Pinpoint Test A: The Red Brake Warning Indicator Is Always On: Testing
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- A1 CHECK FOR A SHORTED PARKING BRAKE SWITCH
- Key in OFF position.
- Disconnect: Parking Brake Switch C306.
- Key in ON position.
- Is the red brake warning indicator off?
- Yes : The parking brake switch is closed. REPAIR as necessary. TEST the system for normal operation.
- No : GO to A2.
- A2 CHECK THE PARKING BRAKE CIRCUIT FOR A SHORT TO GROUND
- Key in OFF position.
- Disconnect: Smart Junction Box (SJB) C2280c.
- Measure the resistance between the SJB connector C2280c-23, circuit 1309 (RD/YE) harness side and ground.
- Is the resistance greater than 10,000 ohms?
- Yes : GO to A3.
- No : REPAIR the circuit. TEST the system for normal operation.
- A3 CHECK THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL SWITCH
- Disconnect: Brake Fluid Level Switch C124.
- Connect: SJB C2280c.
- Key in ON position.
- Is the red brake warning indicator off?
- Yes : INSTALL a new brake fluid level switch. TEST the system for normal operation.
- No : GO to A4.
- A4 CHECK CIRCUITS 128 (VT/YE) AND 1305 (DB) FOR A SHORT TO GROUND
- Key in OFF position.
- Disconnect: SJB C2280a.
- Measure the resistance between the brake fluid level switch connector C124-2, circuit 128 (VT/YE), harness side and ground; and between C124-3, circuit 1305 (DB), harness side and ground.
- Are the resistances greater than 10,000 ohms?
- Yes : GO to A5.
- No : REPAIR the circuit. TEST the system for normal operation.
- A5 ISOLATE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
- Key in ON position.
- Enter the following diagnostic mode on the diagnostic tool: Active Commands.
- Using Active Commands, turn the red brake warning indicator on and off in the instrument cluster.
- Does the red brake warning indicator operate correctly?
- Yes : GO to A6.
- No : GO to A7.
- A6 CHECK FOR CORRECT SJB OPERATION
- Disconnect all the SJB connectors.
- Check for:
- corrosion
- pushed-out pins
- Connect all the SJB connectors and make sure they seat correctly.
- Operate the system and verify the concern is still present.
- Is the concern still present?
- Yes : INSTALL a new SJB. REFER to MULTIFUNCTION ELECTRONIC MODULES . TEST the system for normal operation.
- No : The system is operating correctly at this time. The concern may have been caused by a loose or corroded connector. CLEAR the DTCs. REPEAT the self-test. TEST the system for normal operation.
- A7 CHECK FOR CORRECT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OPERATION
- Disconnect all the instrument cluster connectors.
- Check for:
- corrosion
- pushed-out pins
- Connect all the instrument cluster connectors and make sure they seat correctly.
- Operate the system and verify the concern is still present.
- Is the concern still present?
- Yes : INSTALL a new instrument cluster. REFER to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . TEST the system for normal operation.
- No : The system is operating correctly at this time. The concern may have been caused by a loose or corroded connector. TEST the system for normal operation.