Mitsubishi Repair: Parking Brake Problems?, brake light switch, montero sport

Question
Hi! My husband's 1999 Montero Sport has a problem. The parking brake light won't go out. I think that the brake is engaged permenantly and he thinks it is not. There is a burning smell every time you drive it, and when you drive slow it makes horrible noises like jets flying way overhead (sounds like that with the windows closed)and it seems a bit harder to make it go, but that could be my imagination. What do you think? And how hard is it to fix, what problems come from not fixing it, and how can i make it disengage on my own?
Thank you!

Answer
Jennifer: When is the last time you people had those brakes checked. Sounds like to me that you have a bad brake shoes or it has burned away to the point you are beating up the rotor. Ask your husband if he wants to spend all that money on a new rotor or how is his car insurance if the brakes finely give up and he has a crash because he could not stop.There is such a thing as dragging brakes, that could be from an incorrect adjustment of brake light switch, master cylinder pistons not returning correctly, restricted brake lines or hoses, incorrect parking brake adjustment. I think you need new brakes all around the car. You could put the car up on a jack stand, take the wheel/tire off like your are going to change a tire; then look at the brake shoes. Or else have you checked the rim/wheel is there alot of black dust on it. That would be a sign that you should have those brakes checked. I mean what would it hurt to take the car into a shop someplace and they have look at those four brake shoes to make sure everything is ok. If your brakes stop working, that would not be good. So Jennifer take the car to a shop, and have them drive it explain what it is doing and see what they tell you. I would say there is a large problem there and if you don't get it fixed it will only get worse. Hope this helps and God bless: Linda