brake light

[Dennis Ruffing <dennisr@altia.com>]

Bob,

> The only problem is that the emergency brake light remains on
> no matter the position of the brake. The previous owner had 
> removed the light which is a very cost effective fix.
> Unfortunately, the car will not pass inspection without this
> light functioning properly (the only problem).

Are you serious?  What's wrong with these people?  Have they no soul? 
What would they think if they discovered I had unhooked the door
chimer?   I'd probably be in jail.  Heretic!!  

First, I'd go back to the inspection person (or nimrod, as is usually
the case) and explain all you've done to check the problem.  Demonstrate
that the light is operated by a switch on the handle, and that though
the wiring may be faulty, the operation of the praking brake is not. 
It's a *parking-brake* *indicator*  *light*, fer-cryin'-out-loud!  Ask
them if they drive 55mph on the highway.  

If this were all that was wrong with my 88 90, I'd be thrilled to death!

Failing that, I'd take it to another inspection station, but not without
parting the first one with a big ol' "You have got to be sh%^&&#ing me"
to make them feel bad.

Failing that, wire up sumthin' big & ugly on the dash as an indicator,
and unhook it after the inspection.

Growing up in NH, I was once failed for a wiper blade being sub-par. 
How the inspector determined this was beyond me.  He was, oddly enough, 
happy to sell me a new one. I said "no thanks", walked across the lot to
K-mart, plunked down $1.79 and walked back.  He wasn't too happy.

Having moved to Colorado, I was shocked to discover that their
inspection concerns include you passing emissions (with a state-run
system in the Denver area, no private garages), and with you paying the
fee.  They could care if your headlights don't work or your brakes are
seized.

Not that it's any of their business in the first place...

I had to vent at this!

Dennis

P.S.  Your parking brake IS doomed to stick eventually.  Always does on
90s.  It's ironic that your indicator light is stuck, and not the brake
itself.

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dennis M. Ruffing								Altia, Inc.  
Applications Engineering. 						5030 Corporate Plaza Drive
Phone 719-598-4299	Phax 719-596-4299			Colorado Springs, CO 80919
mailto:dennisr@altia.com 						http://www.altia.com