I just wanted to put this up there for anyone that went through the agony I have under went.

I found out the hard way that the ECU has something to do with the E-brake / brake system light on the gauge cluster.

When I pulled my gauge cluster to remove the SRS light I also removed the ECU. Upon reinstalling the gauge cluster I found my e brake / brake system light was on...

I could not find anyway to get it to go off. Everything checked out perfect and there was no indication that it should even be on.

Well I decided to go on with my swap and after putting the ECU in the car to fire it up. I found the BRAKE light to be off on the cluster and now it functions 100% normal..

So here's to anyone that is about to shoot them selves trying to figure out why the E brake / brake system light wont go off. during a swap..

 

Sorry. You didn't say HOW the ECU caused the problem with the Ebrake so honestly it's hard to say how they are related from your report.

 

Trust me if I could figure it out I would tell you,
I printed out the Wiring diagrams straight from the HONDA FSM and there is nothing related to the ECU what so ever that should cause the E-brake / brake system light on the cluster to come on.

Only thing I can think of is that the Brake light on the cluster runs through a Relay/Circuit that is in the Main fuse box. I don't know if the ECU acts on this relay and causes the light to go off or not.
But I hook up the ECU and the Light goes off, I un-hook the ecu and the light comes on and stays on.

 

My info might be a little sketchy here because I'm looking at stuff for the 1996-1998 Civic.

From what I can tell the brake system light runs through the integrated control unit (which is mounted to the backside of the under dash fuse box). The ECU and ICU both share fuse 31 (along with the PGM-FI main relay).

 

Are you sure your brake fluid isnt low? Or you have a loose pin on the ecu side?

 

Btw, two month old post so I'm not sure he needs the help still. Others might find this though. It was the first result when I was searching.

 

I didnt see the date. You had the same problem?

 

No, someone else had a problem with fuse 31 and I was searching for them and found this.