Brake Idiot light on intermittently

[Phils Camry]

I haven't found a sufficient answer here to this yet. My 1991 Camry has NO problems except the dashboard brake warning light comes on at times. There is no pattern to it. It will stay off for days and then come on for no apparent reason and go off again or stay on until I turn the car off. It doesn't come on until I start driving the car. All the tail lights and brake lights work fine. It gets a little annoying sometimes. Any suggestions? Thanks....

[steamplant]

I have an 1986, had the same issue, check the level in the brake master cylinder, it may be slightly low enough to bring the light switch in.

[Mike Gerber]

^ I agree. Check the brake fluid level. But remember to remove the cap and look down in to the resevoir. Old dirty brake fluid can stain the walls of the translucent resevoir and make it look like it is at the full level, when it is actually low. If you find it near the "min" line fill it up to the "max" line. The light should go off and remain off. Then inspect the brake pads for excessive wear when you can. When the level drops to the min line it usually indicates the pads are worn and the pistons inside the calipers have to push out further to contact the rotor.

Mike