Brake light comes on when turning sharp or stopping quick.

[ranjon]

The brake light comes on when I make a quick stop (slam on the brakes) or when I just turn the corner too fast. What causes this? Is it my brake fluid? Why would my brake light come on just by turning the corner too fast?

Thanks for your help.

[jamesrr]

Wanted to help, but my manual does not cover this. The Stratus forum here seems to be lacking in technical responses. (Maybe all the good mechanics are smarter than buying one of these cars.)
I made up my mind to moniter this after recieving 0 replies to my 1st request for help here.
Dodge talk provided the answer I needed and I would suggest searching there. I found my solution in the Intrepid forum but they have the same engine so why not check all avenues
By the way I have a used Haynes manuel for 95-02 Stratus that I won't need much longer ,Soon as I can find some lot to take this car off my hands.
at 75,000 miles, engine problems, tranmission leaks, A/C works when it wants to.
I'll be buying Honda in the future, Sorry built in the USA crowd, but when I buy a new car I expect more than this.

[dsramprat]

You can check the brake fluid level, sometimes this causes the lamp to illuminate, but there are several switches that will cause this to happen. First and most obvious is the parking brake lever switch. This switch should be normally open. When you pull the lever, the switch closes causing the light to come on. Second, there is a Brake Warning Pressure Switch that will cause the light to come on if your pressure is too low. Third, the ignition switch turns the light on when you first turn the key on to do a self test. The anti-lock brake controller is also tied into that light (if you have anti-lock brakes) and can turn that light on, but only if it cannot turn on the yellow ABS light.

Here is some information from the 1997 Stratus factory service manual.

The red Brake warning lamp is located in the instrument cluster and is used to indicate a low brake fluid condition, the parking brake is applied or that the anti-lock brake system has a fault but could not turn on the yellow ABS warning lamp. In addition the brake warning lamp is turned on as a bulb check by the ignition switch when the ignition switch is placed in the crank position. Problems with this system will fenerally be of the type where the warning lamp fails to turn on when it should, or remains on when it should not.

The parking brake switch is located on the bottom of the parking brake lever in the center console, and the brake fluid level sensor is located in the brake fluid reservoir of the master cylinder assembly.

1. Check that the parking brake is fully released.
2. Check the fluid level
Check system for leaks if low, and check brake condition.
Repair or replace as required
3. Fluid level OK, check fluid level switch and master cylinder float for proper operation.

4. Check condition and operation of parking brake lever switch.

If all those check out, you might have a wire grounding out somewhere.

Hope this helps!

[dsramprat]

jamesrr, sorry to see you leave America! I have a 97 stratus, have had it for 11 years, and still love it. I am in the process of changing ball joints and wheel bearings because they decided that after 220,000 miles they just couldn't take any more. It has been an awesome car for me, so much I also bought a 2000. That was also a great car until someone decided to rear end my wife! NO engine problems, NO transmission problems, NO AC problems, you might have just gotten a lemon. Sorry to see you go!

[mralias]

Originally Posted by ranjon

The brake light comes on when I make a quick stop (slam on the brakes) or when I just turn the corner too fast. What causes this? Is it my brake fluid? Why would my brake light come on just by turning the corner too fast?

Thanks for your help.

Had the same problem in my 03 stratus and found it to be low brake fluid and low pads. Replaced the pads at a $38 cost and added a little brake fluild and presto, no more light. Good luck!

PS: IF you are replacing the pads on the front you should also replace the rotors as well. They cost about $30 per. You will find they will pulsate if you don't with the new pads as they are most likely out of round do to being heated up.