How to react when the brake warning light is on

The safe operation of your vehicle is largely dependent on the correct operation of the brakes every time you need them. When you see the brake warning light, you should immediately doubt the reliability of the system, which will bring you…

The safe operation of your vehicle is largely dependent on the correct operation of the brakes every time you need them. When you see a brake warning light, you should immediately question the reliability of a system that will stop you when you need to.

The brake system warning light may come on for several reasons, including:

• Burnt brake light
• Malfunction of the gauge of antiblocking brake system (ABS)
• Brake pads with low material content
• Low battery voltage
• Low level of brake fluid in the reservoir
• Parking brake stuck

Almost all modern cars come with ABS brakes. ABS brakes prevent the brakes from locking up when they are applied, mainly in situations where road conditions are slippery, such as during snow or rain. Vehicles with ABS brakes have two warning lights - one for a malfunction of the ABS system and one for mechanical problems.

If one of the brake system warning lights comes on, it could be a relatively minor issue or a major safety issue. Regardless of which brake light is on, always check your vehicle before continuing to use it.

Part 1 of 6: Check the brake fluid

The mechanical braking system in your car is hydraulic, which means that the fluid in the brake system controls how the brakes work.

Here's how your brake fluid works:

• When you press the brake pedal, the brake fluid is under pressure in the brake lines and hoses.
• The pressure in the brake lines causes the piston in the brake calipers to extend.
• The piston exerts pressure on the inner brake pad of each wheel.
• The brake pad compresses the brake disc and the friction causes your car to slow down and stop.
• When you release the brake pedal, the pressure in the line is released, and the caliper piston stops pressing on the brake pads, so you can continue driving.

The brake warning light in your vehicle monitors the parking brake mechanism, brake fluid in the reservoir, and any loss of pressure in the metering valve switch. If the parking brake is applied or there is little brake fluid in its reservoir, the indicator will light up. Your main job is to determine if there is a brake fluid leak.

Step 1: Check the brake fluid level. Brake fluid level is important for brake control. You will need to check the brake fluid reservoir to determine if you need to add or flush brake fluid.

The brake fluid reservoir will be located next to the firewall on the driver's side of the vehicle. Usually the tank is a white or yellow translucent plastic.

Look for the markings on the side that indicate the full mark and the low mark.

Compare the actual fluid level with the markings on the side. If it is difficult to see the liquid level through the plastic, remove the cap and shine a flashlight on the top of the reservoir.

Step 2: If the fluid level is low, add clean brake fluid.. You will need to flush out the brake fluid and add clean brake fluid if the fluid level is low.

If you are comfortable doing it yourself, you can try adding brake fluid to your car yourself.

• Functions: As the brake pads wear, the brake calipers must extend further to force the pads against the rotors and more fluid is needed in the brake lines and hoses. A slightly low brake fluid level doesn't always indicate a leak - it could also mean it's time to replace the brake pads.

Step 3. Check up reliability of a pedal of a brake.. After parking in a safe place, depress the brake pedal as hard as you can.

If the pedal slowly sinks to the floor, either air or fluid is leaking from the brake system.

If the pedal is holding steady, you probably don't have a leak and you can move on to the next steps below.

Step 4: Check for fluid leaks under the vehicle. Look for clear or honey-colored fluid inside each of the wheels or dripping under the car.

A small leak will be extremely difficult to spot on your own, but a large leak should be obvious.

• A warning: If you notice a leak under the vehicle, do not continue driving. Driving without brake fluid is extremely dangerous as your brakes will not respond. If you have a leak, a certified mechanic from AvtoTachki, for example, can come to your place to repair the brake fluid.

Part 2 of 6: Check the parking brake

Every vehicle is equipped with a parking brake, also known as an emergency brake. The parking brake has a switch that lights up on the instrument panel when the brake is applied.

Step 1: Make sure the parking brake is fully released.. If your parking brake is a hand lever, depress the button and push it all the way down to make sure it's released.

If you have a pedal-operated parking brake, you can release it by pulling on the handle or by depressing the pedal and lifting it up. Make sure he is at the top of his turn.

• Functions: Newer vehicles may be equipped with an electronic parking brake that is engaged and disengaged with a simple push of a button on the dashboard. The button is marked with the same symbol as the parking brake lamp on the instrument cluster. Press this button to release the parking brake.

Step 2: Check if the brake light is on.. If the parking brake has been applied, causing the brake light to come on, it will immediately turn off when the brake is released. If no other brake lights are on, your car is safe to drive and your problem is solved.

