Handbrake light on when taking turns - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BenG · 08-16-2003, 11:43 PM

Today, I was taking a long sweeping left hand turn fairly fast...maybe 80km?...and my handbrake light came on. I reached down to check it because I thought maybe my wallet had slipped under it enough to activate the light, but there wasn't anything there. When i came out of the turn, the light went off. Is this a common problem with Camrys (or Toyotas) in general?

I didn't have a chance to go back and try it again, but I will do so tomorrow and see if it comes on again. For those of you in Scarborough, I was on that big ramp that leads to northbound McCowan that loops in front of the condos.

808Camry · 08-17-2003, 03:14 AM

Your brake fluid is low, fill it up a bit and problem solved.

BenG · 08-17-2003, 10:45 AM

Thanks man...actually found the answer on http://www.toyotanation.com/showthre...threadid=20406 right after I posted my question.

Would it be ok to just top it off, or should I spend today learning how to bleed my brakes as well?

808Camry · 08-17-2003, 12:02 PM

You don't need to top it off, just fill it a bit. The reason why its low is your pads are wearing down. When you put new pads on the level is going to go back up, so if you top it off now, and change your pads later it may get a bit messy. Up to you it won't hurt to top it off though.

BenG · 08-17-2003, 01:50 PM

oh yea? I didn't realize that pad wear made such a difference in fluid level. I mean, I knew that as they wear, it would go down because the distance between the pads and the master cylinder was longer, but my pads aren't even 50% worn yet and the master cylinder gauge shows that I'm at minimum levels now.

BTW, I've read on this forum that when looking for brake fluid to only get ones that come in metal cans because the plastic bottles are porous to moisture in the air....but where can I get metal canned brake fluid? Canadian tire only stocks ones in plastic bottles.

808Camry · 08-17-2003, 05:24 PM

I'm sure the plastic ones should be fine. SInce you're in canada, I'm not sure on teh type of brake fluid you would need.

For us here its DOT 3

CamryWhat? · 08-17-2003, 11:07 PM

MAN i have the same problem but it is when i going all of the sudden the brake light comes on it weird so just brake fluid? thats it nothing speical COOL

808Camry · 08-18-2003, 01:36 AM

That's it... the reason it goes on for a bit is because when you drive or turn the fluid shifts and thus triggers the sensor to pick up that you're low, but turns off when you stabalize again.

kocho · 08-18-2003, 09:31 AM

The others pretty much summed it up nicely. When the windshield washer fluid is low it's warning light flashes on turns as well - same logic.

BenG · 08-18-2003, 05:50 PM

Ok, so I went and bought some Valvoline DOT3 Brake Fluid, open it up and start pouring it into the resevoir, and the fluid is clear! Is that normal? I only put a little bit in to fill the resevoir to the halfway mark, so if the clear colour isn't normal, it shouldn't be TOO much of a problem.

kocho · 08-18-2003, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BenG
Ok, so I went and bought some Valvoline DOT3 Brake Fluid, open it up and start pouring it into the resevoir, and the fluid is clear! Is that normal? I only put a little bit in to fill the resevoir to the halfway mark, so if the clear colour isn't normal, it shouldn't be TOO much of a problem.

I bought some Toyota DOT3 and it was clear too. Shouldn't be a problem...