E-Brake Light ! No Fluid ?

[skinnadoor]

My emergency brake light came on, red on the dashboard,


Does it also mean that your fluid is low, as well as your E-Brake being on ?

Because i just had some brake work done, and my light is on, and today i lost the brakes at low speed... came home. There is only a small amount of fluid in the resivoir... the rear part of the resevoir.


Now, my manual says, that (Brake !) light is only for the E-Brake.


Thoughts ?

1994 4Runner SR5 Auto

 

[ECMgarrett]

maybe a sensor got messed up during the brake job?

 

[fourwd1]

My emergency brake light came on, red on the dashboard,


Does it also mean that your fluid is low, as well as your E-Brake being on ?

YES

 

[Mr Brewster]

i have the same thing happening w/ my 92 v6, but its not low fluid, cuz i took it in to get a tune-up, and they checked/changed all the fluids. and im not loosing oil. maby a short? how do u fix a short?

 

[4runr30]

My emergency brake light came on, red on the dashboard,


Does it also mean that your fluid is low, as well as your E-Brake being on ?

Because i just had some brake work done, and my light is on, and today i lost the brakes at low speed... came home. There is only a small amount of fluid in the resivoir... the rear part of the resevoir.


Now, my manual says, that (Brake !) light is only for the E-Brake.


Thoughts ?

First add some brake fluid to your rig. My 98 used to trip the brake light when the fluid was low, especially if I would go up a hill and the fluid would slosh around. Low fluid would also cause the brakes to fail. If adding fluid to the resevoir doesn't work then take it back to the mechanic and have him check the e-brake.

 

[obex26]

PSST... Your E-Brake is controlled ENTIRELY by a CABLE. There is NO hydraulic fluid in relation to the E-Brake. Think about it if your brakes failed due to FLUID loss how would you stop Fred Flintstone style? Remember every time you pull it it makes a CLICKING sound... If anything it is like my truck it does not seat firmly in the off position anymore and a hard enough bump which in my case is usually me launching over curbs, speed bumps, parking stoppers, and hedges due to the fact that I live in flat country and lack real obstacles or terrain. It bumps it loose enough to let the sensor tab release creating the light indication. On older trucks like mine it also was a dummy light that indicated my vehicle battery was dying or the alternator is failing.

If you lost your brakes at slow speed it also means they did not properly bleed out the master cylinder itself. If you are double pumping the brakes have it towed back to the shop at their expense since they DID NOT bleed it out properly.. Trust me on the MASTER CYLINDER having a AIR pocket..

 

[4runr30]

PSST... Your E-Brake is controlled ENTIRELY by a CABLE. There is NO hydraulic fluid in relation to the E-Brake. Think about it if your brakes failed due to FLUID loss how would you stop Fred Flintstone style? Remember every time you pull it it makes a CLICKING sound... If anything it is like my truck it does not seat firmly in the off position anymore and a hard enough bump which in my case is usually me launching over curbs, speed bumps, parking stoppers, and hedges due to the fact that I live in flat country and lack real obstacles or terrain. It bumps it loose enough to let the sensor tab release creating the light indication. On older trucks like mine it also was a dummy light that indicated my vehicle battery was dying or the alternator is failing.

If you lost your brakes at slow speed it also means they did not properly bleed out the master cylinder itself. If you are double pumping the brakes have it towed back to the shop at their expense since they DID NOT bleed it out properly.. Trust me on the MASTER CYLINDER having a AIR pocket..

Obex26

I wasn't saying the e-brake would fail due to low fluid I was referring to low fluid possibly causing the DISK brakes to fail. Your theory of having an air pocket in the line is a good tip though.

 

[fourwd1]

... Now, my manual says, that (Brake !) light is only for the E-Brake.

Thoughts ?

The BRAKE light will come on for 3 things -

1) the parking/emergency brake is on (or possibley it's off but the switch is defective and stuck in the ON postion)

2) the brake master cylinder is low on fluid

3) it will come on with the CHARGE (alt) light when there is an alternator problem

 

[the_dingman]

Re: Re: E-Brake Light ! No Fluid ?

The BRAKE light will come on for 3 things -

1) the parking/emergency brake is on (or possibley it's off but the switch is defective and stuck in the ON postion)

2) the brake master cylinder is low on fluid

3) it will come on with the CHARGE (alt) light when there is an alternator problem

That is the only information here that pertains to the OP

The question has to do with the light being on, other brake problems.