My brake light in the gauge cluster has been acting up.
This has happened two days in a row and will probably get worse.

I park with the e-brake disengaged. When I started my car this morning, my brake light in the gauge cluster was lit up. The light intensity looked as bright when the e-brake is up. I know its a false signal because my ABS light never came up. After driving for about 15 minutes, the light when out.

I noticed that if the light is already on and I pull up the e-brake, the light will go a tad dim and then light up to full intensity again.

What should I check first?
There are no other electrical problems in my car that I'm aware of.

 

have you checked the brake fluid level?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zyg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Main culprit, I'd bet! </TD></TR></TABLE>

+2

 

Can I have a Sam Adams three?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can I have a Sam Adams three? </TD></TR></TABLE>

And a booshlaat four

 

You know my brake light used to come on all the time, especially when its cold out during the morning. All i did was open up the brake fluid cap, check the level (it was normal), swish the indicator around to see if any gunk was in there, and put it back. The light hasnt come on once since. Try this and see if it goes away.

 

Are you serious??

I thought that light was just for when the e-brake was up..

Grr.. I'll go check. So far, it has only come on during the mornings.

All my brake pads are still about 60% left. I have 74k miles of mostly straight highway driving.

 

Just checked the levels. The clutch fluid is almost to the min. mark.
The brake fluid is about 55% between the min and max mark. I'll buy some more fluid tomorrow. I took your suggestion and took the brake fluid cap swooshed the indicated around a little bit. The brake pedal feel is normal, so I don't think its a malfunction of my brake system.

Now the only other question is. Dot 3 or Dot 4 brake fluid? I do autox driving about every 2 weeks.

I'll look up the difference unless you guys have your own opinion on the fluids.

 

ATE super blue is a great fluid. cheap too. its bright blue so when you are flushing out the old fluid it works awesome.

http://www.cobaltfriction.com sells it, as does http://www.optauto.com

 

Dot 3 is the way to go.

 

Looks like the problem is resolved. No lights this morning.
Thanks!