Brake warning lamps?

[chalituna]

Recently my brake light, the light when parking brake is applied, comes on when I'm driving. It will stay on for about few seconds, then turns off. I know my front pads are running low so could this be an indication to change my pads?

 

[Young L]

owners manuals are made for a reason. are you releasing the parking brake all the way?

 

[D1JL]

Sense you obviously did not read the owner's manual, here it is for you.


Brake System Warning Lamp

It will illuminate when you
engage the parking brake with
the ignition on.
If it illuminates when you are driving, check
that the parking brake is not engaged. If
the parking brake is not engaged, this
indicates low brake fluid level or a brake
system malfunction. Have your vehicle
checked immediately by an authorized
dealer.


In your case, because your pads are thin.
It is most likely low fluid.



Dave

 

[chalituna]

Hah, i forgot add that i did check the fluids but only thing i can think of is if fiesta has those brake pad sensors. I know our stock pads don't have a wear indicators.

 

[chalituna]

So I replaced the pads and the brake lights never came back up again. I guess our Fiestas do come with those electronic pad wear sensors.

 

[D1JL]

So I replaced the pads and the brake lights never came back up again. I guess our Fiestas do come with those electronic pad wear sensors.

Our pads do NOT have electronic wear sensors.
When you installed the new pads, you pushed the pistons back into the calipers.
This forces the fluid back into the master.
Therefore the float is lifted on the fluid level sensor.

This is not the best way to do this.
You should open the bleed valve on the caliper then push the piston back in.
When you are all done you should fill the master to the proper level with NEW fluid.


Dave

 

[chalituna]

Huh.. I guess i should flush the system

 

[rexdriver85]

If there was a pad wear sensor you'd see it on the pad. D1JL is most likely right, BUT I've rarely seen the fluid level ever get low enough just from pads being worn down to trigger the low level sensor. Maybe you were a little low before hand, not that you have a leak, but maybe the level was a little lower when you took delivery.

I say this because a good friend of mine has a 2014 Focus Sedan, she called me one night freaking out that her brake warning light was on only a few months after she bought the car brand new. I went over to check it out, pads all brand new still, and fluid level in the master cyl. was low. No leaks of any kind at all. I think it was just low upon delivery of the vehicle. The PDI guy didn't check out all the fluid levels properly I'll bet.

 

[Tonysarchy]

On a lot of the cars these days they Pistons hold a lot of fluid and the masters are not that big. Lately I have been seeing more and more brake lights on in customers cars that need brakes.