Brake light on

[Rivyndel]

The "Brake" dash light popped on the other day. Does this mean something special or just that my brakes need to be replaced? I was planning on replacing soon and was wanting to know if this will make the light go away or if its something more dire.

What type of wench fitting do I need to remove the caliper bolts?

Thanks,

Ron

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Rivyndel

The "Brake" dash light popped on the other day. Does this mean something special or just that my brakes need to be replaced? I was planning on replacing soon and was wanting to know if this will make the light go away or if its something more dire.

What type of wench fitting do I need to remove the caliper bolts?

Thanks,

Ron

It means you have a problem with the braking system, normally hydraulically related. How do the brakes feel....soft or hard when you push down? Even low brake fluid level will trigger the light. The light also comes on and off with the parking brakes.

How many miles on your Alero and have you ever had the brakes redone before?

[Rivyndel]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

It means you have a problem with the braking system, normally hydraulically related. How do the brakes feel....soft or hard when you push down? Even low brake fluid level will trigger the light. The light also comes on and off with the parking brakes.

How many miles on your Alero and have you ever had the brakes redone before?

Its a 2001 GLS. I bought it used with 55k miles on it and it now has 69k. I have noticed that you have to push harder on the brakes than what you used to and it does seem to take more distance to stop.

I don't know if it would be related or not but my cruise control doesn't seem to be working anymore either.

I don't think that it is leaking any fluids either.

I've never redone the brakes on this particular vehicle, I've done others though.

Ron

[JTrujillo86]

Check your brake fluid level even if you don't think that it's leaking fluid. The only reason for the light to come on is if there is an issue with the brake fluid or if the e-brake is on.

Jeremy

[Rivyndel]

I picked up some brake fluid on the way home from work last night and added some. The light went off, I pumped the brakes and moved the car up and down the driveway and it stayed off. However my wife then drove it to work and at some point it came back on. I'm going to replace the brakes all the way around next week so we'll see what that does.

Any other thoughts?

Ron

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Rivyndel

I picked up some brake fluid on the way home from work last night and added some. The light went off, I pumped the brakes and moved the car up and down the driveway and it stayed off. However my wife then drove it to work and at some point it came back on. I'm going to replace the brakes all the way around next week so we'll see what that does.

Any other thoughts?

Ron

At 69K miles your brakes are due. You probably don't have much left on the disc pads so getting an all around brake job is a good move. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[JTrujillo86]

Make sure you bleed the brakes afterwards.

Jeremy