How to Eliminate the Brake Warning?
2 Answers
To eliminate the brake warning, first release the handbrake. If the light turns off, the issue is with the handbrake. If the light remains on, the problem lies with the brakes. Check if the brake system is low on brake fluid or if the parking light switch is malfunctioning. The brake warning light is red and features an exclamation mark inside a circle. If the red brake warning light illuminates, it indicates a fault in the brake system. The automotive brake system refers to a series of specialized devices that apply a certain force to specific parts of the vehicle (primarily the wheels) to enforce a certain degree of braking. The functions of the brake system are: to forcibly decelerate or even stop a moving vehicle as required by the driver, to keep a stationary vehicle stable under various road conditions (including on slopes), and to maintain a stable speed for a vehicle moving downhill.
That day when I was driving long-distance, a red exclamation mark suddenly appeared on the dashboard. My first reaction was to check if the handbrake was fully released. After stopping and trying to release and re-engage the handbrake twice without the warning disappearing, I opened the engine hood to check the brake fluid reservoir level and found it had indeed dropped below the minimum mark. I quickly went to a nearby auto parts store to buy DOT4 brake fluid and topped it up. Right after adding the fluid and starting the car, the warning light went off. Later, a technician friend told me that this situation was most likely caused by the brake pads wearing down to the limit, causing the fluid level to drop and trigger the sensor. If the fluid level is normal but the light remains on, it could be due to moisture entering the ABS sensor connector, which would need cleaning. However, in such cases, it’s best to go to a professional shop to connect a diagnostic tool and read the fault codes for a more accurate solution.
