UnWoRtHy
15+ Year Contributor
- 32
- 0
- Mar 15, 2004
-
Chaplin,
Connecticut
Alright...this is just wierd, but not really some kind of emergency...at least as far as I know.
Sometimes, whenever it's cold out during the winter months, or it's just been a very cool summer night, I'll get in my car, fire up the good ol' 420A and as my idiot lights go out, the "Brake" light stays lit, and will do so for the entire trip. There have been a few times I've worked a full 8am to 7pm shift at work, and it's still doing it. Friggin' wierd. Usually, if it's a cold night/morning, but a relatively warm day, I'll get back in at the end of the day and all will be normal.
Now for the real kicker. Several times when it's done this in the morning, I'll pop my hood and take off the lid for the brake fluid resevoir, screw it back on and magically...no light. I'm completely stumped here, as is pretty much everyone else I've asked...including my roommate, who works at the local Midas, so he deals with this kinda crap all day! Here are a few theories and suggestions I've been presented with, however.
1) My fluid's low.
Nope...checked it. Full.
2) The cold somehow reduces the volume of fluid, so the car THINKS it's low.
Uhh...no. Not only does that seem outright stupid, but when I've checked my fluid, it's always full. Hot, cold. Whatever.
3) (Note: I've recently...within the last 6000 miles, replaced pads and rotors all around. Factory parts.) Because I changed my brakes, as the pads get worn down, I need to add more fluid.
This seems somewhat feasible at least....But if that were true...wouldn't my fluid be low?
4) Electrial short.
This is starting to seem like the most likely scenario. But it STILL doesn't explain why removing the cap from the resevior would fix the problem.
5) Pull your E-Brake and then release it again.
No dice.
6) Turn the car on, let it run for a few minutes, shut it off and leave it for a minute or two, then start it up again. Do that a few times.
Nope.
Has anyone ever had a similar experience? Any theories? Just doesn't make any sense. Even when the light is on, the car performs flawlessly. The brakes aren't dragging, the car doesn't brake strangely. The pedal feels nice and firm. Help me figure this out!
Sometimes, whenever it's cold out during the winter months, or it's just been a very cool summer night, I'll get in my car, fire up the good ol' 420A and as my idiot lights go out, the "Brake" light stays lit, and will do so for the entire trip. There have been a few times I've worked a full 8am to 7pm shift at work, and it's still doing it. Friggin' wierd. Usually, if it's a cold night/morning, but a relatively warm day, I'll get back in at the end of the day and all will be normal.
Now for the real kicker. Several times when it's done this in the morning, I'll pop my hood and take off the lid for the brake fluid resevoir, screw it back on and magically...no light. I'm completely stumped here, as is pretty much everyone else I've asked...including my roommate, who works at the local Midas, so he deals with this kinda crap all day! Here are a few theories and suggestions I've been presented with, however.
1) My fluid's low.
Nope...checked it. Full.
2) The cold somehow reduces the volume of fluid, so the car THINKS it's low.
Uhh...no. Not only does that seem outright stupid, but when I've checked my fluid, it's always full. Hot, cold. Whatever.
3) (Note: I've recently...within the last 6000 miles, replaced pads and rotors all around. Factory parts.) Because I changed my brakes, as the pads get worn down, I need to add more fluid.
This seems somewhat feasible at least....But if that were true...wouldn't my fluid be low?
4) Electrial short.
This is starting to seem like the most likely scenario. But it STILL doesn't explain why removing the cap from the resevior would fix the problem.
5) Pull your E-Brake and then release it again.
No dice.
6) Turn the car on, let it run for a few minutes, shut it off and leave it for a minute or two, then start it up again. Do that a few times.
Nope.
Has anyone ever had a similar experience? Any theories? Just doesn't make any sense. Even when the light is on, the car performs flawlessly. The brakes aren't dragging, the car doesn't brake strangely. The pedal feels nice and firm. Help me figure this out!
So I beat on it a few times and it must of freed up something cause now it's back to normal.
