Brake Light

[NibCrom]

So I was driving home last night and I heard a ding. Looked down and my BRAKE light was on, glowing red. The light went off and then came back on again. What is that warning me of exactly? Low brake fluid?

[AGT]

Your brake light on your instrument cluster is for the emergency brake. Might check the connection on the rear

[steve-o]

it can also mean you are low on brake fluid, well it might be different for American cars.

[NibCrom]

It turns out you're both right.

I was very low on brake fluid. I think I may have busted one of my brake lines when I ran over a couch cushion.

And the light does come on when I turn on the e-brake.

Now I just gotta find where the leak is.

[Gr1m]

oh so you just run over couches for fun? i should try that sometime

[NibCrom]

Yes, I ran over a couch cushion on purpose in order to damage my car.

[[ion] C2]

That's not a very nice thing to do.

[Vinalero]

oh so you just run over couches for fun? i should try that sometime


You already run on cushions everyday lol

But I'm thinking couch cushion would make an even more confortable ride than bags :p

[Cliff8928]

It turns out you're both right.

I was very low on brake fluid. I think I may have busted one of my brake lines when I ran over a couch cushion.

And the light does come on when I turn on the e-brake.

Now I just gotta find where the leak is.

There may not be a leak. Sometimes the light can be an indication that your brake pads need to be changed. Over the life of the pads as they wear, more fluid is retained in the calipers because the pistons are extending and that causes the fluid level to drop.

[NibCrom]

I agree with that 100%, the reason I thought there might be a leak was that the level had never gone down that far before. And I only changed my brake pads a couple of months ago. I guess if the fluid level stays where it is for a long time then there is no leak!

[Gr1m]

I guess if the fluid level stays where it is for a long time then there is no leak!
i guess you could assume that

[NibCrom]

I think I found a spot where there is a leak. (Right rear brake pictured)

http://nibcrom.com/paac/alero_brakes.jpg

[jayson_waltz]

yessir you might wanna fix that. or fill with brake fluid every day, but i'd personally fix it. Wierd spot to leak though, unless that bolt is all rusted through.

[NibCrom]

I'm not sure exactly which part is leaking yet. I did notice that the bleed valve doesn't have a cap on it.

I dried everything off and then pumped my brakes a whole bunch. Couldn't get any more fluid out that I could tell.