My '96 legacy obw ej22 recently turned 200,000:banana:(and many thanks to all of you here who have helped keep her going), but unfortunately the brake light has started coming on at cold starts. More accurately, when I put down the parking brake (it's a 5spd), the light doesn't go off right away. Generally it goes off after the first hard-ish brake, or after I've been driving for a few minutes (but always when I am braking). My fluid isn't low, so I'm not really sure what else could be causing it.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

mine did this , i added fluid and it went away. warm fluid expands and reads higher than ice cold fluid.

 

add fluid.

How are the pads?

 

My daughter's 97 had a similar issue as the weather got colder a month ago. Turns out the front pads were almost gone (without any warning). New front pads and a flush of the brake fluid and no more light.

The other reason that light will come one is for a charging issue, like if your alt dies, the brake light will come one. When you first start your car make sure the alt is putting out properly.

there's a few other threads just like yours - if you scroll to the bottom left of this screen you'll see some of the exact same questions as you're asking with quite a few suggestions.

 

remove the master cylinder cap and reinstall it.

float may be sticking and mis-reading.

you're sure there's plenty of fluid?

Edited January 29, 201115 yr by grossgary

Thanks for pointing out those other threads...for some reason I couldn't find them when I searched.

 

I'm gonna try taking off the cap and putting it back on tomorrow, and maybe jiggling the sensor.

 

I'll let you all know how it goes...

 

I've recently checked the fluid level, and it looks pretty good -- just a hair below the max line. This combined w/ the fact that I changed the pads and fluid about 1yr/20,000mi ago, makes me thing it isn't the pads or the fluid level.

 

I also have a relatively new battery, and I replaced my alternator back in July, but I know that I am having some weird electrical issues....When I'm idling at night with the heat on the headlights dim when I step on the brakes. Def seems like there isn't always quite enough power, but I'm not sure that's the problem here, as the light always seems to go off when I step on the brakes.

If you leave the E-Brake off does it still do it when its cold?

 

There is a little switch on the E-brake that turns on the brake light also. It could be sticking some.

 

remove the master cylinder cap and reinstall it.

 

That did it. Thanks! It definitely made the telltale sound of air breaking a vacuum when I opened it. Guess it seals just a little bit too well or something.