Brake light on

[My3buicks]

What's everyone's thoughts on this issue - my brake light is on in the dash. It did this a couple years ago a couple times then quit. I went to Columbus this weekend and it stayed on the en tire trip although the brakes feel and work very well. So is the master cylinder on it's way out or is it something else?

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I would first check if fluid is low. Then pull off each wheel and give it a close inspection. Funny thing with the brakes is if something is slowly going bad your pedal may feel ok only because its a gradual change. Example just recently I was talking to Adam and he explained that he heard a slight hissing sound in his Centurion and it was the brake booster was bad. Well while at the BPG event I was just idling the car and heard what sounded like a heater fan on very low, which is what I thought. As we know in a ragtop it so darn noisy. Adam sat in the car and in an instant said the booster is bad. Now the kicker, I didn't really feel it in the pedal or stopping, and I was towing too! I got home from the event and replaced the booster. WOW! Adam was right and he did tell me to be careful first time out with a new booster. The brakes grabbed like I never felt before! And the pedal is not rock solid! That damn booster could have been bad for years for all I knew and just got use to it and I don't drive the car everyday.

The point I'm making is you may not feel it but there is something wrong with your braking system. If the wheel inspection is thumbs up and the fluid is good and clean, I would change the master if anything at all just for extra safety. THe booster as what Adam told me you can slightly hear the hissing when the car is running at an idle.

[Smartin]

If the pedal travels too far, it will trip the brake light. Take Rick's suggestions into consideration. I had this issue on my old green LeSabre, and it was a SLOWLY leaking master cylinder.

Rick, good to hear you got the booster fixed. I still throw myself through the windshield when I'm driving my car:laugh:

[My3buicks]

I should mention that it stays on constantly.

On the positive note it was a beautiful weekend for top down driving, and I managed 16mpg average for the trip and pushed it pretty hard on the interstates. OK, to be truthful there were reports of a bright glowing orange meteor spotted along interstate 70 between Columbus and Pittsburgh.

[Smartin]

Nice....if I wasn't in Columbus less than a month ago, I might've made the drive.

The light will stay on if it's tripped by the travel of the brake pedal. Also, check the parking brake switch to make sure it's not shorting or sticking on.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

So beautiful! I can never get tired of looking at your car. Its so clean and just grabs you when your eye pass over it.

[Robroy]

Any progress in finding the cause?

[gashog]

If you decide to change out the master cylinder..think about replacing the booster also.
It's slightly more expensive,but they usually throw in a master cylinder if you buy the booster.
$105 at rock auto

[birminghamer]

I would look at the switch first if the car is behaving normally. It's a cheap and easy fix if this is the culprit.