what circuits are tied to "brake warning" dash light on '87 328 | FerrariChat

what circuits are tied to "brake warning" dash light on '87 328

Discussion in '308/328' started by bill brooks, Aug 6, 2020.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
    i should know better but out of expediency i need to know all the circuits tied to the "brake warning"
    light in the 328.
    this year, the few attempts at a run, that light always greeted me. i have not driven her much the last 3yrs.
    i'm painfully aware systems are not getting properly exercised.

    today, doing a pre-flight check, when i dallied the stalk switch for the high beams, etc. that light came on.

    it does not stay on if i dally the emergency brake handle. essentially, that's how any stray warnings are cancelled.

    i'm hoping it's something simple. but...... i'm bowing to the wisdom of the group for help.

    no horror stories please!
     
  2. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    On a 308 there is a switch on a plate at the base of the brake lever which can bend with time allowing the switch to not be depressed by the lever in the down position. On the 308 the fix is simple. Unzip the boot around the lever and with a long needle nose bend the plate back so the lever can depress the button extinguishing the light. Good luck.
     
  3. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    Take a quick look at the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
     
    mike996 likes this.
  4. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    That too!
     
  5. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,079
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    I am always impressed with how much information is in our Owner's Manuals. Below is a screen shot from my manual (83 QV) but I expect the information is identical for the 328.

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  6. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
    sorry....... i was in training for the long winter's nap.

    any how. will a dally on the handbrake cause the light to extinguish if the handbrake is not set? also does the "cat overheat" cause the light to activate?
    i DO NOT have a cat or 02 sensor. i very carefully put the thermo-sensor and associated lead in a protective cocoon so i didn't have to unwire it from ?
    it could be a cooincidence about the brake warning light coming on. my initial reaction was the light saw a "phantom" cat overheating alert.
    that's why i asked what else is on the brake warning light circuit.

    btw: the brake fluid resevoir is topped up to spec.
     
  7. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    The cat/exhaust system have no part of the brake light warning circuit.
     
  8. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
    oh.....
    i somehow got the impression the "hot cat" and brake warning shared the same dash lamp.
    isn't the alternator indicator part of the brake warning lamp as well?
     
  9. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,079
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    The Owner’s Manual explains what the lights do.
     
  10. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
  11. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    No.

    The brake warning light only warns about issues with the brake system. Hence the name. ;)
     
    mike996 likes this.
  12. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
    i agree. but these spurious respnses from else where are curous. like dallying the handbrake lever.
    maybe i'm not paying closely when i first see the lights.
    at any rate, i'm probably seeing the lights on my quik in/out exit of the car during warm-up garage opening.
    hence, they may all look of the same origin.

    "don't think twice, it's all right."
     
  13. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    I don't understand what "dallying the handle" means...?
     
    mike996 likes this.
  14. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
  15. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,685
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    And we still don't... ;)
     
  16. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    Yeah, I gave up wondering. If I ask you what you mean, and you instead you tell me language it is, I'm sort of done.
     
  17. dwhite

    dwhite F1 Rookie

    I chased a similar issue with my boxer. After a brake fluid change the warning light would pop on at different times. I rebled the brakes several times and it eould not correct itself. I finally checked the sender at the proportion valve. It checked out with a multimeter, but for 10.00 bucks I figured let me try it as everything else was good. It was the issue and the light never came on after it went out after releasing the handbrake. Sometimes it's the dumb things.
     
  18. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,685
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    Maybe the fix resulted from simply dallying with it! :)
    (whatever that is) ;)
     
    Crowndog likes this.
  19. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    I have the issue and I think it’s the proportioning valve.

    Matt
     
  20. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    #20 Crowndog, Aug 15, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2020
    Deleted
     
  21. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
  22. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
  23. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    It should be pretty simple to chase down.

    I solved the problem by buying an NSX-T and parking the Ferrari.

    :)

    Matt
     
  24. bill brooks

    bill brooks F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2007
    5,193
    waynesburg,pa
    Full Name:
    bill brooks
    dallying = jiggling
     

Share This Page