Hello fellow 240 Fans,
I had my rear main seal replaced at my local
independent shop on Friday and within hours
of picking her up my Brake Failure Light came
on and stayed on. The brake fluid is full and
the brakes work great, as if no issue. There
is no brake fluid leaks that I can see. I
disconnected the battery a few minutes ago in
hopes of resetting the system, but it did not
help.
All seems well except for the BF light.

Any advice is appreciated,
Joseph in New Mexico

Do a search....seriously. This is one of those that has been covered over and over.

In short, you try slamming the brakes really hard. If that does not work, you have to do the invisible un-screw of the switch from the junction block and attempt to reset.

Excuse me ... if it was such a bother for you to respond then
you should of just moved on. You chose to answer, but only after
your rude remark. I did do a search, prior to having to bother
you, but nothing came up. If you feel that you are so much above
it all maybe it is time to go dig your grave since your need here
on the planet is done.

BTW- it fixed itself...no thanks to you.

And for being so unkind you now need to contribute $ to
this website and you will be forgiven.

If life is not to help others then what is your life worth?

Me

Hold on just a sec...my intent was not to be rude or to give an indication that I could not or would not help. I can understand how might have come across that way as I was very brief in my explanation and mainly directed you to the search function because this is one that others have recently described in great detail.

On a pre-ABS car, post wiring harness issue car, if your brakes are functioning normally and the light comes on it is because the differential switch has become "tripped" about 99% of the time. The main way to reset it if you are lucky is to mash the pedal realllllly hard in hopes of re-centering it.

If that does not work, you have to un-screw the the plastic do-hicky switch and recenter it yourself which I could not remember exactly how to do in the wee hours of the morning.

I did fail to remember that your car could have ABS in 1990. I which case even my very curt advise was misguided.

Again, not slight intended and I apologize that it came across that way.

No problem....thanks for the advice.

"Excuse me ... if it was such a bother for you to respond then
you should of just moved on. You chose to answer, but only after
your rude remark. I did do a search, prior to having to bother
you, but nothing came up. If you feel that you are so much above
it all maybe it is time to go dig your grave since your need here
on the planet is done."

"BTW- it fixed itself...no thanks to you."

"And for being so unkind you now need to contribute $ to
this website and you will be forgiven."

"If life is not to help others then what is your life worth?"

Me


The suggestion to do a search - seriously - was not a slam at your laziness. It was a truly well-thought-out suggestion, because doing so will indeed net you hundreds of responses on this subject, dozens of contributions, pictorials, explanations, suggestions, and help, where a short answer to this truly FAQ will only give one facet.

Unfortunately without all the smiley faces convenient on some of the other boards, you can't tell how sincere Onkel Udo was. If you read this forum more consistently, instead of just when you have a trouble with your brick, you would know that instinctively.

:)
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore


"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." Clarence Darrow

In fact, one of the items I came up with right off searching "Brake failure light" was one of your pictures and explanations...

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1532371/220/240/260/280/brake_failure_light_rebuild.html

How on earth were you able to light that one and get the picture!