brake warning light on (dim) - LotusTalk

Chococar · 12-22-2004, 10:35 AM

My brake warning light is now on all the time, but dim. It is easily seen at night, but during the day it's very difficult to notice.

The bulb glows brightly when I pull up on the emergency brake, so it's still capable of a bright light.

Anyone else have this symptom? Any ideas of cause?

Thanks

KLM · 12-22-2004, 11:20 AM

Mine flickers on high(er) load sweepers and turns (right or left), but does not light unless lever is pulled otherwise.

It is on my "fix this" list for the dealer at 7500 mile check.

LotusLust · 12-22-2004, 11:35 AM

lucas switches?

ekological · 12-22-2004, 11:43 AM

I had that happen, but it went away after a day or two.

Stan · 12-22-2004, 12:29 PM

Check your brake fluid level...the reservoir is under the driver's side triangular thingey on the hood.

TimMullen · 12-22-2004, 12:44 PM

Check you brake fluid? The brake light usually always does double duty as the parking brake warning light, and the low brake fluid/brake failure warning light.

In addition, the Elise, the clutch master cylinder shares the fluid reservoir with the brake master cylinder.

KLM · 12-22-2004, 01:24 PM

I cannot speak for Choco, but my fluid is fine (just checked). Level is just below the rounded top portion of the resevoir, well above either of the minimum lines.

zvezdah1 · 12-22-2004, 01:51 PM

Check the brake actuator switch which is on the handbrake, it can be adjusted, perhaps its just not set quite right so it's slightly on?
Chris

TitoLugo · 12-23-2004, 05:21 PM

Hello Choco,
I am experiencing the same problem on my three weeks old elise. I already checked the brake fluid level including the sender and everything is ok. If you do a test on the sender switch in the canister cap you will notice that when the sender indicates that the brake fluid is low the brake light will be as bright as when the lever is up. I really don't know what seems to be the problem. If you find out please let me know since where I live there is no representative to give me warranty.

Thanks,

Tito

Chococar · 12-23-2004, 09:08 PM

After some thought experiments, I've decided that it's probably a switch (level, handbrake, etc) that has a low resistance to ground (e.g., partial short). I'll work on it over the next couple of days and see if my guess is right.

TitoLugo · 01-12-2005, 07:22 PM

Choco,
Any news after the experiments.

Tito

MickOpalak · 01-13-2005, 05:16 AM

The same thing happened to mine so I took it to LOA. They said that the sensor on the brake canister cap had a short, causing the car to think that it was out of brake fluid and thus light the warning light. They had to order a replacement cap from Hethel.

Chococar · 01-15-2005, 07:36 AM

I haven't had my car for the last couple of weeks, so I haven't had a chance to troubleshoot the dim warning light. Maybe next weekend... sorry.

Chococar · 01-22-2005, 05:42 PM

My dim brake warning lit is gone. I don't know why, but it just went off.

I expect it to come back some day, but for now "problem solved".

Chococar · 03-05-2005, 01:45 PM

The dim brake warning light returned after a few weeks (of course). I pulled one wire from the brake fluid level sensor, and the dim light went away. I could make it come and go this way with either wire, so I decided that I had found the problem.

I pulled off the rubber cap covering the sensor, exposing a very simple switch. I saw some gunk between the two contacts, so I cleaned it off with a little plastic scraper. Problem solved!

See the picture below.

JediMindGamez · 10-22-2005, 09:31 PM

my god i love this board!!! just happened to me on the drive home...quick search, wiped off switch with a paper towel nothing....blew on the switch a few times and gone!!!

thx guys

choi0706 · 10-22-2005, 10:19 PM

happend to me after washing the car, freaked me out but it went away

JediMindGamez · 10-22-2005, 10:59 PM

yea...i just washed my car this morning, but i've washed my car 6 times before without this prob

BMJM100 · 10-23-2005, 04:56 PM

Dealer fixed and blamed me for dropping something on hand brake ?!?!?!?!
I never dropped anything on it. They fixed, no light.
Now for the past month light was back on. I was avoiding it till next visit to dealer.

Now I'll try to clean it & see.

Thanks
Bruce

ratooth · 11-21-2005, 06:06 AM

The instrument brake warning light was now on all the time, but dim. It was easily seen at night, but during the day it too was very difficult to notice.

The bulb glowed brightly when I pulled up on the emergency brake, so it was still capable of a bright light.

The car sat over night and the dim indicator light has vanished. Will the saga continue.....will the light return again....I know one thing, if it does, this forum will come up with the answer just as I was able to pull up these suggestions.

Thanks all
Steve

12-22-2004, 10:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,352	brake warning light on (dim) My brake warning light is now on all the time, but dim. It is easily seen at night, but during the day it's very difficult to notice. The bulb glows brightly when I pull up on the emergency brake, so it's still capable of a bright light. Anyone else have this symptom? Any ideas of cause? Thanks

12-22-2004, 11:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
KLM Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 272	Mine flickers on high(er) load sweepers and turns (right or left), but does not light unless lever is pulled otherwise. It is on my "fix this" list for the dealer at 7500 mile check. __________________ Starlight Black - Biscuit / Turbo XS Intake / QS / RAC Monolites - SOLD

12-22-2004, 11:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
LotusLust Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: da woods of tn Posts: 3,634	lucas switches? __________________ Storm Titanium, LSS, touring, hard top. my other car is a ...oh yeah i remember the other car...a spyder club111 member. i tried to buy a lower spot and become member #13 but was spurned! "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" -benjamin franklin

