Reasons Your Brake Light Is On (and How To Fix)
There are a few different explanations for why the brake light on your dashboard is blinking. Regrettably, the remedies vary from do-it-yourself projects to professionally performed repairs. I have detailed various reasons why your brake light is on, as well as what you can do to correct each of those causes, so that you may eliminate some of the possibilities before scheduling an appointment for repair.
If your brake light is on, what may be the cause of it, and what are some ways that you can solve it?
- The parking brake is either engaged or jammed.
- A lack of brake fluid
- Note: If you need new brake pads, see: Leaking Brakes
- It is necessary to use new brake light bulbs.
- There is an issue with the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Do not stop reading to get comprehensive information on each of these issues and, more significantly, the solutions to these issues.
Here are five reasons why your brake light is on, as well as instructions on how to fix it.
Your brake light may come on for several reasons, the most frequent of which are that the parking brake is engaged or broken, that there is insufficient brake fluid, that your vehicle needs new brake pads, or that your brake light bulbs need to be changed.
If handled promptly and correctly, they should be low-cost repairs that should not cause any problems. Additionally, depending on who you are and what you know, it is possible that you could make some of these improvements on your own!
Another possible cause of a brake light on the dashboard is a malfunction in the anti-lock braking system (ABS), which is also a potential possibility. On the other hand, I would delegate the diagnosis and repair of the ABS to a trained professional.
In the following paragraphs, I will provide in-depth explanations of the many reasons why your brake light can be on, as well as recommended solutions to each issue.
Reason 1: Parking Brake is Engaged or Stuck
Some automobiles feature a distinct dashboard light for the parking brake and the emergency brake, whereas, in others, the signal for the parking brake and the emergency brake is the same as the signal for the general brake light. If you are preparing to drive your vehicle and see that your brake light is on, you should make sure that your parking brake is entirely disengaged for the vehicle.
How to Fix: It should go without saying that you should put the electronic brake on. If, on the other hand, you have reason to believe that the emergency brake is either damaged or jammed, you should make every effort to get a technician as soon as possible.
Because driving with the parking brake on causes extra damage and wear to the brake pads and rotors, you should make every effort to have the brake rectified as quickly as possible if you have any reason to believe that the brake itself is the source of the issue.
Reason 2: Low Brake Fluid
The general brake light on the dashboard may be indicating that there is not enough brake fluid. Certain automobiles have a yellow circle with an exclamation point (!) in the center of it to denote this.
The presence of a yellow light indicates that the brake fluid is low, but the vehicle still has sufficient fluid to operate normally. Seek the assistance of a technician or a professional if it becomes red. There is also the possibility that a flashing red light indicates that there is either insufficient or no brake fluid, which is a significant problem with the hydraulic system of the brakes.
If the light illuminates and remains illuminated, you run the risk of experiencing a possibly catastrophic failure of the brakes, which might have repercussions that extend beyond your financial situation if it occurs at the wrong time and location. IF THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (See: IF),
The solution is that you can learn how to check your brake fluid here, which will allow you to eliminate the possibility that the brake light signal is caused by brake fluid. This will save you the expense of having someone else handle this issue for you.
If you are unable to check it yourself, any professional vehicle repair shop can identify this issue and, if necessary, replace the brake fluid. Additionally, if your brake fluid is only low and needs to be filled up, many places that sell auto parts may be happy to check it for you and fill it for you (of course, after you have purchased the brake fluid).
Either replenishing the brake fluid or having it replaced should instantly cure the brake light issue, regardless of how you determine that the reason is low or old brake fluid.
Bad Brakes That Leak
It is essential to take into consideration the possibility that leaky brakes are the root cause of low brake fluid amounts. If you replace or refill the brake fluid and the dashboard light illuminates again after some time, you should think about having your brakes inspected for a leak.
The first step in fixing a brake leak is for an automobile expert to identify the problem and then repair it. On the other hand, depending on the position of the leak in the brake and whether or not further damage has been incurred to the braking system, it is often a reasonably simple and inexpensive repair.
Wet areas at the hose or line connections may suggest a leak that has to be addressed, as stated by aa1car.com. Leaks may occur in brake hoses, brake lines, disc brake calipers, drum brake wheel cylinders, or the master cylinder itself. In addition, leaks can develop in the master cylinder itself.
It is advisable to leave this remedy to the specialists because of the possible intricacy of the issue, the location of the leak, and the severity of the damage that might be caused if it is not correctly fixed.
Angie’s List is an excellent resource for finding car technicians and researching typical repair charges depending on area and service requirements. If you need a reliable auto repairman, you may discover information about Angie’s List.
