97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Over the last few months, my brake light on the dash comes on when braking. You can feel it in the pedal when it comes on and goes off on the next pump of the brakes.

The brake fluid is fine, no leaks and the brakes work as well as usual.

If its quiet in the truck you can hear a click kinda sound when the light goes off. So it sounds like its right at the pedal inside.

Any ideas?

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

It has memory.
Read the trouble code.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Is it the yellow light or the red light?

If it's the yellow light, scan for abs codes.

If it's the red light, you have a hydraulic problem.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

My scanner will not pull ABS codes, but I can try it..

Its the red brake light on the dash. Same if you had the E brake on.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Here is a video I made on the way home.

https://youtu.be/SI7bX6mr_0k

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Anymore tips on this issue?

Could be several things
 

My suggestion is to isolate the brake pressure warning switch and go from there.

On the bottom of the EBCM (says Kelsey Hayes on it) facing the master cylinder is a connector. It's below the top row of 3 brake lines and between the 2 lower lines. Disconnect that and do the same things you been doing to get the light to come on.

See if the light won't come on.

Let us know what happens

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Since you hear it inside the cab I'm wondering if it could be physical problem with the switch hanging off the brake pedal pivot itself.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Speedy: I unplugged that connector and took another test ride. I could still feel this issue in the pedal, but the light did not come on.


Mr Rich: I tried to look above the column where the switch probably is. Its hard to reach and see. There is a brace/bracket on either side if the column that makes it hard to get to.

The sound it make sounds like a spring twanging but not very loud and you can feel in in the pedal at the same time.

A spring sound "toing" is the anti-lock brakes activating
 

The spring sound you hear is the antilock brakes activating. That accounts for why you feel it in the pedal. We could assume the antilock activation is lowering pressure causing the light to come on. However, I don't think normal operation of the antilock system would light the brake light so my thinking here is the antilock is occurring but it doesn't know it's occurring so it then lights the low pressure signal.

At this point you should have someone with a scanner that can read ABS codes check it out. If need be they can ride along to see real time data.

Again I'm thinking there will be no DTC's and you have a Brake Pressure Modulator Valve problem. But stranger things have happened and checking codes is the correct next step.


Good luck.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

I have not had a chance to get scanned for ABS codes yet, but I did take a video of the noise I hear when I press the peddle when the light goes off.

https://youtu.be/ELdabySrwAE Turn up your speakers. This is more for audio then video.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Been 2 months. Any update?

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Thanks for checking in.. I have not had my truck scanned yet. I have some control arm bushings coming this week. So that's on the front burner.

Ummm
 

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

Nothing yet. I will reply with a solution.

Re: 97 Tahoe dash brake light
 

I know its been a while, but I figured it out.

The rear brake self-adjusters were frozen. This caused me to have to step on the brake pedal twice to get good brakes.

I ended up replacing the master cylinder thinking that was the issue about a month ago. I knew I had to pump the brakes to get good brakes, but I knew I was not loosing fluid. After replacing the mater and bleeding all 4 corners, the issue remained. As you can imagine, I was kinda pissed. So more time went by and then it dawned on me about the rears not self adjusting. I cracked them open last weekend and found that to be issue. I removed both self adjuster, cleaned them very well and put them back. Got the brakes adjusted and had instant great brake pedal!

I apologize for the delays and getting back to you guys, but there it is. Problem solved and cost me $0.