Please advise, BRAKE light will not turn off!

[TJKirby82CE]

THe red break light comes on intermentintaly while driving. Any clue as to what the problem could be, sensor, fluid ect.THanks in advance for your help!-Tk

[Walrus]

Top up your brake fluid. It may not look like it, but the fluid is low due to wear on the brakes. Mine was just doing this at 48000km.

If that isn't it.. take it in.

[OffroadX]

Don't top off the fluid, check the brake pads, they're probably nearly gone. If you top off the fluid, the "missing" fluid will reappear when the pads are replaced, spill out of the reservoir, screw up the paint inside the engine compartment and could damage other things.

Fix the problem, don't mask it!
Brent

[Walrus]

The sensor turns the light on when the fluid is well above the low level mark on the reservoir. Mine was half way between the high and low marks. I checked the front pads, and rear shoes, and there is lots of life left in them. I don't have any leaks.

I wasn't masking any problem, because there was no problem. If I took the light as a sign that I need to replace my brakes, I would have been wasting my money. If you don't know what you are looking at/for, take the truck in to your dealer. If your truck has higher mileage, get your brakes inspected.

I was giving the guy friendly advice.. and didn't feel like getting into a detailed explanation of how he should first check his brake wear, or for a leaking brake line, or leaking rear brake cylinder. If he doesn't know how to check his own brakes.. he shouldn't be under his hood adding fluid anyways. And.. if he blindly follows the advice of people on the internet without using some common sense (hey.. I've got 40,000 miles, maybe my brakes are shot) then that's his problem.

Getting back on track, tk, how many miles does your truck have on it?


Find out what the problem is, don't blindly replace parts!

[TJKirby82CE]

Well becuase I am new let me clear a few things up. First I can find my way around an auto fairly easily. I change my own breaks, oil, rebuild my own suspension, tune up my car and mainly everything else besides ripping into the heart of the engine.(this is all necessary because my car is a 82 vette)
I have 49K on the Xterra and I changed the pads at 35K. The first thing I checked was the fluid when the light started flashing, it looked ok, about half way between min and max. The pads are fine and no there is not fluid leaking anywhere. I am not used to the new cars with sensors for everything so I assumed the break light must be for something else. I bet when I get home and put some Dot 3 in it the light will go off. Thanks for the advice. BTW check out my post on the tail lights......damn these new cars...LOL!

[OffroadX]

The only time my brake light has come on was about a week before my wear indicators started dragging on my front pads. Same on my old Toyota. Of course if the fluid is low for any other reason that should be investigated, but to simply tell someone to add fluid is reckless. Check the pad wear, check for leaks, and add fluid if no cause is found otherwise.

Brent

[TJKirby82CE]

Fixed, pads about 50%, I just added fluid. Where is this sensor located, inside the master cylinder?-TK

[OffroadX]

It's a float sensor attached to the reservoir cap.

Brent

[Walrus]

???

It's on the side of the reservoir.. passenger side if I remember correctly. Definately not attached to the cap.. unless years other than 2001 were different.

[OffroadX]

Oops, you're right. Thinking of my '88 Corolla...

Brent

[OUMoneyMan]

I just had my XTerra in for the 60,000 mile maintenance 2 DAYS AGO and notified them of the brake light coming on intermittently. It comes on mostly when I initially start the car, and seemingly more often in cold weather. This started about 1,500 miles ago.

The guys at the dealership said they were not able to duplicate my problem (light wouldn't come on), the fluid level was fine and the brakepads did not need to be replaced.

Any ideas before I drop the problem back into their lap?