E-brake light always on.. - Honda Prelude Forum

Batas · 10-23-2011, 11:51 PM

i have a 1997 honda prelude sh and my ebrake light stays on.. even drivin highway for 60-70mph.. but it runs smooth.. i just want to know why is it doing that.. its been like that for almost 3weeks now.. and im scared to keep runnin my car and ebrake light is on all the time.. pls help me guys... thanks PRELUDERS

dlndjh · 10-24-2011, 07:52 AM

First check your brake fluid to see if it's low. If it's O.K. it's probably just the switch that your e-brake handle hits to turn off the light when released. May need a small adjust or replace. Not sure how to get to it but may have to remove your console(?).

indylude18 · 10-24-2011, 10:21 AM

First, check the brake fluid level. If you've been driving with the light on for 3 weeks and haven't killed yourself yet, the brake fluid level is probably fine.

More likely cause: There's a float on that cap for the brake fluid reservoir. It gets stuck. Slide in up and down a few times, then put the cap back on. The light will go off....until the float gets stuck again.

Nighthawk01 · 10-27-2011, 12:43 AM

I know on my accord - the brake light comes on....when your brake light is out. Among the other reasons already listed.

Waiting 3 weeks is a bit too long and rather foolish imo

zfinatic · 10-27-2011, 10:27 PM

check your pad wear as well....

That 01 BB6 · 10-28-2011, 09:19 PM

My brake light was on today and I just had to un-stick the float.

zfinatic · 10-29-2011, 04:18 PM

mine does it in the morning when its cool or when its raining and wet......going to replace pads next weekend.

indylude18 · 10-29-2011, 07:33 PM

It has nothing to do with your brake pads....preludes do not have wear sensors.

That 01 BB6 · 10-29-2011, 08:09 PM

My brake sensor acted up during the cool mornings and also while it was raining/wet. Pretty sure it was a coincidence because that shouldn't effect the solution I took.

Open your brake fluid reservoir like Indylude mentioned and just slide that float up and down a couple times. Gotta re-lubricate the shaft it's on. ..no ****

minilogoguy18 · 10-29-2011, 08:23 PM

^You guys should really learn a thing or 2 about brake fluid, what it does and why it should be changed, it will answer your questions especially if you notice such things when the air is moist.

indylude18 · 10-29-2011, 09:28 PM

^Not really. Brake fluid attracts moisture, so that would cause the volume to go up if excess moisture in the fluid were the problem. The brake light comes on because the brake fluid level is reading too low on the float. Broken down brake fluid only contributes to brake fade, which only occurs after repeated braking starts to boil the fluid, but my light firsts comes on when first starting out in the morning with cold brakes. The light also usually goes away on it's own by the time the temp increases during the day.

I've also noticed my brake light usually first comes on when it's colder than normal, not necessarily when it's moist outside. It almost never comes on in the summer.

That said, I wouldn't advocate never changing your brake fluid...but I don't see how old brake fluid would cause the light to come on. Just change your brake fluid when you change your brake pads and you should be good to go.

zfinatic · 11-01-2011, 09:18 PM

My fluid should be fine. Levels are good and it was just changed in the spring. It only happens when the car is cold in the morning and goes away when the car gets to temp. Our cars do not have sensors but when pad wear gets low....pistons in the calipers are pushed out further than normal leaving room for more brakefluid to be used. The only thing i can think of with the rain would be it keeping it cooler longer....still goes away when everythings warmed up.

That 01 BB6 · 11-01-2011, 09:23 PM

Soooo have you checked the float in the brake reservoir? I had your same exact issue and that solved it.

zfinatic · 11-01-2011, 09:55 PM

Yeah its fine as far as I can tell....mine wasn't stuck....I need new pads anyway so if those don't fix it ill change the float next.

Rycon · 11-02-2011, 09:00 AM

I am having the same issue so I'm going to try the float thing.

Only happens when its either wet or cold.

TheJGB-2KTypeSH · 11-02-2011, 02:39 PM

There is a TSB (technical service bulletin) for this issue. It applies to all Accords, Civics, Preludes, Odysseys, and Cr-Vs from ~1994-2005. This issue is caused by the float and screen in the master cylinder reservoir when it's cold out. The TSB calls for replacing these two items.

TSB A03-078

Brake System Indicator Comes On and Goes Off
(Supersedes 03-078, dated October 17, 2003)