Brake Light in instrument cluster????

[Mook]

Whenever I drive my MSP the Brake light on the instrument cluster is always on.
Sometimes It will go out when I take the parking brake off, and sometimes it wont. Sometimes when I come to a stop, it comes back on and will stay on or go away once I accelerate.

Anyone else have this problem?
Just curious if its a common thing, or if Im gonna have to pull out the diagnostic tools to figure this one out.

 

[patmaz]

check your brake fluid level,if its low(caused by used brakes)the light will stay on,especially when you put the brakes on...If thats the case,add some fluid...

 

[Falango]

If your brakes are low, don't add too much fluid. When you change your pads, you might end up having too much fluid back up into the master cylinder.

 

[Mook]

hmm, i didnt think of that, Ill check it out.
I wanted to change the fluid out with the Blue race fluid, so Im waiting a few more miles to change my pads and do it all at once.

 

[Mook]

checked the fluid, its good, any ideas?

 

[Pmpkinhead]

Pull your wheels off and look at the pads!!! What is your mileage and are you still on original pads. Danger Will Robinson!


367 (mp3yellow

 

[patmaz]

check for the e-brake lever at the back wheels,it probably dosent release completly,on some protege,the rear brake cables rust from the inside,causing the cable to seize,and you get a light...its not your abs system,cause it would turn the abs light on....

 

[protojason]

Read about this here, and the day after it happens to me.

Today driving to work, the brake light on the dash came on when I used the brakes. It only comes on if I brake with a little more force than normal. Easily repeatable. I just replaced brake pads on all four corners. (would you believe, 77k on stock pads?)

Anyhow, I don't have abs...going to have to check the fluid level. Hopefully it's a simple top-off the fluid deal.

I don't think I've ever had the brakes 'flushed' before...folks do that right?--perhaps it's time.

-jason

 

[patmaz]

Read about this here, and the day after it happens to me.

Today driving to work, the brake light on the dash came on when I used the brakes. It only comes on if I brake with a little more force than normal. Easily repeatable. I just replace brake pads on all four corners. (would you believe, 77k on stock pads?)

Anyhow, I don't have abs...going to have to check the fluid level. Hopefully it's a simple top-off the fluid deal.

I don't think I've ever had the brakes 'flushed' before...folks do that right?--perhaps it's time.

-jason

I suggest to change the fluid every 45000 miles,for some people it seems quite often,but i call it prevention,and its not an expensive service,so why not doing it...(eekdance)

 

[njaremka]

only two reasons why your brake light will come on:
1) parking brake is engaged / parking brake switch is buggered
2) low fluid in the reservoir / reservoir switch is buggered

 

[Mook]

i dont think I have a brake pad sensor, so the rust is probably the cause,
pads are almost ready to change, i just need time

 

[protojason]

Just reporting back, i had the brake light on the dash come on repeatedly upon moderately hard braking. Checked fluid level in the resevoir, and while not at the 'low' line, it was about half way there. Cleaned off the resevoir, disconnected/reconnected the sensor there, added a dabble of dot3 brake fluid....all fixed.

Summary: Even if while stationary it's not at the "low" line, upon braking it must 'slosh' forward enough to give the indicator light. Least I know the sensor works!

Glad it was an easy fix.


-jason

 

[Mook]

dot 3 is stock fluid for this system????
thats kinda disappointing.

 

[patmaz]

dot 3 is stock fluid for this system????
thats kinda disappointing.

Yes,but you can always upgrade to ss braided lines and racing fluid,wich is a big difference performance wise...

 

[25FConv]

Just reporting back, i had the brake light on the dash come on repeatedly upon moderately hard braking. Checked fluid level in the resevoir, and while not at the 'low' line, it was about half way there. Cleaned off the resevoir, disconnected/reconnected the sensor there, added a dabble of dot3 brake fluid....all fixed.

Summary: Even if while stationary it's not at the "low" line, upon braking it must 'slosh' forward enough to give the indicator light. Least I know the sensor works!

Glad it was an easy fix.


-jason

Brake fluid doesnt just dissappear like that. Chances are that one of your pads, whether it be the front or rear, is fairly low. you should check the pads on the inside of the rotors as well because they might be lower then the pads on the outside of the rotors( This is known through personal experience), which may have caused your fluid to drop down below the full line.....and you are saying it was half way between full and low right? so when you are getting down on the brakes they feel mushy because there may be air in the line, and when you push down the master cylinder is pushing my brake fluid down to the side that has the low pad, making your fluid drop down further causing your e-brake light to pop on. (when the e-brake light pops on like that its usually a sign that a brake pad is significantly low).....

 

[njaremka]

dot 3 is stock fluid for this system????
thats kinda disappointing.

why is that dissapointing? the protege is an ECONOMY car, and DOT 3 is stock for pretty much everything on the road.

 

[Mook]

yeah, but its supposed to be kinda sporty. idunno