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Topic: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off (Read 964 times) previous topic - next topic

Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

So here's a new and weird one that I couldn't find any forum history on (and we're stumped)

Coach has been fine all summer.  Drove 4 1/2 hours to new campground, no problem.  1/2 hour or so after arriving we hear "ding.........ding ding.....................................ding......... di.........." from the dash.  Parking brake warning light flashes on with each ding.  Not regular in pattern.  Stays off 10 or so minutes, starts back up.  Air pressure in both tanks is 110-112 psi with no decrease.

Shut off the sounder (switch Steve added) for the night.  No lights in the morning.  Later in the day the light comes on and stays on.  Steve checked, cleaned, re-made every in-dash connection related to the air/brake he could find.  Light stayed on.  Some time later, light went out of its own accord.  It's been off ever since.

I searched the forum - no discussion of a parking brake alarm when the coach wasn't running.  Air pressure continues to be fine.

Any ideas?
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #1 –
Michelle,

Check to see if one of the pressure switches that are located under the floorboard around the area of the steering box is starting to stick. If this happens then the electrical system thinks that you have air pressure on the brake air system. It was a trial to figure out which one of the 4 that we have was going bad. We have picked these up from the big blue auto parts store.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #2 –
Ah - now there's some good stuff!  Next time it's dinging we'll check (it's been quiet since late this afternoon).  Thanks guys!

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #3 –
It has been my experience that the parking brake alarm will sound when the ignition key is off on the parking brake is NOT set. For the parking brake to be properly set, the air pressure to the brakes must be zero. The parking brakes are activated by springs. Air pressure to the service brakes will release the parking brakes.

You might want to see if the alarm quits if the air pressure in the tanks is reduced to zero. You can do that by pressing and releasing the service brake pedal several times. If the alarms quits when the pressure goes to zero, check that the parking brake valve is working properly.

Let us know what you find. It's unusual to have a new, unique problem.

Meanwhile, use chocks.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #4 –
J.D.

After rereading what was posted I saw my mistake and corrected it. If the pressure switch on the park brake side starts to stick it thinks that you still have pressure and thus the alarm.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Only if it's the same year coach.  Not that I'm stalking Barry B., Dick S., etc. and their posts :-X  (are you guys now watching/listening for your parking brake light/alarm?  and ours has been well-behaved ever since I posted)
Michelle
Funny you should ask, Richard Bark & I had the wiring diagram out to see what this was and where it was located. (need a picture) ::)
"Check to see if one of the pressure switches that are located under the floorboard around the area of the steering box is starting to stick. If this happens then the electrical system thinks that you have air pressure on the brake air system. "
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #6 –
Barry,
We are away from the coach till the 5th or 6th of Oct. We will be happy to take a few pics. and post when we return.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
We are away from the coach till the 5th or 6th of Oct. We will be happy to take a few pics. and post when we return.

Bump since we're putting together our 2014 spring "to do" list..... 
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #8 –
Michelle,

Here is some pics. as to where we found the pressure switches on our coach. They could be located in other places just depending on what year and model. Sorry that this slipped our minds . Hope this helps narrow your search.

Pamela & Mike

Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Very intermittent parking brake alarm when parked and ignition off

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –

Here is some pics. as to where we found the pressure switches on our coach. They could be located in other places just depending on what year and model.

Great photos - thank you!  We'll let you know what we find on our coach.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320