Alright. So I was giving my car's running parts an overhaul today; rotated the tires, installed new pads, inspected the lines, purged, and changed one broken boot on my driver's side rear wheel caliper. That was the thing that took me the longest to get to, and I took my sweet time doing it too. After putting back everything in its place and giving it a wash and drying it, I decided I was going to take it out for a drive. All was well when I stepped in, but upon pulling out (no homo) I noticed that the parking brake light was on on the dashboard So I didn't drive.

I got out of the car, and took off the wheel, and inspected the parking brake cable, since I assumed it was what was causing the trouble. I made sure that it was in its notch with the caliper, that the spring was placed in the right way, and that the clip that holds the cable to the beam was down as far as I could push it down without doing any damage. Before putting the wheel back on, I turned on my car and waited for the dash warnings to settle, and there it stayed lit... and since it was late at night and I did it a bit rushed, I was tired and just put the wheel back on, and decided to call it a day.

I did however drive it gently around my block, and noticed that it did now brake responsively, and promptly, but... it started pulling to the left a little, and I had to tilt the wheel a bit to the right, just to keep it straight. That's gonna worry me now... So I just came back home and parked it and hopefully I think it's just that the brakes need to readjust.

I'll take the blame that I didn't top off my brake reservoir yet, but am doing so early in the morning before I leave to school!

So could anybody help me pinpoint why my parking brake indicator is on please?

I don't have ABS or traction control if that helps with the intel.

Thank you fellow orgers in advance!!!

 

Topped off the brake fluid reservoir? Are you sure???
You say you don't have ABS? I thought all 4th gen Maximas came with ABS?

Jack up the rear and release the parking brake and see if you can spin the rear wheels with little friction.

 

I'm pretty sure I don't have ABS, or the dash light would have come on whenever I turned my car on, right? Plus I know that I don't have the relay for it.

And I haven't topped off my reservoir yet.... yikes I know!

I did do that, and before the wheel would spin freely for maybe about 5 revolutions with a firm spin. Now, it barely does maybe a half turn? Would it be my brake cable being too tight?

 

It could be possible that Nissan had the ABS as an option. But to me, that would be just as stupid to have that as an option (kinda like power windows/locks on their Maxima line, all should be standard).

You can tell if your parking brake is too tight by taking the brake cable off of the caliper, then spinning the wheel. It is super quick and easy to remove the brake cable, one bolt and one brake cable keeper.

 

$100 says your brake fluid is low

 

ok,
the light is on because the fluid is low
the pull is prolly because you rotated your tires
and ABS was a option for the 4th gen i have a 99 loaded no ABS

i hope this clears everything up

 

You need new pads

 

Something called a dongle nut or bolt got stuck on my rear caliper and gave off all the same symptoms. Check that out

 

You are correct sir!

Thanks for all the helpful tips and possible solutions gang. Yeah, a buddy of mine also told me my fluid was low... I just added fluid to the proper level and 10 minutes into my drive it went away.

That sure saved me a lot of trouble before I ever did anything else.

 

^^^I have a 99 with no ave and when I left for work this morning (30min ago) my brake light was on with my had brake down. I hope my fluid is low cause a second light being on on my dash will get annoying...

 

I prefer no abs over abs any day, I feel like I can control the cars braking better without it...

 

Until you have to come to a screaching halt on the freeway. I love ABS, as long as it is 4 wheel ABS.

 

Gonna have to agree with that, happend to me twice in my accord.
One of the times on the mass pike an idiot stopped full ***** because he missed his exit. ABS saved me from getting my front end crunched.

Oh, and to the OP good thing u got ur problem fixed man.

 

Thank you.


All I want is my Max to be in good running condition always.

 

For what it's worth, as already mentioned ABS isn't standard on 4th gens (except maybe on the GLE?). My '95 SE Auto doesn't have it.