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What can cause a car’s red brake light to come on?

In Brakes by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Every once in a while, you might see a warning light illuminate on your dashboard.

The red brake light is one to pay attention to. 

It indicates that your parking brake is on or off. This dashboard light needs to turn on and off, so you can confirm that the parking brake is working correctly.

At times, the brake light may stay on steadily. In these cases, the light can be pointing to several braking system problems that range from maintenance needs to deeper issues.

Why did the red brake light on the dashboard turn on?

These are some possible reasons why the brake light may come on:

  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS) issues
  • Brake pad wear
  • Something wrong with a switch
  • Brake fluid is low
  • Electrical problems

Sometimes, there’s a simple solution behind the red brake light: maintenance is needed. 

It’s also possible that the vehicle’s brake fluid is low, meaning that it could have a leak. Brake fluid leaks occur at the brake lines, calipers, hoses and other spots. The brake pads may also be low.

In other cases, tracking down the red brake light cause might require a more thorough investigation.

Parking brake on Toyota Yaris.

Parking brake on Toyota Yaris

The source can be rooted in the ABS or an electrical problem. Another potential culprit is the parking brake. 

On the older mechanical parking brakes, the release has a switch. Switches can get damaged or become worn out. As a result, the brake light may not turn off or on. It could be random, too.

Why is the brake light turning on and off?

You might also notice that the brake warning light is going on and off.

This may occur if the brake fluid is right at the threshold and you go up or down a hill, causing it to drop just below the sensor.

On the parking brake side, the parking brake switch may be loose, broken or have slack in it. Sometimes, those contacts will move and turn the light on and off.

How do we diagnose the red brake light?

The path of diagnostic testing can differ among vehicles and for each individual case.

Our shop starts with a few simple steps: gather relevant information from the driver and look over the vehicle. We might see that the car has low brake fluid or the switch in the parking brake is engaged. 

The technicians can narrow down their search to a specific component through a code scan. 

These first steps help us determine where we should direct our attention. If there’s a brake fluid leak, we need to find out where.

Parking brake issues? Our technicians will look at the parts associated with it.

What should I do if the brake warning light turns on?

Did your red brake light come on?

If it appears when you’re not in park, you will want to have an automotive professional look into it as soon as possible.

Your vehicle could be losing brake fluid – which is unsafe – or be due for a brake replacement. Both problems can impact how your braking system operates.

Along with the brake light, keep an eye out for any brake problems, such as noises, fluid near the wheel, trouble braking, brake wear, and if something feels wrong with your brake pedal.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Lake Ridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Signs and sources of brake fluid leaks

In Brakes by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Whether you’re coming up on a red light or traveling through heavy traffic, you rely on your car’s braking system to kick in when needed.

Brake fluid leaks are one of the problems that can impact its stopping ability.

Brake fluid leak symptoms

Is your brake fluid low? Have you noticed yellow, brown or clear liquid near the vehicle? Are you experiencing any braking problems? These can be indicators of a brake fluid leak.

You or an automotive technician might notice your car has low brake fluid when checking the level. Maybe you spotted wetness or drips near the wheel.

Brake light on a Toyota RAV4.

Brake light on a Toyota RAV4

A few other symptoms could hint at this issue, too. The red brake light turning on is one of them. When the fluid isn’t where it needs to be, it will trigger the light.

Sometimes, you will notice changes to how the vehicle operates when driving down the road. For example, the brake pedal might feel soft – or as if it’s going to the floor – when you press on it.

It’s also possible that you don’t come across any symptoms. The leak may be discovered when you bring your car in for an oil change or inspection.

Where can leaks occur?

Brake fluid leaks aren’t restricted to one or a couple of spots. They can stem from many brake system components. 

These leak sources include:

  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS) control module
  • Brake calipers
  • Brake fittings
  • Brake fluid reservoir
  • Brake hoses
  • Brake lines
  • Master cylinder
  • Wheel cylinder
Brake fluid leaking on a Chevrolet V10.

Brake fluid leaking on a Chevrolet V10

New parts may be recommended when there’s a brake fluid leak. After a component has been replaced, our technicians perform a brake fluid exchange. Through this service, we are able to remove any air or contaminants from the system.

What causes brake fluid leaks?

We’ve talked about where brake fluid leaks can stem from. But what are some possible culprits behind them?

Leaks may be the result of corrosion or rust building up on parts – like brake lines – overtime.

Other causes include rubber deteriorating and seals around the caliper pistons starting to fail. On hoses, rubber sections may become compromised by time, age or an impact. 

