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TR2/3/3A Darn! Drove with the park brake on......

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karls59tr

Obi Wan
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I haven't done that in years. What's that funny smell? Drove it hard too. :( Temp gauge did not go past 180? I believe I must have cooked the rear brake shoes! Must be getting old and easily distracted. What is the best way to rig up an idiot light to the park brake handle.? I have a space in the middle of the dash for it.
 
Don't want to do that again to my poor brakes. Must be a place underneath the car on the handbrake to mount a push button that only goes out when the brake is released. :unsure:
 
If it were me, I would start with a long-arm microswitch like
this and figure out some good way to mount it. Use an LED indicator, mounted in some place that is easily visible. Wire it into the "white" part of the circuit on the wiring diagram, so it is not powered when the ignition switch is off. Shouldn't be too difficult.

I wouldn't mount it under the car, as road dirt and water would quickly ruin it.
 
My oldest Son would use the parking brake every time he parked and in every car...most of which had lights to warn him...and he would never remember to release it. I'll tell you what I told him...if you are not setting it hard enough to notice it when you start to drive, then you are not setting it hard enough to be of use at all. When I have reason to set the parking brake, the car is not going to budge until I release it!
 
I did it myself a couple of years ago. The brakes were so hot that I was afraid of a fire.
I used a micro switch like this mounted to the brake handle and wired into the dash brake light on my TR6.
1725766095711.jpeg
 
karls59tr said:
Good idea. How is the switch held to the ratchet part of the handbrake?
Click to expand...
I used two-sided foam tape and it’s held up well. I also added a screw and spacer nut that the switch makes contact with when lowered.
 
karls59tr said:
In your photo what is the L shape prong on the switch connected to?
Click to expand...
The L-shaped prong is the connection for the switch. It’s NO and goes to NC when the handbrake is lowered. +12v to switch, then I wired it to the brake light on my dash.
See post #4 sarastro for some good advice.
 
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I’m not sure if the “brake” light on my car is bright enough to see clearly on a bright and sunny day with no top on. Instead of the added complexity (and possible failure) of an indicating system, why not just make looking at or feeling for the handbrake lever position part of your pre-drive checks? I’m not disparaging anything written so far but your going to be doing essentially the same thing if you make checking the “brake” light part of your routine…
 
charlie74 said:
I’m not sure if the “brake” light on my car is bright enough to see clearly on a bright and sunny day with no top on. Instead of the added complexity (and possible failure) of an indicating system, why not just make looking at or feeling for the handbrake lever position part of your pre-drive checks? I’m not disparaging anything written so far but your going to be doing essentially the same thing if you make checking the “brake” light part of your routine…
Click to expand...
Yes, you are correct... sort of like a pre-flight checklist. I do indeed do check for selector in neutral before starting and "brake off" before moving. The addition of the brake light is just one more visual backup.
 
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