I am having a problem with an 03 accord. I started my car today and the parking brake light stays on. I did a search on the internet and found the likely cause was to be low brake fluid in another post on this forum. Checked that, and it is not the case. Also cleaned around the actual brake handle in case anything fell and was stuck. Again did not help. So I took the car to my local dealer and they are telling me my master cylinder needs to be replaced as a sensor has gone bad. They are also telling me to get it done ASAP, as the light being on, is causing my whole ABS system to potentially mess up. If this is correct they are also wanting to charge $430 (includes part, bleeding brakes, and labor). Can anyone shed some light on this for me? I would prefer not to spend $430, but if I must....I must.

Thanks everyone, I am glad I found this forum.

/hunter

 

someone a few days ago had the same problem...does it stay on the whole time you drive or does it eventually go off..if it eventually goes off from what Ive heard its a switch of some sort that gets stuck and it eventually goes down and then the light goes off

 

There is a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for 98-02 Accords if the brake system indicator come on after a cold start and then goes off after a few minutes of driving. (Your's is a different generation Accord, so ...., don't know if that makes any difference.)

This was due to the master cylinder reservoir filter is not allowing the cap to vent properly, causing the fluid level in the filter to change. It could also be due to a bad float.

Remedy was to replace the Master Cylinder Reservoir Filter, and possibly the Float.

Here is the TSB:

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq...e.pdf

Since it sounds like your light stays on, it can be due to a different cause. If the Honda tech did a diagnostic, they may very be right. If you do need the master cylinder replaced, you can have the dealer do it, or go to an independent shop and have them replace it (even using Honda OEM part if you wanted).

Good luck.

 

Yes it does stay on. It does not go off after driving. Sounds like I will be out the money. Oh-well. Thanks for your help, and if anyone else has some input I would be very appreciative.

/hunter

 

if I were you id do it myself...if you are mechanically inclined at all you can do it...even if not its a really simple job...if its the same as the 5th gen which it might not be..theres two brake lines that run into it and you have to remove those and then two bolts that hold it to the brake booster..bench bleed your new one and then do the same steps in reverse order..its really really simple i just did mine a month or so ago!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by irighti &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... So I took the car to my local dealer and they are telling me my master cylinder needs to be replaced as a sensor has gone bad...</TD></TR></TABLE>That sensor is a float switch in the fluid reservoir cap. You shouldn't have to replace the entire master cylinder for that.

There's a pair of wires at the reservoir cap. Unplug them. If that fixes the warning lamp, then you know you need a new cap. You could also try looking at the float to see if it's hanging up & not moving free like it should. There's a fine mesh 'basket' inside the reservoir, sometimes that thing gets warped & drags against the float.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by irighti &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... They are also telling me to get it done ASAP, as the light being on, is causing my whole ABS system to potentially mess up...</TD></TR></TABLE>The ABS watches that lamp & deactivates itself off when you pull the handbrake, as indicated by that warning lamp. Low brake fluid will also interlock the ABS. That's a lot different then being 'messed up'.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by irighti &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... $430 (includes part, bleeding brakes, and labor)...</TD></TR></TABLE>It's not a bad idea to get the brakes bled anyway so that flushes FRESH brake fluid through the system. (Do that every 2 years.)