REMEMBER: If you leak your brakes, you must have it addressed as soon as possible. If all of the fluid drains from the master cylinder, you may discover that you are unable to stop your car, which is one of the symptoms of unexpected brake failure.
If the Brake Light Is On While Driving
If you are driving and your brake light suddenly illuminates, you should not become very concerned; nonetheless, you should be aware that you will need to pull out of the flow of traffic and park as fast and securely as you possibly can.
If you are experiencing a problem with one of the two brake hydraulic systems that link the brake pedal to the wheels, you should still be able to bring your vehicle to a safe stop. This is because automobiles have two independent brake hydraulic systems.
It is important to keep in mind that working on a single hydraulic system may cause your vehicle to come to a stop more slowly.
How to Fix: Once you have removed yourself from the flow of traffic and parked your car in a secure location, you should make arrangements for a tow truck to transport your vehicle to the auto repair shop of your choice, and then you should phone yourself an Uber (or a wonderful buddy!).
You will be able to go back on the road in a secure manner if you have the assistance of an automotive specialist who will be able to detect the source of the spontaneous brake light sensor and promptly rectify the situation for you.
In this scenario, if you continue to drive your car while the brake light sensor is turning on, you put yourself in danger of experiencing a sudden failure of the brakes. This is because both of the hydraulic systems that control the brakes might fail at any moment. If one of them goes out, the other will very certainly follow if the issue is not fixed as fast as possible.
Reason No. 3: You Need New Brake Pads
This is because the dashboard brake light signals that there is a problem with the complete braking system. However, in some cars, the brake light may indicate that the brake pads are worn out or that there is another issue with them. A feature that is quite convenient!
Prepare an appointment with the auto doctor to have the brake pads inspected and changed. This is the solution to the problem. If you have any friends who are mechanics, this is something that they could easily accomplish in the driveway with the appropriate equipment and a vehicle jack if you find yourself in a situation where you need to save some money.
Keep in mind that preserving the integrity of your brake pads helps guarantee the safety of yourself, your passengers, and those with whom you share the road. Therefore, if this is the issue, it is best to have it fixed as soon as possible rather than waiting until later.
Reason 4: Brake Light Bulbs Need Replacing
Many automobiles will activate the brake warning light on the dashboard if or when the rear brake lights get dim or turn off entirely. Quite helpful!
The solution to this problem is to have a buddy stand behind your vehicle while you push on the brake pedal. This will allow you to check for any potential problems. It is necessary to replace either one or both of the red brake lights if none of them illuminates.
You may find out what sort of brake light bulbs your vehicle requires by consulting the owner’s handbook; however, you can also discover this information by searching for it on Google. Simply enter the basic specifications of your vehicle and choose the sort of light bulb that you want, and voila! This website will assist you in finding the precise bulb that is suitable for your vehicle.
You won’t have any trouble changing a brake light if you have the right bulb; if you want to learn how to replace brake light bulbs on your own, check out this short video.
On the other hand, there is no need to worry if you are not capable of completing the do-it-yourself project. If you purchase the bulb from the auto parts shop, you may be able to convince one of the personnel to demonstrate how to change it for you, provided that they have the time to do so.
If this is not the case, someone at an auto repair shop should be able to assist you with this repair, which should take no more than five minutes and may cost you very little or even nothing.
Reason 5: Problem With Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Anti-lock braking systems are now standard on the majority of contemporary automobiles. These systems prevent the wheels from locking up or the tires from losing traction while driving in slippery situations. The dashboard light for this may be a distinct ABS light, but it is also possible that it is the same as the general brake warning light. This is something that occurs depending on the car.
The anti-lock braking system would have difficulty if there was an issue with the wheel speed sensor or an electrical failure. This would result in a warning for the brake system as a whole.
An automobile expert will be able to do a diagnostic test to establish whether or not there is a problem with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and to locate a solution to the problem.
If the brake light on your dashboard is on, it indicates that there is either a problem with the braking system of your vehicle or that there is soon to be a problem with the system. If you are driving your vehicle while the brake light is on, you should quickly fix the situation since it is typically considered to be risky.
In addition, if there is a problem with the master braking system of your car, it may also affect the functioning of your brake lights, which might lead to them not working properly. It’s also possible that the dashboard light is trying to tell you that there is an issue with the brake light bulbs, as was indicated before.
For those of you who are having issues with the brake lights themselves, I have included a list of possible explanations for why your brake lights are not functioning, as well as instructions on how to solve the problem.
Some of the most common issues with brake lights are that they get stuck on, that they remain off all the time, or that they only operate irregularly.
If Your Brake Lights Are Stuck On
If your brake light fails to turn off, it is most likely because of a malfunctioning brake light switch or a fuse that has blown.
