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2013 Chevrolet Suburban
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2003 Suburban / Dash Parking Brake Light Issue

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Old March 11th, 2019, 7:04 PM
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Default 2003 Suburban / Dash Parking Brake Light Issue

Hello...

I have a 2003 Suburban that I just discovered the dash warning light for the parking brake is not operating correctly. When doing a Google on the subject, most threads are about the parking brake dash indicator light stays on all the time. In my case, the light cycles on and then goes off when starting the vehicle, so I know the bulb is okay. But once that test is completed, the parking brake warning indicator turns off, even though the parking brake is still actually engaged. I looked at a picture of the switch online and found it on mine. One picture showed a broken one, with a piece of the copper gone but my switch seems to be completely there.

I verified the proper brake fluid level in the reservoir and set / cycled the parking brake a few times; the parking brake is engaging and disengaging with no issues but there is no 'parking brake' indicator lighting up on the dash, other than at the ignition-on / start-up cycle.




Any ideas with what could be going on?

Thank you, Richard
Old March 12th, 2019, 9:06 AM
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Originally Posted by rjdjbd
I looked at a picture of the switch online and found it on mine. One picture showed a broken one, with a piece of the copper gone but my switch seems to be completely there.
TEST that switch for operation with a DC test light or multimeter.

Old March 12th, 2019, 11:07 AM
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Just cause a switch looks good, doesn't mean that it actually works.
Old March 13th, 2019, 1:05 PM
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Originally Posted by oldchevy
Just cause a switch looks good, doesn't mean that it actually works.
So a little more information... turns out that the parking brake light is working intermittently. Sometimes it works when the brake is set, sometimes it doesn't. I jiggled the wiring down there, so the switch does work, though maybe not properly. Here is a picture.... is the white stuff oozing out normal, like it's electrical grease, or does it indicate a problem at the connection?

Thank you
Richard




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