Resource Center
Testimonials
Links
Newsletters
What to Do When Your Brake Warning Light Comes On
When you first start your car, one or two brake warning lights on the dashboard light up as part of your dashboard bulb check. However, if these lights do not turn out in a few seconds, your car may have a brake problem that requires brake service.
If your car’s brake warning light or lights remain lit or flashes, your car may be experiencing a number of issues listed below, which range from minor to serious. Whenever a light remains on or flashes, you should check your vehicle owner manual to learn what warning lights mean and typical causes for the appearance of such warning lights.
- The emergency brake may be on; release the brake to solve the problem.
- Your car’s brake fluid may be low. If you need to add brake fluid, follow your vehicle owners manual to do so, or bring your car to a mechanic. If you fill the brake fluid, and the brake warning light comes on again in a few days, check the fluid level again. If it is low, you may have a leak. Low brake fluid levels can cause your brakes to fail, so take it to a mechanic immediately.
- Your car may be experiencing a brake system failure.
- If your car has an antilock brake system (ABS) and your ABS warning light does not go out, have your car checked immediately. This warning light may mean that your ABS turns itself off, leading to possible locked brakes, or that ABS will not be available when braking on a wet surface. If the ABS warning light and brake warning light both remain lit, your car needs to be taken to a mechanic immediately.
- If the warning light comes on when you apply the brakes, it may mean that hydraulic pressure has been lost in one side of brake system.
If your car’s brake warning lights remain lit, bring your car to Burke Centre Automotive for brake service. A AAA-approved center for auto repair and maintenance, Burke Centre Automotive specializes in complete foreign and domestic repair service and has been serving Burke, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Fairfax City, and Springfield since 1996.
