"BRAKE" light on... not rear tail lights...

Ok, so i'm talking about the light inside the car on the far right dial. Not to be confused with the parking brake... This thing just started coming on and flickering randomly. The car runs fine and there is no check engine light on. Ideas?

 

Here is the run down from the manual. I would guess it's low break fluid or perhaps pads. I would not drive the car until you get to the bottom of it.

Ray
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I've never heard of a light coming on for brake pads! Very cool and thank you for that. I'll go check the fluid tomorrow (if I can find out where!)

 

Front trunk under the driver side access panel (by the windshield). Three screws secure the access panel.

 

Alright, i found the brake fluid "tank" and it is FULL. There are two wires that come off of the lid that were securely in place. One thing I have never seen before... it has a button on the top that said to push to test but when I do that nothing happens. Car off, car on, car running, etc. The brake pads are 80% or better so I think it may be a short of some sort. The "BRAKE" light flickers quite a bit and will be off for 10 seconds then on for 10 seconds, then flicker for a while, etc. It will stay on usually if I am at a stop light or something with the brake pedal engaged. I'll bring it in but am open for more points to check. Also, anyone know how this button is supposed to work?

Dan

 

Sounds electrical.

 

Try clearing the ECU's just for the heck of it. If it's flickering, that sort of sounds like a loose connection some place.

Ray

 

This has to be a common problem. I've seen numerous posts but no answers. It is not fluid level (checked, topped off, checked again, etc.). It is not pads (happened before and after pad replacement). It is not the cap (replaced with known good). I don't think it is air in the lines (fluid has been flushed and bled, solid pedal). It is not an obvious issue with the wires to the cap.

Interestingly, it doesn't come on when cold. It tends to start flickering after about 10 miles and after normal, fairly light, brake application. It it not limited to cornering or stopping or accelerating. It will flicker while stopped after normal brake application. The flickering can be stopped by hard pressure on the pedal. In other words, you are stopped at a light, with foot on or off brake and the light will flicker. Press hard on the pedal and the light goes out. Release pedal and light usually stays out until next light pressure stop.

Some of those observations may not indicate causality but that's my experience.

Has anyone actually fixed this issue? Is so, how? A new master has been recommended.

 

Can you get it to flicker with rapid acceleration, or deceleration without brakes by using engine braking (ie downshifting). If so that would clinch it as a short.


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Was this ever solved?

 

I solved via replacement of master cylinder.

 

I had this problem when I first got my car. It seems like there's a float in the master cylinder that indicates fluid level. I had the light coming on exactly how you describe. Flickering them staying on for a bit etc. As the pads wear, obviously you need to add brake fluid. I added a little bit of fluid and that DID NOT correct the problem. Then I played around with that "float" a little bit and that solved it.

My thought is that the float was sticking or something which was fooling the sensor into thinking the fluid level was low. It's been trouble free ever since. Just take the master cylinder cap off and stick your finger in there, you'll feel this piece I'm describing. This was a few months ago so I'm trying to describe this best as I can recall.. But hopefully you get the idea.

Good luck.. It's worth a shot.