Any time a light on your dashboard illuminates, such as the check engine light, it’s likely to ruin your day. A brake light though may send you into a panic. What causes the brake light to come on may be something minor, meaning it may not be necessary to pull over and have your car towed to the shop. Still, if your brake light is on, your car is communicating that the brake system needs attention. Let’s look at what often causes the brake light to come on.
When the brake pedal is pressed, the force that is created is transferred to the brakes via brake fluid. Because brakes need a significant amount of force to stop your vehicle, the pressure must be magnified. With the use of friction and resistance, the brakes transfer the motive energy into heat energy with hydraulic force. The fluid moves through the brake lines to create the pressure needed to force the brake shoes or pads to press on the rotors or drums to stop the vehicle.
Brakes are imperative to the safety of your vehicle and it’s important to make sure they are in good operating condition. The brake light can illuminate for any number of reasons if the parking brakes are the cause, for example, you can simply disengage it to deactivate the light. However, an expert will need to determine what causes the brake light on the dash to stay on. The most common reasons your brake light is on:
- The Parking Brake is engaged
- Brake Fluid is low or leaking
- Worn brake pads
- The ABS System has failed
- Brake lights burned out
- Faulty sensors
Brakes are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. If you’re concerned about the state of your brakes, a Certified Technician should check to ensure they are functioning properly. Brake Experts, like the kind you’ll find at Murrieta Tire & Auto, are exactly what you need for honest, straightforward advice on how to care for your brakes. Our experienced technicians will perform a brake inspection that includes a measure of the thickness of the rotors and drums and the brake pads and shoes, as well as a check for leaks in the hydraulic system.
Recent Comments