Part 3 of 6: Check the brake light bulbs

On some vehicles, when a brake light burns out, a warning message about that bulb is displayed on the dashboard. When this happens, it is not related to the actual detection of the burned out light bulb. Instead, the power supplied to the bulb is sent back to the electrical system and triggers a "faulty" code that turns on the brake warning light.

Step 1: Check the brake light bulbs. Check the brake light bulbs to make sure they come on when you press the brake pedal.

Have someone stand outside while you apply the brakes to see if the red brake lights come on on both sides.

Step 2: Replace the brake light bulb if needed. If the brake light is burned out, replace it with a new bulb of the same type.

If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, you can have the brake lamp replaced by a certified AvtoTachki technician.

Step 3: Check the brake lights again to make sure they are working properly.. If you replaced the light bulb, this may or may not have fixed the broken brake light.

It may not be the light bulb that needed to be replaced. The brake lights are not working, possibly due to a blown fuse or brake light switch that needs to be replaced.

• FunctionsA: If you want to test a bad brake light before replacing it, you can first run brake light diagnostics to determine what repair is needed.

Step 4. Check if the brake system indicator on the dashboard is on.. If it no longer lights up, continue driving as normal. If it still shows up, there are other issues that need to be addressed.

Part 4 of 6: Diagnosing ABS Warning Lights

The anti-lock brake system is designed to prevent brake lockup in adverse weather and road conditions. If the ABS brakes are faulty, they may not work when you want them to, or they may inadvertently activate when they shouldn't.

ABS braking systems are equipped with a control module that acts as the brain of the system. The module monitors each wheel speed sensors, vehicle speed sensor, brake pressure modulator valve and other ABS parts. If there is a problem with the part, it stores the code in the module and turns on the ABS brake warning light.

Step 1: Check if the light is on. The ABS indicator is located on the dashboard and illuminates when a problem is detected.

Step 2: Scan Codes by Mechanic. Determination of codes for the ABS system must be performed using a special code reader and a trained mechanic.

If the mechanical brakes are working properly, you can drive carefully to your next destination and have a mechanic check the ABS light.

Part 5 of 6: Checking for Low Battery Voltage

The brake system warning light may not indicate a problem with the brake system at all. If you have checked all other possibilities and your brakes seem to be fine, you may be experiencing a faulty brake light due to low battery voltage.

Step 1: Determine if you're experiencing a low battery issue. Low voltage codes may occur if:

• Your car's battery is dead or has a bad cell.
• You needed to improve your car.
• There are aftermarket devices that consume large amounts of energy.

If your car battery constantly needs to be recharged, your headlights flicker, or your car won't start in the cold, your brake light may be triggered by a low voltage code.

Otherwise, determining if the brake warning light is caused by a low voltage problem is difficult and requires special electrical diagnostic tools and a code reader.

You can call a certified mechanic to inspect the battery to determine the cause of the voltage problem and ensure that appropriate repairs are made.

Step 2: Fix the battery problem. If you fix the problem with the battery, the brake warning light should turn off if it is low voltage related. If the warning light stays on, have the brake system diagnosed and repaired by a professional mechanic.

Part 6 of 6. Checking for low brake pads

European automakers such as Volkswagen and BMW are equipping some of their vehicles with a simple sensor on the brakes. When the brake pads wear to a certain point, usually about 15 percent of the material remains, the pads make contact with the sensor and the indicator lights up.

Step 1: Check the brake pad warning light.. If your car has this special brake pad sensor, you will see this symbol on the dashboard if the brake pad material is worn out.

Step 2: Replace the brake pads. When the light comes on, you need to take steps to check and replace the brake pads to prevent damage to the brake discs and calipers.

• A warning: Driving with worn brake pads can be very dangerous. If you need to brake hard, worn out brake pads won't be as responsive unless they're pressed hard to the ground. If you ever find that your brake pads are worn out, drive very carefully, but more importantly, replace your brake pads as soon as possible.

When you buy parts for your brake system, check with the parts specialist if you also need to replace the pad wear sensor. Sensor replacement requirements vary by make and model, but the parts team should have this information handy.

If you find that one of the brake lights has come on, it is not recommended to continue driving. Proper functioning of the brakes is one of the key elements of road safety. If you ever need to diagnose a brake warning light or replace any parts of the brake system, contact AvtoTachki, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to inspect the warning device and make the necessary repairs.