What triggers brake lights on dash?

[Jesda]

What triggers the brake warning light on the dash other than the parking brake? Mine goes on and off intermittently. Started after extensive ABS use this winter. Just checked fluid level, did a quasi-flush and bleed, still there.

-Jesda

[PoorManQ45]

Um.. Maybe the parking brake sensor is going bad. Or one of the ABS sensors is failing

Or it could just be that one of your brake lights is failing

[gloucester Q]

jesda-i've never confirmed this myself, but my mechanic once got rid of the warning light and when i asked him what he'd done, he said there was a plunger type switch/sensor in the brake fluid resevoir that was 'sticking'. i've been meaning to have a look at it one day just to check but never remembered to do it. anyway, that's my long way of saying that your fluid level might look o.k., but the sensor may think it's low. -randy

[metaverse3]

ABS has nothing to do with it..you should have a dedicated ABS warning lamp..

3 things are tied into your brake warning light on the dash.. Alternator, Brake fluid level switch and parking brake switch.. Any one of those are the culprits..start with that list..

[90Q45blue]

You probably need a new brake master cylinder. Don't feel bad, you probably haven't had it replaced in 14 years. You can get it for about $70 bucks.

Nick

[elwesso]

Or maybe just a new fluid level sensor.....

[Jesda]

Hello from Mizzou! Just finished a small 120-mile road trip.

Anyway, I'll have a full fluid flush done at Firestone and see if that helps to unstick the sensor. The fluid that came out when I did my mini-flush in the garage was hideous -- I'm sure that was a contributing factor.

Thanks for all the input!

[PoorManQ45]

Ooops. I had that same exact thing happen Jesda. I searched and searched for like 1 month, but I couldn't find it. Then just for the heck of it, I topped off the brake fluid resevoir. To my surprise, the Brake light went off

[Jesda]

Today I replaced both front pads and bled both sides extensively, adding Valvoline Synpower DOT3. Big red brake warning light went away, but now I get stop lamp failure error. I got it intermittently before, but now its stuck there. Time to check connections.

[elwesso]

Time to replace those bulbs! Nissan dealer baby!

[PoorManQ45]

but now I get stop lamp failure error. I got it intermittently before, but now its stuck there. Time to check connections.

Hmmm, If it's not one of the back brake lights, it's probably one of the "side marker" lights. They both give the same message

[qship96]

Hmmm, If it's not one of the back brake lights, it's probably one of the "side marker" lights. They both give the same message

wrong-side marker lights are not tied to the brake lamp inoperative message.I feel sorry for new members in the future using the search feature to solve problems,and being told inaccurate information!

[PoorManQ45]

Hey, don'[t be an arse to me. My Q45 has a "Stop lamp failure" right now. It has been that way for the past 8 months. I have checked the brake lights a couple dowzen times. Both of them are working perfectly. You know what the problem is? A side marker light is burned out!

[qship96]

You need to invest in a factory service manual,AND READ IT!you may well have a side marker lamp out,however it is not the cause of any "brake lamp inoperative" warning!

[PoorManQ45]

You need to invest in a factory service manual,AND READ IT!you may well have a side marker lamp out,however it is not the cause of any "brake lamp inoperative" warning!

Hmm, I don't know, I think I have an FSM, is this it?

*edit* There may be something else giving me the stop lamp error, but the only thing that I can see that is wrong with the lights is the side lamp.

[qship96]

you missed the most important part of my previous statement........READ IT,and try to understand it?

[PoorManQ45]

Yeah, I have read it. I'm just saying that I have the stop lamp message, but the only bulb that is actually out it the side marker. Maybe there is just a sensor bad or something.

[Q451990]

Remember that there are two bulbs per side, plus the CHMSL...

If that doesn't cure it, it's probably the sensor.

Heath