1998 Dodge Dakota Dash Board Park Brake Indicator

1998 DODGE DAKOTA
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LANGBA
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  • 2 POSTS
1998 Dodge Dakota

The dash board indicator light that shows the parking brake is engaged will not light up. This is not a replaceable bulb, it is an LED hard soldered to the main gauge's board. Can it be changed, or am I stuck buying a new gauge cluster?
Apr 3, 2009 at 12:14 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,397 POSTS
LEDs rarely fail. First, find the switch on the pedal assembly. Try grounding the wire. If the light goes on, it's the switch that's not working.

Does the light actually say "Parking Brake" or just "Brake"? If it says "Brake", the light will also turn on if the fluid is low in the master cylinder. If you unplug the sensor on the side of the master cylinder reservoir and touch the two wires together, the dash light should also come on.

Keep in mind that like all the other complicated, unreliable, and unnecessary computers in modern vehicles, the instrument cluster is one too. It's not just simple, reliable gauges and bulbs anymore. As a result, they have a very high failure rate.

caradiodoc
Apr 5, 2009 at 3:14 AM
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