Indicator Lamp Question

[2POINT7]

In a '73S, the temperature / oil pressure guage is to the left of the tachometer and has a red indicator light at 12 o'clock and at 6 o'clock. Can someone tell me definitively what the indicator light at 12 o'clock indicates?

I suspect it indicates that the hand brake is activated. Is that correct?

Thanks very much.

[Chuck Miller]

Ed,

You are correct...

Here's the page you need from a '73 owner's manual...

Hope this helps,

[2POINT7]

Thanks, Chuck. I have an apparent short somewhere and that lamp flickers off and on frequently. Sitting as it does at the very top of that small oil temp graphic, just wanted to be sure it had nothing to do with oil as you might think it would considering its location.


Thanks very much.

[HarryD]

If you do not have a wiring diagram for your car, Pelican Parts (www.pelicanparts.com) in the Tech info section has a 1973 wiring diagram. You can see how the light is wired anduse this to troubleshoot this circuit.

Ususally, you will find the problem to be:
1) a short in the wiring;
2) A failure of the switch in your master cylinder; or
3) A failed or misadjusted microswitch on your handbrake.

[RandyWebb]

won't it also show low brake fluid on the '73?

[HarryD]

Randy,

Looking at the wiring diagram, the light is activated by either the switch on the master cylinder (that activates when you lose fluid in the braking circuit) or the microswitch activated by the handbrake. Later cars may also have a level sensor in the brake fluid reservoir but (at least my) '73 does not have this feature.

I had the switch on my master cylinder go bad (corrode) and turn on this lamp.