<VV> Red Lights and Gages

[FrankCB]

Alan,
     Even having the rear brakes partially dragging could cause a serious braking problem IF the brake system is setup DIAGONALLY so that EACH half of the master cylinder handles one front and one rear brake.  Dragging REAR brakes can then OVERHEAT BOTH of the rear wheel cylinders causing some of the brake fluid therein to vaporize.  Since vapors are easy to compress, applying the brake pedal can then cause it to go completely to the floor and completely LOSE all braking.  I suspect this is what may have happened to my wife when she lost her brakes on the exit ramp and bashed in the front bumper into the back of a truck in her 89 Beretta.  It DID have the diagonal braking arrangement.  The repair shop checked the brakes and said they were OK but I had them flushout the fluid and replace it and the problem never reappeared.
     Is there any occasion when it is NOT necessary to stop the car when the red light appears on the dash????  Better to be safe than sorry!!!!
     Frank Burkhard

In a message dated 07/03/09 17:10:15 Eastern Daylight Time, alan.wesson at atlas.co.uk writes:
This is the same on European cars, and I gave my daughter, who has just 
passed her driving test, the above information before she drove off solo for 
the first time. On the way out of the gate she screeched to a halt because a 
red light was on. 

It was the parking brake warning light, because she hadn't quite released it 
100% so the light was still on. 

So the 'stop for a red light rule' works almost all the time. 

Almost, but not all! 

Cheers 

Alan