97 4Runner Limited. 236k.

Started the truck up one afternoon after work, and noticed the brake light was on in the dash. Pulled the e-brake handle up and down, thinking the switch was stuck or something, light still on. Pop the hood to check fluid level, still at the max mark.

So I figured something was wrong with the switch. I drive away, and notice that the engine is running about half power, as if the timing jumped a tooth or 2. I also hear a weird scraping noise coming from the front of the engine. I have 170k miles since the last t-belt change, so I thought the timing belt was coming apart. So I drove it home, and about a mile down the road, all of the sudden the brake light went off, noise went away, and it ran fine.

The problem never happened again, this was a month ago.

Just wondering what that was all about, and if anyone else has ever ran across this?

ABS malfunction?

jack the truck up and try to wiggle the rear wheels...if the wheel bearing sh!t the bed, it could take out/temproarily block/move the ABS collar on the shaft and mess with your truck real nicely...traction control kicking in and such

Its a 97....no traction control. ABS light diddnt come on, it was the BRAKE light in the dash. Same one that comes on with the lever and fluid level sensor.

I did the axle seals last year and I regularly check the rear wheels for fluid so I know the rear end is OK. Plus that wouldnt explain the sudden loss/regain power situation and scraping noise up front

Not electrical. Frozen caliper... Just took you driving it to let it free up.

Makes sense

so then what is the problem?

your parking brake finger is rusted stuck on the back of your drum. yes it happens.

But that wouldn't make the dash BRAKE light stay on.

i beg to differ. if your brake cable is not returning to its original point because the finger is stuck. your brake lever will have tension from the cable and not seat properly on the grounding switch that triggers the light.

I'm pretty sure the sensor is connected to the handle. So, your parking brake cable could be in a bar having a beer, and as long as the handle is all the way down, the light won't be on.

My opinion? I wouldn't call it a problem, more like a hiccup. It was quirky, it fixed itself, and hasn't happened since. Don't sweat it. Why's the sky blue? How's the posi-trac on a '70 plymouth work? IT JUST DOES.

FYI it was the starter staying engaged.

Happened a time or 2 again and I had to pull the battery because the starter wouldnt stop.

Well that wasn't an electrical problem. Well it was, but dude, you couldn't hear the starter running when you opened the hood to check the fluid level?

I demand a recount!

Wow, came back after 4 years to tell us what the issue was! Now that's dedication.