well, this started a few weeks ago when it started getting cold around here (NJ)... one morning when i pulled out of my driveway and started driving, my brake light came on when i came to a full stop. the light stayed on for about 3-4 seconds and went away and never came back on the rest of the trip (about 1/2 hour of stop and go driving)... well, it didnt happen again for a couple weeks, so i thought nothing of it... well, a couple days ago, the same thing happened (in the morning when it was really cold), but the light came on the next 2-3 times i came to a stop and went away like last time... so i figured that something was wrong, but idk what. the light didnt come back until today(another really cold morning), but today, it came on MUCH more... seemingly like almost every time i came to a stop. so whats the problem?? any ideas?? do i need to change the brakes (i changed them like 15-20k miles ago at most)?? do you think the cold weather had something to do with it?? hopefully its nothing too serious any help is appreciated

 

might just mean you need to change the pads or something... probably nothing too serious... do you feel a difference when braking?

 

not really, it feels good when i brake, but that could be b/c of the pressurized brake system... ill look at the brake fluid level and see if that is low... i know when brakes start to wear, the brake fluid fills the space.

also, i just realized that this belongs in the other forum (suspension and handling) , sorry and feel free to move

 

Simple prob...

low on brake fluid

low brake fluid usually means the pistons on the calipers are pushed out far enough for the brake light to go on...means you need new pads... if you dont change the pads your light will come on more frequently until it just stays on then you run the possibility of having messed up rotors that may need resurfacing... also you may experience the "shakes" if you let the problem go on ...

dealer brake pads = 60 bones

 

sounds like low brake fluid but when you are checking the level of fluid in the res you MUST pump the pedal min 20 times with engine off to establish TRUE level or you will over fill and it will spurt out of the res cap and that stuff is corr..

 

Damn I love CL. I just had this problem this morning and yesterday, and I was about to take it to a dealer, but know that I know its a simple problem I am so relieved and will take it into a local brake shop where my buddy works.


What brake pad's do you guys recomend?

 

Yes, it's almost certainly low brake fluid. This just happened to me. Occurred more going down or up hill for obvious reasons (fluid level would read lower).

 

ok, so do i need to change the brakes or just add fluid?? i know how to check the brakes, its not rocket science, but it is in the 30's up here in NJ and my hands will fall off by the time im done... am i better off adding some fluid or should i just not be lazy and actually take the tires off and check all the brakes

 

wow..this is weird..this just happned to me a couple days ago. I haven't driven my car since then and today i was out and it happened again. It stopped after 10-15 minutes after driving. My brake fluids look ok..i'm gonna have my mechanic look at the pads this weekend..

 

I'd try the fluid first - why not? READ THE COMMENTS ON THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. It says to check with engine off (no surprise) and to pump the pedal *40* times before checking the level. Then if it's not between min/max, then fill it up (I believe that's the instructions from memory).

If that doesn't solve the light (I believe it will) then check the pads/rotors, etc. It could also be a master cylinder problem, but unlikely.

 

i have a little question i always wonder. if the brake fluid level is low, does that mean you have a leak? or they also burn away?

i have never had this probelm so far, but then i service my cars prtty often so i just ask the mechanic to check and fill it up when necessary

 

what happens is that when brake pads wear, the "meat" on the pad gets thinner... so the piston pushes in in order to compensate for the lost "meat" on the pad... when the piston moves in, the brake fluid fills its place... so all the empty spaces on both sides of the brakes leads to the brake fluid filling into the brake lines and i guess into the calipers as well... so its no leak, the fluid just moves down into the system. thats why if you fill brake fluid, then change your brakes and push the piston back in, the fluid rushes back to the reservoir and overflows... but im gonna check my brake fluid when i get up tomorrow.

 

oh, so that means every time i change my brake pads i have to be careful about overflow in the reservoir?

 

EXACTLY... and as lexforlife said, its corrosive (which i didnt know). so be careful

 

Where was the fluid on the lines in resivour?

That's the first time I heard you have to pump brakes 40 times before checking-What's that all about?
Is it because we have that electric brake pressurizer thing?