The good news is that both of these issues are straightforward and straightforward difficulties that you may be able to address on your own. The repair should be extremely rapid and very inexpensive, particularly if you buy the components yourself from an auto parts shop and then hire someone to fix it for you. If you are unable to “do it yourself,” the repair should be very quick and very inexpensive.
Bad Switch for the Brake Light
One of the most frequent causes of brake lights that remain on is a damaged switch for the brake lights. while the brake light switch experiences an internal short circuit, the brake lights can remain on even while the brake pedal is not being squeezed.
If you do not take the necessary precautions, this can cause your brake lights to burn out earlier than they should, and it will also gradually destroy your battery.
If you are in the mood to repair things on your own, here is a how-to article that will guide you through the process of diagnosing and changing brake light switches. I would schedule an appointment for my vehicle.
Check out this post if you are interested in learning more about brake light switches, and keep in mind that if your car has a malfunctioning brake light switch, it is not safe for you to drive it!
Fuse Exploded
If the brake light is stuck, the cause might be a fuse that has blown or damaged. There is also the possibility that it is the reason why a brake light does not function, even after the bulb has been replaced.
Method of Repair: Changing out the fuse. You can find out which fuse box contains the fuse for your brake lights and what kind of fuse you should use to replace it by consulting the owner’s handbook.
If you do not feel comfortable changing it on your own, you should look for someone who can assist you. If you have a blown fuse, there is a good chance that someone in your family, a friend, or a coworker can simply assist you in replacing it.
Whenever Your Brake Lights Are Not Working
When it comes to your brake lights, the following are some of the most prevalent causes:
- Blown-out light bulb
- Broken or faulty switch for the brake light
- Burnt off fuse
- Damaged socket
- Lack of electricity due to a bad ground connection
Ignition of the Bulb
Considering how long the bulb is lighted when we press the brake pedal (the whole time), and how seldom we update our brake lights, this is by far the most common reason why your brake light goes out. Which makes sense when you think about how long the bulb is illuminated.
Changing out the faulty or damaged light bulb is the solution. While the owner’s handbook will provide you with information on the kind of bulb that your vehicle requires, an auto parts store may also check this information for you, or you can use our website to search for bulbs based on the vehicle you need.
Click here to discover a comprehensive written and graphic tutorial that will walk you through the process of replacing a brake light bulb if you want to replace the bulb on your own but need some specific instructions. To see a video on YouTube that discusses it, click here.
One more time, a faulty brake light switch
Despite having its bulbs replaced, the brake light switch, which is the same item that may cause a brake light to remain on, can also cause it to remain “out” for an extended period.
How to Fix: Replace the switch that controls the brake light. I would personally hire someone to do this for me, as I said before; but, if you are interested in doing it yourself, this video offers an excellent how-to guide that you may follow to do this task.
Fuse Exploded
A blown fuse may be the reason why a brake light does not operate, even after the light bulb has been changed.
Method of Repair: Changing out the fuse. You can find out which fuse box contains the fuse for your brake lights and what kind of fuse you should use to replace it by consulting the owner’s handbook.
Bad Socket
There may be an issue with the light socket itself if just one of the brake lights is not working, but the bulb is functioning properly. It is possible that the connections in the sockets may get corroded or unclean over time, or that the wire will become worn to the point where it will only make connections on an occasional basis.
A citation or a fender-bender waiting to happen would be the result of this tiny electrical malfunction, which would cause a brake light to not glow when the brake pedal is applied.
To fix the problem, replace the defective socket by removing the old socket and the bad wires and then splicing in the new component. This should be possible for anybody who works at a local car repair shop.
Weak ground connection resulting in no power
One of the consequences of a faulty or damaged ground connection for the brake lights is that the brake lights will not function properly. Another consequence is that electricity will cross-feed into the circuit for the tail lights, which will prevent the brake lights and the tail lights from functioning simultaneously.
If you are familiar with automobiles or electrical systems and possess the appropriate equipment, you may be able to make this repair on your own. For a do-it-yourself outline, please refer to this page.
For the rest of us, it is probably time to schedule an appointment at the auto repair shop so that a professional can diagnose and remedy this problem for us.
Because the ability to come to a safe stop when we want to or need to is just as vital as the ability to travel to the places we need to go, the braking system in our automobiles is one of the most critical components of our vehicles.
The brake warning light should not be disregarded or taken lightly when it comes to the alarm signals that are shown on the dashboard. When it comes to this situation, it is always better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to have your car serviced as soon as possible. It is essential to get any possible brake problems looked at thoroughly by a professional to ensure that the problem (or problems) are appropriately rectified before placing yourself and others in danger. This is crucial for the lifetime of our cars as well as the safety of ourselves, our passengers, and others with whom we share the road.