I do that.  Leave the parking brake on and miss that Brake warning light
behind the wheel spoke.  My parking brake (84-style) is so weak that I
sometimes don't notice for a little while until I make a turn, uncovering
the indicator light,  or do one of my frequent scans of the dash
instruments.
  I have a gate on our drive, situated so that when I get out to open it the
van sits on a perhaps 5% slope, facing uphill...I often have to 're-set' my
parking brake before I can get out to open that gate..barely holds unless I
really 'reef' on the handle or find the exact right depression in the gravel
to put my wheels..
  Don Hanson
On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 9:30 AM, Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@gmail.com>wrote:

>  <Hopefully, Dave felt the brake pedal go to the floor and didn't need
> that
> warning light to tell him he had no brakes....or that his brake warning
> light was broken..
>  Don Hanson>
>
> Actually, something similar happended to me last week end.  I left the
> parking brake on for about 20 miles.  Loaded w/canoing stuff and 6 people.
> Noticed parking brake was on when tried to slow for a stop and brakes went
> near the floor!.  Turned off parking brake and remembered that this may
> correct itself if brake fluid heated up and then cooled.  Got my full brakes
> back later and fluid level OK, but was really hot and smelled odd for a
> minute there. Could not see the brake light indicator due to placement of
> steering wheel.
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL AT 'Gringo'
> 73 Beetle
>
>
>