At 04:51 AM 11/22/2002, Robert Steven Fish wrote:
>---snipped---
>Aren't all cars like this?
>--- end snipped ---
>
>It is possible...

I have never met a car with brake-warning light that did not combine the
handbrake warning and brake-circuit-failure warning in one light.  Doesn't
mean they don't exist...but ?'70 Fiat?, '71 Saab, '7? GM wagon, '76, 80,
83, 90, 96 Subaru, '84, 86, 90 Toyota, '8x CaraVan -- all same same.  Some
of them also had fluid-level warnings; if so they were combined with the
other functions in the same lamp.

>I just only drove automatics since I was 16 and we never
>used the parking brake... they were just there to get rusty and make a
>hassle for you when inspection time came around and the mechanic wanted to
>fix it for us.

That's not too wise really -- one good smack and your parking pawl in the
transmission breaks and then where are you?  I've never read a manual for
auto-transmission that didn't clearly say not to rely on the parking pawl...

>Anyway, the point s that many VW drivers do not know this, and it is not
>clearly marked or explained on the dash.

'84 Owner's Manual, page 26:
"BRAKE WARNING LIGHT.  The light comes on while the engine is cranking
[without handbrake -- dgb].  It goes off after the engine is started and
the parking brake is fully released.  This is your assurance that the brake
warning light functions properly.  If the brake warning light does not
light up while cranking the engine or setting the handbrake, there may be a
malfunction in the electrical system.  In this case, contact your VW
dealer.  WARNING: IF THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT LIGHTS UP WHEN YOU APPLY THE
BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE TWO BRAKE CIRCUITS MAY HAVE FAILED.  FIRST
MAKE SURE THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY RELEASED.  The brake warning light
does not indicate brake fluid level in the reservoir.  Check the fluid
level between regular maintenance services.  For detailed information see
BRAKES on page 18."

Do you seriously want them to write that on the dash (Note that they later
included a fluid-level warning, which would mean another sentence or two in
that paragraph)?  Have you ever seen a car with such a warning?  Would you
buy one if there was (given that writing that on the dash implies writing a
whole bunch of other stuff on the dash as well -- would there be room for
the instruments?)?

cheers
david

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"