brake light occationally on/off

Hi,
Brake light sometimes briefly turns on and off. When it stays on for
brief period, if I pull/release the hand brake, it goes off, what is
going on here?

<wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160151589.830919.322750@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
> Brake light sometimes briefly turns on and off. When it stays on for
> brief period, if I pull/release the hand brake, it goes off, what is
> going on here?[/color]

(1) Handbrake lever not completely released to begin with (even if you
thought it was)
(2) Handbrake switch out of adjustment
(3) Handbrake switch gummed up or otherwise in need of replacement

All of course assuming that "something else" isn't causing the problem that
you're attributing to the handbrake.
--
Mike Harris
Austin TX

<wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160151589.830919.322750@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
> Brake light sometimes briefly turns on and off. When it stays on for
> brief period, if I pull/release the hand brake, it goes off, what is
> going on here?
>[/color]

If you are talking about the brake warning light on the instrument panel,
check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder in the engine
compartment. Most likely, it is near the "minimum" level marked on the
reservoir. If that is the case, check brake linings for wear because they
are probably getting thin.

Another possibility is that parking brake is not fully disengaged, or the
parking brake warning switch is hanging up or out of adjustment.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Thanks Ray.
I was talking about light on instrument panel. I checked front brakes,
they have 3-4mm left. I cannot check rear brakes though. The level of
brake fluid indeed is near the minumum mark, could I just top it to
normal level? or re-bleed is needed if I add more brake fluid? My car
has 76K on it, not sure whether rear drum brake need to be replaced or
not. Last time at dealer, they recommended it to me, but I did not do
it.


On Oct 6, 1:14 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:[color=blue]
> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in messagenews:1160151589.830919.322750@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>[color=green]
> > Hi,
> > Brake light sometimes briefly turns on and off. When it stays on for
> > brief period, if I pull/release the hand brake, it goes off, what is
> > going on here?If you are talking about the brake warning light on the instrument panel,[/color]
> check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder in the engine
> compartment. Most likely, it is near the "minimum" level marked on the
> reservoir. If that is the case, check brake linings for wear because they
> are probably getting thin.
>
> Another possibility is that parking brake is not fully disengaged, or the
> parking brake warning switch is hanging up or out of adjustment.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]

<wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160239494.405252.160790@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Thanks Ray.
> I was talking about light on instrument panel. I checked front brakes,
> they have 3-4mm left. I cannot check rear brakes though. The level of
> brake fluid indeed is near the minumum mark, could I just top it to
> normal level? or re-bleed is needed if I add more brake fluid? My car
> has 76K on it, not sure whether rear drum brake need to be replaced or
> not. Last time at dealer, they recommended it to me, but I did not do
> it.
>[/color]

Minimum brake lining thickness is 2 mm so the front brake pads are getting
close to needing replacement. Depending on brake shoe thickness, they may
also need replacement.

You can top the brake fluid to normal level, but when you eventually have
the brake linings replaced, whoever does the work will need to remove some
brake fluid so it doesn't overflow when the pistons are retracted. You
should not need to re-bleed the brakes if you add fluid. Personally, I
would add just enough fluid to get it above the minimum level. Use only
fresh brake fluid from an unopened container if you add fluid.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)[color=blue]
>
> On Oct 6, 1:14 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:[color=green]
>> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in
>> messagenews:1160151589.830919.322750@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>[color=darkred]
>> > Hi,
>> > Brake light sometimes briefly turns on and off. When it stays on for
>> > brief period, if I pull/release the hand brake, it goes off, what is
>> > going on here?If you are talking about the brake warning light on the
>> > instrument panel,[/color]
>> check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder in the engine
>> compartment. Most likely, it is near the "minimum" level marked on the
>> reservoir. If that is the case, check brake linings for wear because
>> they
>> are probably getting thin.
>>
>> Another possibility is that parking brake is not fully disengaged, or the
>> parking brake warning switch is hanging up or out of adjustment.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]
>[/color]