake flush and new accumulator installed. Drove it five times for about 80 miles within a week w/o a problem. This afternoon when I started the car, the red brake light stayed on. I discovered that the e-brake isn't working (I can pump the e-brake pedal thirty times w/o resistance - should only take 2-3 pumps).It would be logical that the e-brake is the reason for the light staying on. But in order of preference, what should be looked at first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mc_Reatta Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Not much info for seeking such a reassurance about the pump.When / what made light go out if it went out?Was parking brake pedal depressed by mistake at some point?Take the brake test on reatta.net to verify pump (and other things) is working OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwack Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Not much info for seeking such a reassurance about the pump.When / what made light go out if it went out?Was parking brake pedal depressed by mistake at some point?Take the brake test on reatta.net to verify pump (and other things) is working OK.Appreciate the response but what I'd like to know is can a dysfunctional/faulty e-brake cause the red brake light to remain on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 There is a switch on the e-brake pedal that will turn on the red light if the pedal isn't all the way in the up position (off). Also low fluid in the reservoir will turn on the red light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 However only the e-Brake will give you the red light only. Anything involving the Teves will also turn the yellow light on. I assume that the yellow is coming on at startup then going off but the red stays on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanR Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 U indicate you have to pump the Ebrake and yet no hold? And you recently had the lines flushed? So that means the rear calipers were tampered with to release fluid. Any leaks around the rear wheels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwack Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Ronnie - Thanks for the info but I knew that having relied on your site for 'brake' info. Padge - ABS light (upon start up and during operation) is behaving normally. When the ignition is first on, it turns off after a few seconds never to be seen again. It's only the red brake light that stays on and on and on and...Marck - thanks for the picture. That's helpful. I assume that thin metal-like rod (second from the bottom) is the cable that first engages the e-brake to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Ronnie - Thanks for the info but I knew that having relied on your site for 'brake' info. Padge - ABS light (upon start up and during operation) is behaving normally. When the ignition is first on, it turns off after a few seconds never to be seen again. It's only the red brake light that stays on and on and on and...Marck - thanks for the picture. That's helpful. I assume that thin metal-like rod (second from the bottom) is the cable that first engages the e-brake to work.Sure thing. Yup, that's the E-Brake Cable. It should go in the larger black piece below it. I had a similar problem with my '89. You would press the E Brake pedal and you could only hear the spring stretching. There's a small rocker sort of piece that works the ratcheting mechanism that can get stuck. All you have to do is lubricate that. Pretty difficult to do without removing the ideal assembly (PITA).My guess is that your E Brake is just stuck in the wrong place. it's rotated slightly so to turn on the brake light, but not engaged. And then the ratcheting mechanism froze up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I suspect the person installing the pads did not properly adjust the parking brake at the caliper (or left the cable or the cable bracket off entirely).A correlary to Hanlon's razor says to look at the last place touched by a human before it started and that is the rear calipers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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