Brake light on! but cant figure what it is!

[Fer78z]

my brake light turned on yesterday on my 78 280z the reservoir has plenty of brake fluid, brakes feel fine to me.. can't really think what it could be.. anyone have any ideas of what's going on?

[metalmonkey47]

I think it's a hand brake indicator? My 210 only came one when the handbrake was set. 

[MikeRL411]

Rear brake lights on the fascia or indicator light on the dashboard?

[Fer78z]

it's the indicator light on the dash board ( sorry, forgot to specify that) I'll check the tge hand break indicator is that the button underneath the hand brake?

[mtiger69]

Try and see if you have a presure differincail switch, this will cause the light to come on

[datzenmike]

The hand brake has a switch that closes and turns the warning light on even if the hand brake is only slightly on. Just make sure it's fully OFF. Push button in and shove firmly down on the lever. Make sure it doesn't jump back up. I ran over a tree branch once that jabbed a stick into the e brake cables that turned on the switch.

 

Older Z cars have a pressure differential switch between the front and rear brakes system. A loss of pressure in one will apply the warning light. If the reservoirs are full not likely this.

 

Newer Z cars have a low fluid warning switch in both reservoirs which replaces the switch.

[Dguy210]

While the OP will probably never see this...

 

It is likely the little rubber piece that holds down the switch on the brake pedal has fallen off. This will allow the switch to activate similar to the brakes being pressed.

[banzai510(hainz)]

It is likely the little rubber piece that holds down the switch on the brake pedal has fallen off. This will allow the switch to activate similar to the brakes being pressed

 

   seen this on my 521 I JB weld a penny on there.

dont know if this is the same set up on Z cars

[datzenmike]

While the OP will probably never see this...

 

It is likely the little rubber piece that holds down the switch on the brake pedal has fallen off. This will allow the switch to activate similar to the brakes being pressed.

That switch activates the rear tail light brake lights. The OP has the red warning lamp in the dash on, which warns of a brake hydraulic failure or that the e-brake has been left on.

 

it's the indicator light on the dash board ( sorry, forgot to specify that) I'll check the tge hand break indicator is that the button underneath the hand brake?

[Dguy210]

Ahhh... Thanks I missed that part of the post. I'd guess I'd be doing what you suggested and looking at the handbrake switch.