Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Two Questions

[proskeeterman]

Latel I've been seeing the Brake light and the ABS light come on, they don't stay on but they come and go. Is there a sensor I have to replace?



Next, I'm hoping someone out there can tell where the water is coming in at. When it rains , I get my passenger side carpet soaked. As far as I can tell, its not coming from the door and theres no holes in the floorboard. Hopefully theres someone who's experienced the same problem and can tell me where to start looking. My thanks to all that reply.

 

[icman95]

Water maybe comming in from the third brake light and running down. I know it sounds strange, but I had a water problem on the pass. side front floor and the dealer told me that is was a common problem to have it come in from the 3rd brake light. Turned out to be a different spot for me, but at least they ruled out the light.

 

[BDaugherty]

Are you sure that the water isn't condensate from the A/C drain? If it is, a length of tube from the drain down to the bottom of the frame will fix that problem. Also, take a close look at the cowl area if it is a rain issue.

 

[Signal73]

passenger side sounds like a 3rd brake light leak. rtv the lens in place (replace bulbs first so you dont have to deal with it later on)



As far as ABS possibly the rear sensor on top of the pumpkin or if you have front abs one of the senders can be bad. I had my passenger front go and it was doing what you described. Try taking the rear one out and cleaning the part that goes down inside the pumpkin. it can collect metal flakes from the oil and send a error code to the computer that it isnt reading right.

 

[proskeeterman]

Two Questions

Ok much to my chagrin, I do not know where this third brake light is, that ya'll speak of. Are they the orange lens lights on the top of the cab?

 

[hsmith]

Yep, that's it.

 

[icman95]

No. I'm assuming the orange lights you're talking about are the running or clearance lights on the front of the roof going 5 across. The third brake light is on the rear of the roof just above the back window. I'm also assuming you actually have one. I know they were mandated to be on cars in the mid-late 80's but that it was some time before they were on trucks. Is it possible that your '95 doesn't have one? I just assumed that they all did.



Also, what BDaugherty mentioned about the A/C is a real possibility. In fact, that is how I got into this conversation with my dealer in the first place. They had just done some A/C work in that area and I figured the water was coming from there. They looked at it twice and thought they got it, but then mentioned the 3rd brake light as another possiblilty when it continued to leak. In the end, they used a technique where they put some sort of smokey vapor in the cabin with all the doors and windows closed and waited to see where it came out. They found a leaking seal somewhere with this and fixed it. I wish I could tell you where, but they didn't tell me. Since they did it for free, I wasn't going to push my luck.

 

[SMorneau]

The brake light can come on from the combination valve getting shifted to block one circuit. If that is happening you can make the brake light (not sure about the abs or which abs you have) stop lighting by removing the yellow connector on the combination vavle and it will not light due to the valve. This could help you isolate it.
Similarly, There is vacuum switch that will turn on the brake light if vacuum is low it is located on the inner fender inside the engine compartment behind the power distribution center (look for a hose coming over from the firewall, on a 96 anyway). Also, the emergency brake being set will turn on the brake light.

I am not sure if the ABS can turn that light on or not or vice versa.

 

[rosebunch]

When my 95 had similar brake light and ABS light coming on, I searched and replaced censer on the pumpkin, no help, took it to various experts for diagnosis, no help. Finally just pulled the plug on the ABS control under the dash an plugged it back in (just checking things) and lights went out and have not come back on since. It has been about 9 months since doing this. Prior the lights were on more than off. Guess it was just a bad contact on the ABS controller cable.

Bob

 

[JNailor]

My ABS and brake warning lights do that also. I think it is a vacuum problem. The pump could be worn, the booster could be leaking, or maybe the idle is too low. If you use the brakes a few times in a stop and go situation it will cause the lights to come on. Raise the engine speed a little and they go out. Use the brakes a lot and the power boost is gone for a minute or so.



Dana

 

[bmoeller]

Dana- My guess would be to look at the brake booster for a leak (or bad check valve), assuming the vac pump is good.

 

[BSMcCauley]

Searched all over for the water leak on my '96. Wet carpet seemed to alternate between driver and passenger side depending on facing into prevailing wind during rain storm. Turned out to be the high center brake/cargo light on the back of the cab. There is a structural support channel behind this light that will divert water leakage toward which-ever side is downhill. I cleaned everything up, installed all new bulbs, and then glued 'er down with clear RTV. No more wet carpet -- on EITHER side!