"Brake" Light is on

[Nick1994]

Drove the Camry a few miles today, the "Brake" light on the dash kept coming on intermittently. Brakes feel fine, can't see a leak. Crawled underneath and looked at each wheel, the master cylinder, brake connections etc. can't find a leak.

Brake fluid is close to the add line, but I don't think that should trigger it to come on. I'll top it off tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll also probably take off the rear wheels and pull the drums to see if the wheel cylinders are leaking.

Only brake "issue" I have is ever since getting new wheel bearings this summer, when making a left turn into a parking spot or driveway the ABS engages usually. ABS works fine when slamming on the brakes while driving.

Will ABS stuff trigger this light? Or something else?

 

[oldhp]

Make sure parking is all the way off. I hit the PB pedal unknowingly, didn't set it but enough to make light go on.

 

[The_Eric]

Don't bother pulling the drums. Even if the wheel cylinder was leaking, it wouldn't kick a "Brake" light.

Things to check:

-Parking brake
-Fluid level, if equipped with level sensor
-Wiring connections at master cylinder level sensor if equipped
-Give the prop valve a whack if equipped

If you had an ABS issue, it would trigger the ABS warning light and sometimes the brake light too.

 

[mk378]

Add some fluid. That is what happens when it is low and sloshes around as you drive, tripping the level sensor. Keep an eye on the level if it goes down check for leaks.

ABS light coming on when you turn sharply suggests that the wire to one of the front wheel sensors is intermittent.

 

[Chris142]

It will likely be the fluid level in the master.

 

[crazyoildude]

add fluid first.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: mk378
Add some fluid. That is what happens when it is low and sloshes around as you drive, tripping the level sensor. Keep an eye on the level if it goes down check for leaks.

ABS light coming on when you turn sharply suggests that the wire to one of the front wheel sensors is intermittent.


I've had this happen on other cars. Typically the light tends to go on when going around a corner and the fluid shifts to one end. As your brake pads wear, the fluid level goes down. I wouldn't worry about it unless you fill it up and it still comes on.

 

[SLCraig]

Low fluid level in the master.. I get this question sometimes from people and it's always low fluid level in the master. Sometimes it means there's a leak, sometimes it's just that your pads are well worn.

 

[Nick1994]

Pads have a lot of material left.

I'll top it off tomorrow, all my brake fluid is at the grandparent's house where I did the brakes last week on the Jeep.

Parking brake is off, I was pulling that up and down to see if that was it and the light works perfect in coordination with the handle (when the light is off).

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
It will likely be the fluid level in the master.


yup

Had the same issue on the 97 Escort we had.
Once the level was up to the full line, the light went away

 

[Popsy]

Check for good connexion on the brake fluid level sensor and pad sensor (usually front left wheel). I had intermittent issue with a dirty fluid level sensor.

My car has two different lights, one for pads and one for fluid (and also a third one for ABS), easier to knwo what's wrong, lol

 

[HerrStig]

There's a float in the master cylinder reservoir which triggers that lamp. It can hang up gong over a bump or when the fluid is low. The master reservoir is divided into two parts, one can be down while the other is still full. Clean fluid is hard to see when the plastic reservoir darkens with age.

 

[supton]

Add more fluid.

I did a brake flush on my new-to-me Camry (similar vintage to yours), put the level to halfway (like I usually) do, and the light was on. Took it to full. Light still on. Added a touch more and finally it was happy. Am guessing it's a sensor issue that I ought to look into.

Fluid that came out was rather green, so it'll probably be sooner than later.

 

[Nick1994]

I drove it for about 25 miles or so this morning and it didn't come back on? I topped the fluid off full and 15 miles later no light. 30 mile drive home after work so we'll see. Probably was the level.

I didn't think the level would have made it come on since it was still slightly above full. Strange.

Thanks for the help guys! I was thinking it would have been the ABS sensor.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: supton


Fluid that came out was rather green, so it'll probably be sooner than later.

Green!? Lol that's weird.

I need to flush mine out, but the brakes are awesome on it. Much better than my last Camry. It might have needed a booster or something.

 

[Jetronic]

Originally Posted By: supton
Add more fluid.

I did a brake flush on my new-to-me Camry (similar vintage to yours), put the level to halfway (like I usually) do, and the light was on. Took it to full. Light still on. Added a touch more and finally it was happy. Am guessing it's a sensor issue that I ought to look into.

Fluid that came out was rather green, so it'll probably be sooner than later.

I've seen that numerous times! Green as german castrol! I'm thinking it's a moisture marker in some OEM fluids? only the fluid coming out the brakes is green though, not the one in the reservoir.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Green is copper corrosion.

 

[Jetronic]

where would the copper come from? the brake lines are all steel, the calipers either steel or aluminium.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Originally Posted By: Jetronic
where would the copper come from? the brake lines are all steel, the calipers either steel or aluminium.


http://www.vehicleservicepros.com/articl...opper-come-from

 

[Jetronic]

Good, it was high time I changed the brake fluid then!