Author Topic: hellp brakes (Read 1964 times)

ToniJ1960 · « **on:** January 21, 2013, 05:59:27 AM »

The brake light has come on a few times in my 78 wagon, power brakes. I come to a stop the light comes on. I pres the brake pedal down harder it doesnt go out, but I pump it once then press it back down again the light goes out. I havent checked the fluid level yet going to do that today. The brakse feel fine no soft pedal, but afraid something is going to go out. Guess first thing to do is look at the fluid levels in both sections of the mc and if its low start feeling around the calipers and wheel cylinders.

Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Master cylinder going out maybe?

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2013, 08:56:25 AM »

They could just need a good bleeding to solve the problem. In not sure if the idiot light picks up a lack of pressure or exactly what it cues on.

HOSS429 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2013, 09:21:24 AM »

it`s been forever and a day since i`ve worked on brakes but if i ammember correctly the warning lite is actually mounted on the preportioning valve and usually lites up when your brakes are out of balance and that sometimes happens when you let one part of the master cylinder go dry .... as 5.0 says a proper bleeding to get the balance back should fix you up ...

r4pinto · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2013, 10:56:42 AM »

Proportuning valve. On the valve there is a center terminal with a plug. The plug is the warning light piece

ToniJ1960 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2013, 07:04:51 PM »

I know the proportioning valve is the h shaped block the lines from the master cyl run to.If the presure is different on one side the little metal piece in it slides over, thats what I read. I wish there was a way to tell what side was lower or higher. I think I saw the same thing happen last time my master cyl went out 7 or 8 years ago.

r4pinto · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2013, 08:01:55 PM »

Oops, my bad, I misread lol. My 77 did the same exact thing & that was when there was air in the system. I'd see if you have a possible leak or to start out if you don't have a leak bleed the brakes & see what happens.