Brake light came on for instrument cluster

[skewe]

93 2.2L Camry 180k miles. I took my car in for a state inspection. The dude took it for a spin before planning to hook it up to the machine.

He says that something is leaking. Found out that it was brake fluid. It was not leaking when i went into the shop. Anyway, to cut the story short,

the Brake light (like if you pull the e-brake/hand brake, that is the same light) on the the instrument cluster came on.

Does a leak cause that. Once I fix the leak which is from the brake lines, will the BRAKE LIGHT go off?

If not, what do i need to do to get it off?

[atobe]

just refill the brake fluid and it'll go away...but you should fix that leak... that light goes on when your brake fluid's low and when the parking brake's on

[skewe]

Is there an instrument that measures the level or measures the pressure in the brake fluid resavoir?

[Surfslinger]

Originally Posted by skewe

Is there an instrument that measures the level or measures the pressure in the brake fluid reservoir?

Yes. Look at the fluid reservoir, and you will see wires going into it. This connects to a sensor that is attached to a float switch... If the float drops too much, it allows the switch in the sensor to make contact, and the dash light comes on.

Good luck,
SS

[Mike Gerber]

There is a brake pressure tester, but it is a very expensive tool. I have never actually seen one in person, only on a TV show. It measures hydraulic system pressure produced by the whole brake system, at the caliper or wheel cylinder. If you have a leak somewhere, a visual inspect will usually find it. Remember, your master cylinder will go down slowly over time. As the brake pads/shoes wear, the hydraulic system has further to travel to make the caliper piston and the rear wheel brake cylinder pistons push out further to have the pads/shoes contact the rotors/drums. That's why you have to add small amounts of brake fluid to the master cylinder reservoir over time.

Mike