Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Flashing Parking Brake Warning Light

Lost in the 60s · President

My park brake pedal doesn't have a switch for a light .... I was wondering if the '66's had this. My new wire harness has the wires for it but now I don't remember if there is a light in the instrument panel...

My 67 Camaro and GTO both have the switch but the pedal bracket looks completely different on the 66 with no provision for the switch. The pedal assembly came from an early build parts car while my car is a May build. Maybe this was a mid-year change ?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Hi Mitch. The imformation regarding the parking brake light is contained in an early brochuer of the 66 That I have. It also mentioned in my original drivers manual. When I got my car the switch was mising from the parking brake assembly. It just bolts on. I found one on ebay or TC, can't remember which one. I can send you a photo if you would like. It makes a difference if you have the gauge instrument panel or the non gauge panel with the idiot lights. With the gauge panel the brake light indicator light up with the word "Brake" This flaslhes with the proper bulb. No sure about the non gauge panel; but supposedly on the early cars the parking brake indicator was a red flashing light in the dash to the left of the steering wheel and not in the instrument panel. I think that may have been droped later in the year. There is a photo in my auto owners manual that shows this light in the dash.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Thats the first I heard that the light is supposed to flash.

Lost in the 60s · President

Yes, a pic of the switch and bracket on the brake would be nice. I have the non-gauge dash but no clue what year it's from. This whole car is a Heinz 57. I'll have to see if I can determine if I have a "Brake" light in the dash.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

After posting, I checked my information again. It says that on all cars with the gauge package U 14. The parking brake warning light was a flashing light. Bulb GE 257.

It appear the parking brake was the same on all cars. When you got the U14 package, you also got the switch 3871394 that mounted on the parking brake assembly. UPC U14 A3 of the AIM shows this switch.

Not positive about the parking brake warning light on non gauge cars, whether it was just on early cars or an option. But there was a hole drilled in the dash to the left of the steering wheel. A bezel and red lenses and socket was installed with the flashing Bulb. Probably used the same switch on the parking brake as on cars with the gauge package. Can't seem to remember where I saw a photo of this; but it was in one of my early brochures or manuals.

If you have the non gauge instrument panel and no hole in you dash, it would appear that you did not have this warning system.

I think the only difference between the 66 and 67 instruments panels for the gauge package can be see in this thread and photos.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349910

Dale M has a good photo.

-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 07:58:55 AM

John D · 2K+ Club

So this # GE257 bulb is like a Christmas tree light bulb, with an integral "flasher" function built in?? (hmmm, have to file that one away)

I also remember either a round chrome bezel lamp, or a wedge shaped chrome housing (dealer add-on looking) warning lamp in that era car....

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
After posting, I checked my information again. It says that on all cars with the gauge package U 14. The parking brake warning light was a flashing light. Bulb GE 257.

It appear the parking brake was the same on all cars. When you got the U14 package, you also got the switch 3871394 that mounted on the parking brake assembly. UPC U14 A3 of the AIM shows this switch.

Not positive about the parking brake warning light on non gauge cars, whether it was just on early cars or an option. But there was a hole drilled in the dash to the left of the steering wheel. A bezel and red lenses and socket was installed with the flashing Bulb. Probably used the same switch on the parking brake as on cars with the gauge package. Can't seem to remember where I saw a photo of this; but it was in one of my early brochures or manuals.
If you have the non gauge instrument panel and no hole in you dash, it would appear that you did not have this warning system.
I think the only difference between the 66 and 67 instruments panels for the gauge package can be see in this thread and photos.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349910
Dale M has a good photo.

-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 07:58:55 AM
It sounds like you are referring to the 4 way hazard that was an option with the hole to the left of the column. I've never observed a park brake application warning light in any place other than the instrument panel...
The wiring instructions that came with my harness indicated this was a 67 application.

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 08:11:06 AM

Chris R · 2K+ Club

I dont have U14 so that explains it. The bulb most likely doesnt contain any flashing ability on its own. Its likely from the turn signal circuit or hazard switch. From the literature I have read. Hazards were dealer installed in the Chevelle in 66. Not from the factory. Not that it matters.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

John D wrote:
So this # GE257 bulb is like a Christmas tree light bulb, with an integral "flasher" function built in?? (hmmm, have to file that one away)

I also remember either a round chrome bezel lamp, or a wedge shaped chrome housing (dealer add-on looking) warning lamp in that era car....

thats the other one I was talking about, it is mounted in the daish.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
jim larson wrote:
After posting, I checked my information again. It says that on all cars with the gauge package U 14. The parking brake warning light was a flashing light. Bulb GE 257.

It appear the parking brake was the same on all cars. When you got the U14 package, you also got the switch 3871394 that mounted on the parking brake assembly. UPC U14 A3 of the AIM shows this switch.

Not positive about the parking brake warning light on non gauge cars, whether it was just on early cars or an option. But there was a hole drilled in the dash to the left of the steering wheel. A bezel and red lenses and socket was installed with the flashing Bulb. Probably used the same switch on the parking brake as on cars with the gauge package. Can't seem to remember where I saw a photo of this; but it was in one of my early brochures or manuals.
If you have the non gauge instrument panel and no hole in you dash, it would appear that you did not have this warning system.
I think the only difference between the 66 and 67 instruments panels for the gauge package can be see in this thread and photos.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349910
Dale M has a good photo.

-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 07:58:55 AM
It sounds like you are referring to the 4 way hazard that was an option with the hole to the left of the column. I've never observed a park brake application warning light in any place other than the instrument panel...
The wiring instructions that came with my harness indicated this was a 67 application.

No, it was a brake warning flasher. Not a 4 way hazzard.

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 08:11:06 AM