12-22-2004, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
TimMullen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 10,690 Images: 19	Check you brake fluid? The brake light usually always does double duty as the parking brake warning light, and the low brake fluid/brake failure warning light. In addition, the Elise, the clutch master cylinder shares the fluid reservoir with the brake master cylinder. __________________ Tim Mullen --- There is no such thing as Touring suspension or Touring wheels. I love being married. It's so great to find that one person that you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner Chantilly, VA http://members.cox.net/elans4/ 05 Lotus Elise - Chrome Orange - No Touring - No LSS - No Hardtop - Lotus Driving Lights - Lotus "Chin Guards" - plain and simple. 94 Miata R Package - Black 72 Lotus Elan Sprint - Colorado Orange/Cirrus White

12-22-2004, 01:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
KLM Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 272	I cannot speak for Choco, but my fluid is fine (just checked). Level is just below the rounded top portion of the resevoir, well above either of the minimum lines. __________________ Starlight Black - Biscuit / Turbo XS Intake / QS / RAC Monolites - SOLD

12-22-2004, 11:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
ekological Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,497 Images: 13	I had that happen, but it went away after a day or two.

12-22-2004, 12:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stan - Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,928	Check your brake fluid level...the reservoir is under the driver's side triangular thingey on the hood.

12-22-2004, 01:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
zvezdah1 eliseaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: georgia Posts: 6,768	Check the brake actuator switch which is on the handbrake, it can be adjusted, perhaps its just not set quite right so it's slightly on? Chris __________________ Chris Club111 #3 06 Solar yellow/Touring/Traction Ctrl/Blk Whl Pkg/Strshld

12-23-2004, 05:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
TitoLugo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 56	Hello Choco, I am experiencing the same problem on my three weeks old elise. I already checked the brake fluid level including the sender and everything is ok. If you do a test on the sender switch in the canister cap you will notice that when the sender indicates that the brake fluid is low the brake light will be as bright as when the lever is up. I really don't know what seems to be the problem. If you find out please let me know since where I live there is no representative to give me warranty. Thanks, Tito

12-23-2004, 09:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,352	After some thought experiments, I've decided that it's probably a switch (level, handbrake, etc) that has a low resistance to ground (e.g., partial short). I'll work on it over the next couple of days and see if my guess is right.

01-12-2005, 07:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
TitoLugo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 56	Choco, Any news after the experiments. Tito

01-13-2005, 05:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
MickOpalak LOG29 Co-chairman Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,570	The same thing happened to mine so I took it to LOA. They said that the sensor on the brake canister cap had a short, causing the car to think that it was out of brake fluid and thus light the warning light. They had to order a replacement cap from Hethel. __________________ 2007 Exige S265 - Krypton Green - Gotham 265 ECU - Volk TE37s - Toyo R888s - B&M Shifter - QuickSilver exhaust - stripes - harnesses - Pagid pads - Green air filter LOG29 - http://www.log29.org President - Lotus Limited Southeast http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/LLSE/

01-15-2005, 07:36 AM	#13 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,352	I haven't had my car for the last couple of weeks, so I haven't had a chance to troubleshoot the dim warning light. Maybe next weekend... sorry.

01-22-2005, 05:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,352	My dim brake warning lit is gone. I don't know why, but it just went off. I expect it to come back some day, but for now "problem solved".

03-05-2005, 01:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,352	Dim brake warning light problem solved! The dim brake warning light returned after a few weeks (of course). I pulled one wire from the brake fluid level sensor, and the dim light went away. I could make it come and go this way with either wire, so I decided that I had found the problem. I pulled off the rubber cap covering the sensor, exposing a very simple switch. I saw some gunk between the two contacts, so I cleaned it off with a little plastic scraper. Problem solved! See the picture below. Attached Images

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10-22-2005, 09:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
JediMindGamez Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, Ca Posts: 997	my god i love this board!!! just happened to me on the drive home...quick search, wiped off switch with a paper towel nothing....blew on the switch a few times and gone!!! thx guys __________________ You can't rationalize cars like these, they're not something you buy with your head, you buy them with your heart because you love them and who can explain love. All I know is I love my lil elise more then I like any other car...

10-22-2005, 10:19 PM	#17 (permalink)
choi0706 gas, gas, gas, gas Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston/Austin Posts: 3,713	happend to me after washing the car, freaked me out but it went away

10-22-2005, 10:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
JediMindGamez Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, Ca Posts: 997	yea...i just washed my car this morning, but i've washed my car 6 times before without this prob __________________ You can't rationalize cars like these, they're not something you buy with your head, you buy them with your heart because you love them and who can explain love. All I know is I love my lil elise more then I like any other car...

10-23-2005, 04:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
BMJM100 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Worcester, Ma. Posts: 369	This happend to me a yr ago when the car was 3 weeks old Dealer fixed and blamed me for dropping something on hand brake ?!?!?!?! I never dropped anything on it. They fixed, no light. Now for the past month light was back on. I was avoiding it till next visit to dealer. Now I'll try to clean it & see. Thanks Bruce

11-21-2005, 06:06 AM	#20 (permalink)
ratooth Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: arlington,texas Posts: 49	phantom brake light The instrument brake warning light was now on all the time, but dim. It was easily seen at night, but during the day it too was very difficult to notice. The bulb glowed brightly when I pulled up on the emergency brake, so it was still capable of a bright light. The car sat over night and the dim indicator light has vanished. Will the saga continue.....will the light return again....I know one thing, if it does, this forum will come up with the answer just as I was able to pull up these suggestions. Thanks all Steve __________________ Proud member of COM