You can’t always avoid leaks but having a trustworthy shop look over your car during maintenance services could allow you to catch them early on.

Why address leaks?

There are a couple of reasons why brake fluid leaks shouldn’t be ignored.

First of all, resolving these leaks is important from a safety standpoint. In fact, this problem will cause a vehicle to fail the Virginia State Inspection.

If your car has a brake fluid leak or you think it might, we recommend that you avoid driving it. You could have a sudden loss of hydraulic brake pressure, potentially leading to a collision with a vehicle or something else on the road.

Brake fluid leaks aren’t just a safety concern. They can also lead to unexpected damage in other ways.

This fluid is very corrosive, meaning that it can eat away at paint, metal and even your driveway.

Taking care of any leaks that appear and following good brake system maintenance are worth investing in.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Lake Ridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Brakes: What we check during the Virginia State Inspection

In Brakes by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

We want to make sure that you and your passengers are in safe hands as you travel down the road.

When performing the Virginia State Inspection, we look for a variety of concerns that could impact your safety.

This annual requirement spans components across the vehicle. The brake system is one of the areas that’s checked.

Different brake problems could cause a vehicle to fail the Virginia Safety Inspection.

Virginia State Inspection brake concerns

Here are some safety items that inspectors keep an eye out for:

Low rear brakes on a Mazda CX-5.

Low rear brakes on Mazda CX-5

Brake wear: The brake pads and rotors need to meet certain parameters. Pads must be at least 2/32 of an inch. It’s a good idea to replace them around 3/32 or 4/32 of an inch. Meanwhile, rotor thickness depends on what the manufacturer suggests.

 

Brake rust: If we see brake rust, it could mean that there’s a brake problem.

Seized brake caliper: We want to make sure that the brake calipers are able to move back and forth correctly.

Twisted brake hoses: Our automotive technicians confirm that the brake hoses aren’t twisted from daily use or previous repairs. 

Brake hose wear: The brake hoses can also become worn or cracked over time.

Brake fluid leaks: A vehicle will fail the Virginia Safety Inspection if brake fluid is leaking from the system. It can be brown, clear, or yellow. You might see it near the wheel well, or a technician could notice it when looking under the car.

Hard brake pedal: Hard brake pedals are another problem we look for. It may be caused by parts going bad, such as the vacuum pump, power steering pump, or brake booster. Cracks can also develop in the vacuum hose and there can be electronic issues on vehicles that use an electro hydraulic brake booster.

Soft brake pedal: We are watchful for soft brake pedals, as well. This problem is sometimes the result of air in the hydraulic brake system, a leak, or the brake pads not seeding correctly.

Toyota Tacoma parking brake.

Toyota Tacoma parking brake

Malfunctioning parking brake: The parking brake must hold when the vehicle is sitting on a slight incline. Electronic parking brakes are checked, too.

Brake light: If the red brake light is on, the vehicle won’t pass the Virginia State Inspection. This issue can be a sign that something is wrong with the parking brake system or brake fluid.

Missing brake parts: Components shouldn’t be missing from the brake system or parking brake.

Other brake problems

If you notice any of the brake problems we mentioned, have it checked out – even if your Virginia State Inspection sticker isn’t about to expire.

There are several possible signs you may notice when you need new brakes.

Brake noises – including squealing and grinding – and brake dust on the wheels are some symptoms to watch for. 

You should also bring your vehicle into an automotive professional if the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) warning light turns on.

A lot of wear on the brake pads and rotors and a vibrating brake pedal can be indicators that brake repair is needed, too.

We can check on any concerns you have about your brake system. Our technicians also perform a variety of brake services, including brake fluid exchanges, brake line replacement, and brake hardware installation.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Dumfries, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Winter car safety tips

In Battery, Brakes, Cooling System, Fluids, Headlamps, Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Today is the first day of winter.

Following a few winter car safety tips can help protect you on road trips, while you run errands, and anything in between.

Make sure your car is up-to-date on maintenance services.

Battery, brakes and belts

Car battery test on a BMW 328i.It’s a good idea to have a battery test performed, because weak car batteries are more likely to die during very hot and cold times of the year.

You should also ask an automotive expert to take a look at the timing belt – which surrounds pulleys – and the serpentine belt – which wraps around engine components.

Measuring brakes on a Toyota Sienna.

Measuring brakes on a Toyota Sienna

The brake system needs to be working correctly, as well. This includes the brake pads and rotors, calipers, brake hardware, and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

For a vehicle to operate safely, pads and rotors must be at 2/32 of an inch or more. If the red brake light or ABS light turn on, bring it to a shop or a mechanic as soon as possible.

