BRAKE light is on, do I need to flush/bleed my brake fluid and refill with new?

[photo_wed]

Recently my 1999 Corolla BRAKE light on my dashboard come on when I'm driving / accelerating , then when I brake it goes away. But it comes back on sometimes and goes away. What is wrong with my brake?



The emergency brake handle is already released. When I looked at the brake fluid container under the hood it is at minimum, maybe a little bit below minimum so I'm guessing it needs more brake fluid.

So I went to Auto Advance and bought Valvoline DOT 3 and 4 Synthetic Brake Fluid.

My question is what are the steps I need to do to refill the brake fluid?
I googled and notice you have to flush or bleed the brake fluid? How do I do that? I don't have a front yard or garage and my car is parked in the streets so I can't do major auto repairs in the street. I can't just jack up the car and remove all the tires to bleed the brakes.

Is flushing or bleeding the brake fluid a lot of work?
Or should I just use a turkey baster or syringe to get some old brake fluid out of the brake fluid cylinder and pour in the new brake fluid?
Or should I just simply pour and max out the brake fluid without removing the old stuff?

[Kyle Hamelin]

If you break fluid is below minimum it means two things. You have a leak be it slow or fast. Or you breaks are worn out (pads are two thin)

When was the last time you had new pads and rotors put on.

[Buurin]

Low brake fluid and hand brake not completely released is just about the only circumstances that can trigger the brake light.

Flushing is a lot of work so just top it off unless you ran the brake reservoir dry. Then you need bleeding done and might as well flush it.

Wipe down the brake fluid tank rubber cap and pull it off. Top it up then put cap back on. Tighten brake fluid bottle tightly. Act quickly but carefully - brake fluid craves paint and water if left alone which is really bad, m'kay?

[pchalpin]

Check your front pads. Same thing happened in my 2000. Front pads were worn out. Fluid level was perfect, it was the pads.

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by pchalpin

Check your front pads. Same thing happened in my 2000. Front pads were worn out. Fluid level was perfect, it was the pads.

Some pads has a sensor wire probably for this. Not on our Corollas though. Worn pads would just sink your fluid level which is easy to spot, either that or via a direct inspection of the pads.

[Quick2000]

add fluid, mine did the same thing under acceleration/deceleration or a hard turn. the sensor would go off in the reservoir as the fluid shifted.