My "brake" light  on the instrument cluster comes on from time to time.  I never gave it much thought, because it was the only light illuminated.  I figured it was the switch at the parking brake.  Now...after reading the FSM, it appears this light can also be an indicator of a malfunction in the braking system.  I did not know that.  After reading, if there is a malfunction it is normally accompanied by a "ABS" indicator  .  Like I said, I don't have that, but it appears that is because that light doesn't work.  I went out and turned the key to on and all of the indicator lights come on except the ABS light.

 

The FSM says that this is a LED that is soldered to the board.  So if this is the case, I guess I can't just swap that out with a functional bulb....that sucks  .  Do normal code scanner read ABS faults or do I have to get something specific?

You can solder a new led on just fine.   Pull the cluster out.  Clip the legs and use a needle nose to pull the legs out of the board, after keeping the tip of the soldiering iron on the leg.

 

It's a 

 

 

super Easy, 

 

the PO of my truck decided that they wanted to brake the bulbs rather than fix the issues.

I'm not worried about soldering in a new LED, just would have been a little easier for troubleshooting purposes to swap bulbs.  Oh well...

I suppose you could just remove the cluster and apply 5v to the posts of the led in question?

You need a drbII scanner or equivalent to read ABS codes I'm told. For a mere 8-10k you can get one. It's only money  .

You need a drbII scanner or equivalent to read ABS codes I'm told. For a mere 8-10k you can get one. It's only money  .

Oh, is that all

Or go to the dealer and pay $120 for then to scan it.

When I had that light it was a abs sensor on the rear axle. Y2k

It can be sensors. Like my last go around was the front right sensor that broke a lead. Little bit of solder work and good as new for now. I know eventually they will fail completely.