Stuck brakes and warning light?

We’re away and of course have got something to worry about:
An intermittent brake warning light.
First off the brakes are working. Done some big descents and no problems.
The warning light comes on after a fair few miles and a hot engine.
I’m aware of the advisories in the manual about vacuum pressure and boosters.

That aside; could the brakes be partially on? Or the handbrake sensor sticking or malfunctioning?

Q’s.
Does the handbrake operate rear brakes only?
Are these drum brakes? (92 3l diesel)
If you jack a wheel up and hand turn it in neutral will that tell you if the drum isn’t free?

Just trying to rule out common easy fixes rather than going to catastrophe mode!
Hope you can help! Cheers

Hello.

What warning light are you seeing?? Might be really relevant!

milkman wrote:

Q’s.
1 - Does the handbrake operate rear brakes only?
2 - Are these drum brakes? (92 3l diesel)
3 - If you jack a wheel up and hand turn it in neutral will that tell you if the drum isn’t free?

My answers:
1 - yes.
2 - Much more than likely.
3 - yes, it should. Might also depend on differential (open or limited slip).

Without sending you into a rabbit hole also see:
https://hiace-super-custom.forumotion.com/t4432-rear-n-s-brake-sticking-1998-super-custom-cruising-cabin#24745

Again there's a chance that the handbrake cables are not asjusted the same. There is a bit (a lot) of guesswork here but it might affect the brake adjusters. This is just something of a speculation but I hope this makes some sort of sense.

I've some pictures of the rear brakes of mine on my 'Show us yours; post:
https://hiace-super-custom.forumotion.com/t4317-my-lh119

Scroll down to, well, the rear brakes (only pictures)...

Good luck and work one step at a time. A hand on the hub (for heat) plus a listen will also tell you a lot.

HTH!

It’s the brake warning light

No reason to think the cables are off no work done recently unless they Slip over time

It’s not a 4x btw

Thanks

LH119 is right as always above, but I’d like to add That light is only for a few things:

-parking brake is on
-brake fluid is low.

If the handle goes all the way down the lever should trip the sensor regardless if the parking brake cables are adjusted correctly. I mean it should…

You don’t have to jack the vehicle up. If it’s in neutral with the brakes off grab a rear tire and physically try to turn it clockwise or counter. Much easier than pushing. I can move a huge truck like that. If the brake is on…it won’t rock or move. Even if it’s on a little bit. If yours is stuck let me know and I’ll give you a few steps that release them temporarily.

Pretty important that you verify the master cylinder has brake fluid and the parking brake is releasing. If that’s good you have a sensor issue, not a safety issue. Those sensors fail enough to be stocked in stores. I’ve replaced them myself.

Good luck!
-Bryan

Hey byan & hth,
Thanks for the replies. We did test in the end didn’t see your reply in time but did the test on jacks anyway! Wheels are free and plenty in the reservoir so as you say sensor issue.
Cheers