Brake light coming on

FSCatalyst

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Black Protege ES 2.0L
I'm having some problems..my brake light indicator comes on when i do moderate to hard braking. It happens most of the time but when I do like an emergency braking coming to a stop, my brake light comes on (usually when the needle drops under 30km/hr). Then it goes off.

Also when I do hard braking during ABS operation the light doesn't come on.

I checked the fluids, and there seems to be no leaks or anything so the pressure differential valve isn't 'on'. no pedal fade at stops... nothing! any ideas?

This is a 2002 Protege ES2.0 with 4wheel discs with ABS.


Thanks.
 
the Parking brake light? Check your pad thickness. If you've got plenty of pad left (like I did), just put a bit more fluid in. Don't fill it. It happened to me last year too when it got cold. Stupid physics, making liquids more dense when it's cold...
 
It went away after I topped out the fluid. Hah! Didn't expect physics to kick in. (Never thought about it really)

Basically I'm thinking... since it turned on only when I did moderate to heavy braking. That meant more caliper piston travel therefore the Fluid in the reservoir would drop. Combination with the cold making the fluid more dense...the pressure diff turned on... BAM light! and when I took it off the brake, fluid would travel back up into the reservoir and it turned the switch off.... then no light!!

Thanks :)
 
No problem. Happened to me last year. Plenty of fluid, but not enought to completely cover the sensor when you get on it.
 
Just a note for future reference...when your emergency brake light comes on it's usually one or a combination of three things

1: Fluid level in resevoir
2: Bad emergency brake cable(s)
3: Bad Tie down

in most cases it's usually the fluid level tho...I know I've missed it once or twice while bumping around under the hood...I fill and change everything else but for some reason I usually forget about that...although that was when I had the escort (auto) and hardly ever used the ebrake, unlike my 5spd P5 now...it'd be hard to forget lol.
 
Yeah. I feel so stupid...I did a whole course on Brakes and I managed to miss it. The fill line I saw I thought it was the MAX line but apparantly it was the Minimum line.

So I thought it was a bad connection with the park brake switch so I took that apart and it wasn't it. But your right... *usually* its the fluid level
 
I say top off the fluid for now.. but if your fluid is all gunky or when you dip your clean finger to the bottom of the reservoir and you pull it all up and its like sludgey then you should flush+bleed your brakes.


This is assuming if there isnt any wrong with your brakes (no pedal fade, spongy, etc..)Then you should get it inspected
 
if you haven't done it, check the thickness of your pads. when they get worn, the brake fluid level drops b/c the pads are riding closer to the rotors, and more fluid is in the lines and pistons...the brake light comes on to tell you that your pads need to be replaced. i went though the stock pads on my ES in about 50,000 miles, so you're probably getting to that point.

if the fluid level is low enough that hard braking or cold weather results in a "low" reading, then you should check the pads.
 
Guys I have a problem, My abs indicator light and parking brake lights started after I had an aircare inspection. I don't know what went wrong because when I drove it to aircare center, everything was fine..I know that i will be futile to complain to them about what happenned.
 
anthonydyap said:
Guys I have a problem, My abs indicator light and parking brake lights started after I had an aircare inspection. I don't know what went wrong because when I drove it to aircare center, everything was fine..I know that i will be futile to complain to them about what happenned.


No it's not futile...go back. I would..obviously something happened while in their care..and if they're a decent place they'll check it out no charge.
 
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