Brake Warning indicator

[olley]

Hi Guys anybody got any ideas about why my brake warning indicator comes on intermittently? "Brake Failure" also comes up under the milage readout, then it all goes off sometimes straightaway, othertimes it may stay on for 5mins and may not come on again for 50 miles or 50 feet.

Checked brake levels, all ok, just had a wheels of brake service and all ok.
Would this cause a fault code to be listed, that I could read with an OBD2 reader?

Olley

[olley]

Hi Guys anybody got any ideas about why my brake warning indicator comes on intermittently? "Brake Failure" also comes up under the milage readout, then it all goes off sometimes straightaway, othertimes it may stay on for 5mins and may not come on again for 50 miles or 50 feet.

Checked brake levels, all ok, just had a wheels of brake service and all ok.
Would this cause a fault code to be listed, that I could read with an OBD2 reader?

Olley

[tech@brazelsrv]

Is there an 'ABS' light on as well? Unless you have a commercial grade code reader, you're probably not able to retrieve the code(s), they would be generated by the ABS module. If there is an ABS light, the most common failure is a wheel speed sensor. You probably should have it checked out by a Workhorse dealer.

[olley]

Hi steve thanks for the reply, no the ABS light doesn't come on, just the brake warning light, top lefthand side of the consol.

Plus you get the very annoying high pitched warning sound

Workhorse dealers are a bit thin on the ground, this side of the pond.

Olley

[tech@brazelsrv]

Olley,
Take a look at your owners manual, starting on page 1-58. It explains a few scenarios for setting the light. Without being able to actually test your vehicle, it sounds like it may be a parking brake problem.

[03HRVacationer]

I had the same thing happen, that's how I found this place, someone told me to put the parking brake on and pull the release and let it pop hard and that was it, never happen again. I think it has something to do with the switch on the parking brake not disengaging all the way. Now I'm an iRV2 addict. Be careful.

Al

[olley]

Hi Guys, thats sounds a good idea, as its now midnight over here and way past my bedtime, I will have a look in the morning.

Thanks olley

[max49]

I have an '04 P-32 w 20,000 miles and have'nt had any brake problems that I'm aware of.
However I have seen the dreaded "BRAKE FAILURE" message , on my Actia at least twice. Both times the message went off within a few seconds.
I'm hoping it's just another Actia glitch. I'll check pg. 1-58 of the owners manual but I'm not optimistic. The owners manual does'nt cover the Actia glitches.
I've had so many glitches from the IP and even when K&C RV saw all my gauges 'off the chart', they just said it fixed itself when they shut it off and restarted it later.
How could it know there's a brake failure when you first start it up and have'nt even put the brakes on yet anyway?
I think WH would be better if they would just stick to the basics and forget about the high tech IP

[olley]

Hi Guys read the manual and its not much help, I have a standard foot applied transmission brake, and when you apply it with the ignition turned on the red light comes on but warning buzzer doesn't, so unless this changes when you are in motion, (could anybody confirm that?) that seems to rule out the transmission brake.

I am getting both the light and the buzzer.

Olley

[JCM]

I have had the warning buzzer come on after driving for a few 100 feet with the parking brake on.

[olley]

Hi JCM thanks, so it's back to maybe the parking brake. Taking it for it for its MOT in a few days so I will see if it does it again then.

Olley

[tech@brazelsrv]

I must not have made myself plain on looking up the brake warning light in your manual. I meant for you to look up the page and try to find the closest match to your condition so we could help you determine what's going on. I didn't mean that the manual would tell you how to fix it. :-)

[olley]

Hi Steve, I never expected the manual to tell me how to fix it, it basically lists 3 reasons for the light and buzzer all of which I discounted.

Low brake fluid
Low boost pressure
A difference in the pressure between the front and rear systems.

I have checked the brake fluid levels and they are fine.
Low boost pressure would I think be felt at the pedal and with the steering.
A difference in pressure is normally caused by a leaking clyinder, both brake levels were ok. and I can see no leaks around any of the cylinders, also this usually appears when you brake, and the master cylinder piston moves to far.

My own suspects are: A wiring fault, a problem with the float in the master cylinder reservoir, or as has been suggested the parking brake switch.

My brother came around last night with a an OBD11 reader he borrowed from the garage he works for, as you thought it only read engine codes, so didn't tell us anything.

If I can't fix it I will have to have a phone around, to see if anybody in the UK has got the proper GM OBD11 reader, which is as good a reason as any for a weekend away going to them

Olley

[tropical36]

Is your Coach equipped with ...AUTO PARK..? and is this indeed what the indicator light is all about? If so, park the coach and don't drive it, until you receive some recommendations from our experts here, on how to proceed with repairs.