Parking brake light comes on when accerlerating.

[Rav]

Guys,

I've noticed recently that the parking brake light comes on when I'm accelerating from a stop. As soon as I stop accelerating the light goes off. It's seems to happen more when I have just started the car up, or early in the morning.

The parking brake is off and I don't have any other issues in braking.

Any thoughts/ideas?

Rav.

 

[Ishodu]

Its actually not the parking brake light, its a brake warning light. It comes on if you have the parking brake on or your fluid level is down in the master cylinder like yours sounds like it is. You need to check your fluid level. Then you need to find out why its low. Either your brakes are wore out and all the fluid is in the calipers or you have a leak.

 

[Shoaz]

Its actually not the parking brake light, its a brake warning light. It comes on if you have the parking brake on or your fluid level is down in the master cylinder like yours sounds like it is. You need to check your fluid level. Then you need to find out why its low. Either your brakes are wore out and all the fluid is in the calipers or you have a leak.

x2

The sensor in the brake master cylinder is designed to match the volume of the brake pad material, so when your pads are done the light comes on. So, hopefully, it's just telling you that your brake pads need attention. You can make the light go out by adding a little brake fluid to the master cylinder, but that's a band-aid if the real problem is the pads.

You likely have enough pad left to get around, but I wouldn't wait too long before getting it looked at.

 

[93rev2sev]

Are there any other reasons for the brake warning light to come on? It's not pressure sensitive or anything like that is it? Just fluid level and parking brake?

 

[NCTaurusSHO]

maybe a bad ground?

 

[nik97]

Well, according to the symptom chart here in my online ford repair manual, the "brake warning" indicator will come on during acceleration advising you to stop, sell your car and purchase a Gen 1.

Other possible causes: Low brake fluid level, loose connections or faulty wiring.

Most likely the first cause tho...

 

[Rav]

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I checked the front brake pads last time we were at Toms and they looked okay then and the rears when we did the struts.

I'll check the brake fluid and then see. I haven't noticed anything leaking.

Thanks,

Rav.

 

[ChuckD]

Its telling you to give me the car and get you a truck like Tom's. Call Lisa she will let you know when I am supposed to be in.

Chuck

 

[Rav]

Okay got some brake fluid and topped it up. To be honest I don't think that it needed it. I'll check it tomorrow and see what the score is.

Chuck, I'm out of town again... seems like I'm flying too much. I'll try and give Lisa a call this weekend. Also I'm not getting a truck till I get my green card and when that will be is anyones guess.

 

[Shoaz]

Okay got some brake fluid and topped it up. To be honest I don't think that it needed it. I'll check it tomorrow and see what the score is.

If the light's coming on because of the MC the fluid woulda been fairly low.

Hmmm...

 

[Rav]

If the light's coming on because of the MC the fluid woulda been fairly low.

Hmmm...

Well the fluid in the MC wasn't all the way up to the cap, so I topped it up but still not all the way to the cap. The brake light now doesn't come on.

 

[Shoaz]

Well the fluid in the MC wasn't all the way up to the cap, so I topped it up but still not all the way to the cap. The brake light now doesn't come on.

I'm guessing that qualifies it as "fixed" in Rav's Garage and Auto Maintenance.

Might still keep an eye on the pads, but that's easy enough to do.

 

[DVJ38]

Actually Eric, the light is out. That means the brakes are good.

 

[Shoaz]

Actually Eric, the light is out. That means the brakes are good.

Clearly I can learn a lot from you ITU guys...

 

[Off Road SHO]

Actually Eric, the light is out. That means the brakes are good.

No, actually all that means is that the fluid is now high enough in the MC to extinguish the light. Assuming that the brakes are good because the light is out is just that, an assumption.

Tom

 

[nik97]

Clearly I can learn a lot from you ITU guys...

lol:tumbleweed:

 

[Rav]

Thanks for the help guys. As for the pads I think that I checked a while back and they were fine. I getting the tyres rotated next week, free from Discount Tyre and I'll ask to look at them then too.

 

[DVJ38]

I was kidding...

What's ITU?

 

[Off Road SHO]

When Mothers Against Dyslexia ( DAM ) want to learn about cars, that's where they go.

Tom

 

[Shoaz]

When Mothers Against Dyslexia ( DAM ) want to learn about cars, that's where they go.

Tom

Pretty much...