Taking care of your windshield is also critical. Windshield wipers should be replaced if they are torn or leave streaks, making it difficult to see. Using washer fluid with the right temperature protection level helps prevent it from freezing.

More winter car safety tips

Other components we recommend getting inspected are:

  • Car lights
  • Coolant and other fluids
  • Tires and tire pressure

Cloudy headlight lenses on a Volkswagen Jetta.Winter is made up of shorter nights, rainy days, and snowy conditions. To help prevent accidents, car lights need to be checked regularly. When needed, replace any bad bulbs for headlights, brake lights, reverse lights, and fog lights. 

Headlights can grow foggy, and headlight restoration can be used to clear them up. Depending on how long you plan to keep your vehicle, it might be best to just replace the headlight assemblies.

Low coolant on a Hyundai Elantra.

Low coolant on a Hyundai Elantra

It’s important to keep an eye on a car’s fluids, as well. This includes the oil, coolant, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, and power steering fluid.

Fluid that’s lower than normal may be a symptom of a leak. If certain fluids – like power steering fluid – appear dark, your vehicle could be telling you it’s time to replace them.

If an auto repair shop performs a coolant fluid exchange or tops off your coolant, make sure they put in the right kind. 

Coolant can be blue, red, purple, pink, orange or green. The type a car uses depends on the metal used for the engine.

Checking the tires is another one of our winter car safety tips.

Has it been a while since you purchased tires? Is the tread getting close to 3/32 of an inch or 4/32 of an inch? It may be time to invest in new tires. Goodyear Tire and Kelly Tire produce all season options. Winter tires are also available.

You should also ensure that they have the right amount of air. As the temperatures dip, tire pressure decreases. Driving on low tires can impact their lifespan.

Many vehicles are equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS). If yours is, be watchful for the TPMS light, which may turn on if one or multiple tires don’t have enough air.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Lake Ridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Brake repair: What you should keep in mind

In Brakes by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

At Steve’s Auto Repair, we rotate tires and check brakes for our digital vehicle inspection, which is done as part of our oil change.

Lincoln Mercury.We conducted an inspection on a Lincoln Mercury and learned that the customer didn’t notice that the brakes had gone metal to metal. Because we are a full service shop, we are able to take care of these kinds of jobs.

What brake repair looks like

Grinding noise on brakes.

Grinding noise on brakes

In this particular case, the brake pads and rotors were simply worn down and need to be replaced. However, it’s important to keep in mind that brake repair doesn’t just involve changing the brake pads and rotors. It’s about looking at the rest of the brake system to make sure everything is working correctly.

You also need to check the bleeders on the calipers. Make sure we can actually open them and bleed the brake fluid out. Are there any hardware issues that have to go with the brake caliper? Is the brake caliper piston boot torn? Is the caliper piston seized where it won’t retract into the caliper housing? Those are some other problems that can occur and make the brake pad and rotor wear faster than just normal wear and tear. 

A brake line going bad can also cause this. There’s an issue called “brake line checking,” which is when a little piece in the brake line becomes loose. When you press the brake, the fluid goes past. As you release it, a piece acts like a flap, preventing the fluid from releasing and maintaining pressure on the brake.

In order to conduct brake service correctly, you need to release the bleeders before you push the pistons back on the brake caliper. You don’t want to be cramming dirt back into the Anti-lock braking system (ABS) or the master cylinder. 

Once the brake job is done

Technician performing brake fluid exchange.After everything is put back together, you will want to do a brake fluid flush. We use the BG fluid, which has a flushing agent in it. So, it’s not just a brake fluid exchange, like some other places do. Over a period of time, the brake fluid will get some moisture in it and – under extreme braking – the moisture can boil, resulting in a soft pedal. These problems arise as the brakes heat up when you’re coming down from the mountains after visiting with grandma or when you’re commuting. If you’re a commuter, you’re braking all the time. Even if you’re in stop and go traffic, you’re heating up the brakes quite a bit.

Using the correct lubrication on the back of the pads, or the metal contact points for the hardware or the calipers where they meet on the caliper bracket is also a necessary step in brake repair.

Using an impact gun, using an electric impact, or torquing the wheels back down is one of the last things often missed at a lot of places, including people who are working on their vehicles at home. Not using a torque wrench can automatically mess up the brake job from the get go. You start getting some lateral run out, which can cause some brake pedal pulsation later. Then, you basically have to do the brake job all over again. 

Wherever you go to get your vehicle worked on, ensure that it has ASE certified technicians. Our techs are trained to look for these different types of conditions and make sure that the brake job is done right.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.