Brake Light in Cluster Not On

[odiaz1831]

Hey guys. My brake light doesnt come on when i engage my e brake. It used to before. I read its not a replaceable bulb? So is there something else i could check? E brake works fine.

[toggenburg]

Remove the 2 (?) screws at the rear of the console....you should have access to a switch at the e-brake base.

[fdryer]

toggenburg may be right but test the park brake switch first. If I'm not mistaken, daytime running lights operate with several inputs, one of them being the park brake switch. With headlights OFF or Auto position for automatic DRLs, shifting out of Park position, ignition on and releasing the parking brake should turn on daytime running lights with the DRL indicator (green) on. If the DRL indicator turns on then the park brake switch is working.

LEDs are not replaceable. They're driven by the bcm, abs pcm and airbag modules.

[gveinot]

while driving, carefully and slowly lift the e-brake up just a bit and see if the chime goes off. If the switch is working the chime will go off. If the chime and light do not work, I'd say it is the switch. If the chime goes off, the switch is ok and it must be LED or wiring related to the dash. I have re-lamped two S Series Dashes from bulbs to LED and I have never seen the Emergency Brake LED fail.

[cgg17]

Also see if your daytime running lights go out, little green notification on top left corner of the cluster. If they go out when you set the E-Brake, then the sensor is fine and your bulb is out. If they remain on, then it is the switch in the console.

[odiaz1831]

Thanks guys. I knew i noticed something was off with my DRL. With the car parked and lights all the way to off, i get no DRL. Before they would be on, and go off with brake. Now theyre just not on. I also didnt even know i had a DRL cluster light. I see no green light on my cluster. Even when i first start the car.

Chime goes off when driving if i slowly lift on the e brake.

[fdryer]

Originally Posted by odiaz1831

Thanks guys. I knew i noticed something was off with my DRL. With the car parked and lights all the way to off, i get no DRL. Before they would be on, and go off with brake. Now theyre just not on. I also didnt even know i had a DRL cluster light. I see no green light on my cluster. Even when i first start the car.

The DRL indicator does not turn on while parked, ignition on, parking brake pulled up. Releasing the park brake, ignition on should turn on DRLs. Review procedures again for DRL operation.

Originally Posted by odiaz1831

Chime goes off when driving if i slowly lift on the e brake.

If you mean chimes are heard when in gear and car's moving while pulling up slightly on the park brake lever (release button pressed) then the park brake switch is operating as designed.

[gveinot]

since the chime goes off, your e-brake switch is ok.

[Zeebins]

Sorry if this is a little off topic but I've had a question about this chime our Saturns have for a while now but I didn't feel like it was important enough for a new thread.

I know the chime goes off when you first turn the key to run, or if you leave your lights on/leave the key in the ignition. Is there supposed to be a chime for the seatbelt though too? I've searched the forms before and it seems like some people have it and some don't so maybe it's year specific? Would the chime that goes off with the ebrake be year specific too? I was driving for about 30 seconds once before I realized I still had the ebrake pulled up one tic to turn off the DRL while sitting is a parking lot for a while. Ive never cared if there is or isn't an idiot chime for things like this, I've just wondered about it more than I probably should.

[odiaz1831]

Originally Posted by fdryer

The DRL indicator does not turn on while parked, ignition on, parking brake pulled up. Releasing the park brake, ignition on should turn on DRLs. Review procedures again for DRL operation.

If you mean chimes are heard when in gear and car's moving while pulling up slightly on the park brake lever (release button pressed) then the park brake switch is operating as designed.

I see what i did wrong. Sorry late at night. But yeah, car with lights off, shift into drive, DRL are on. Pull e brake, they go off. If the car is moving in gear and i raise the e brake slowly it causes the chime to go off. Still no DRL green light in cluster though. Oh yeah, and honestly i cant even see the DRL cutout for the light in the cluster. Top left inly has service with a key, and service engine soon lights.

Sincw we've verified the switch works, we can signify its a wiring issue?

[alordofchaos]

Diagram showing locations, in case it is needed.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...09&postcount=2

Every single bulb lights up when you first turn the car on, as a "bulb check" before starting. If one of the bulbs/LEDs is burnt out / inoperable, a "service wrench" light is supposed to come on.

I know you mentioned being a broke student with no place to work but for about $25 or so, and a few hours at a junkyard, you can swap out your 2001 cluster with another S-series, or from a Pontiac Torrent/Chevy Equinox / Saturn Vue / L series for different looks (some limitations).

my torrent gauges
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...postcount=5201

how to remove (I think I skipped steps 2, 4, and 5)
http://www.differentracing.com/tech_...02cluster.html

[fdryer]

Here are wiring diagrams for the park brake switch and low brake fluid switch. Grounding each switch sends a ground signal to the body control module. The bcm sends a digital signal to turn on the brake light led in the instrument panel. Disconnect the brake master cylinder low brake fluid wires and insert a wire jumper across the connector pins, turn on ignition and see if the brake light turns on.