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Trouble Shooting

No Brake Light Under Any Condition (Check With Ignition in "START", Cadillac, or "ON", Oldsmobile)  - Burned out bulb. Blown fuse. Open electrical leads: check continuity.

Immediate Brake Light When Ignition Is "ON"  - Parking brake on. Shorted parking brake switch (system OK). Fuse blown. Shorted differential pressure switch. Shorted solenoid lead to ground (blows fuses). Faulty connections or open circuit: check feed wire (pink) and connectors. Faulty Controller.

NOTE: For the following conditions, it is assumed that lamp circuit operates normally and there are no hydraulic leaks or air in system.

No Brake Light. System Completely Inoperative (Exercise Cycle OK; Ignition Switch "ON" Or Engine Running)  - Transmission sensor seized or not being driven. Wheel sensor out of adjustment. Speed sensors shorted to each other: Disconnect sensor connectors and check resistance across terminals (should be 1000-2500 ohms); remove connectors at controller and check resistance across speed sensor connector terminals (should be infinite - open). Faulty controller.

No Brake Light. System Completely Inoperative (NO Exercise Cycle; Ignition Switch "ON" Or Engine Running)  - Loss of ground lead connection from Controller: check black/white ground lead; Controller connectors unplugged. Solenoid valve seized in de-energized position: disconnect solenoid lead, momentarily apply 12 volts to solenoid terminal and listen for "click" (if no click, replace solenoid); apply 12 volts to solenoid for two to three seconds and observe if vacuum leak stops after solenoid "clicks" (if not, replace solenoid).

Brake Light Comes On After 2-5 Second Delay. System Completely Inoperative, But Exercise Cycle OK (Ignition Switch "ON" Or Engine Running)  - Speed Sensor leads open: check continuity at connectors (should be 1000-2500 ohms; if not, replace Sensors); check resistance at Controller terminals (should be 1000-2500 ohms; if not, replace harness).

Speed Sensor leads shorted to ground. Modulator travel switch open: check for 0-10 ohms resistance from terminal to ground (disconnect gray wire). Modulator travel switch connector not making contact with terminal or open circuit in lead: Check continuity of switch lead; remove gray wire and insert jumper to ground (if system operates normally, travel switch is faulty). Controller faulty.

Fig 1: MODULATOR ASSEMBLY
G09321197Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY

Brake Light Comes On After 2-5 Second Delay. System Completely Inoperative, And No Exercise Cycle (Ignition Switch "ON" Or Engine Running)  - Solenoid leads open: Check resistance at solenoid for 3-6 ohms; remove controller and modulator harness at controller, disconnect in-line fuse (pink wire), and check continuity of terminals "C" and "D" (see illustration). Faulty controller.

False Cycling While Vehicle Is In Motion  - Frayed shield leads causing intermittent short. Improperly greased sensor connector or missing clamp. Improper sensor adjustment. Bad electrical connections. Faulty controller.

False Cycling When Parked  - Bad electrical connections. Faulty controller.

Does Not Cycle Down to 5 MPH During Maximum Braking Effort  - Insufficient operating vacuum. Controller faulty.

Brake Light On 2-5 Seconds After High Brake Pressure Is Applies  - Defective brake combination valve (excessive pressure applied to Modulator).

Fig 2: CADILLAC (EXC. ELDORADO)
G09321198Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
Fig 3: ELDORADO
G09321199Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
Fig 4: WIRING DIAGRAM - TORONADO
G09321200Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY