Hey y'all, I have a '96 Civic that I've been having some trouble with. About a month ago the BRAKE light that comes on when you have the emergency brake on started coming on randomly and staying on. It now stays on almost all the time. My brake pedal does have somewhat of a spongey feel but does not go to the floor, nor is it hard to press like I've read some people experience. I can't stop on a dime but I don't have a hard time stopping either. I figured brake pads need replacing, no big deal.
So I took the car to a shop and they said my brake pads are ok for now but I need a new master cylinder and power brake booster. They also told me there's no point in only replacing one of these parts as they work together. It was going to cost me about $800 tax and all to get this done, but from some of the stuff I've read on the 'net I'm not so sure about all this. What do you guys think?

 

Bullshit. Just replace the MC and bleed the system. Never bring your car to that shop again. They're idiots or thieves.

 

Shops are ripoffs. Do it yourself. Have u check ur brake resorvoir? If it's low on fluid the light will come on. Fill it to the top and see if it goes away, and check for brake fluid leakin on ur brake lines or booster etc...

Also if u let the brake resorvoir dry itself out you'll goin to have to bleed all four brakes again.

 

Have you checked the brake light switch atually connected to the emergency brake? There is a single wire that connects to the e-brake assembly, if it falls off it could make the light come on. Worth checking, could be simpler than you think.

 

Thanks, guys. The brake fluid was full.
All my research also points to the MC needing to be replaced, it was the other part I'm not sure about. I didn't think it sounded right. I'll check with some other places about the MC. Again, thanks.

 

Wrong. This^ would disable the light.