Recently I noticed my parking brake light remains on in my 2004 RX8.

Any ideas?

I am a major DIYer and I know better than to take such a minor condition to a dealer so they can turn around and charge me a few hundred bucks for a 10 minute job.

Thanks.

 

brake fluid low?

 

^parking brake light is not caused by brake fluid it's all mechanical.....if you take of the center console top(where your shift **** is you will have to screw off ur ****) there is a sensor in there(really just a button that turns on and off ur light with handle position) make sure that the wire is conected and the button is working correctly...

Also if you did any work under the dash/radio make sure u didn't cut the wire I belive the wire is like a tan color(well at least mine is)

 

The light warns if the parking brake is on and it also warns if the brake fluid is low. One of them two for one deals.

Ken

 

the PARKING BRAKE warns for low fluid? I know that on most cars the the normal BRAKE light will come on if it's low not the Parking Brake? I don't understand how it can tell if the fluid is low when it has no sensor to read if it's low or not like the regular BRAKE light

 

^I agree with you man, I looked at the wire schematics and I see no sensor for brake fluid level.

 

Then why does the shop manual show a connection to the brake fluid reservoir labeled "Brake fluid level sensor connector", and has a section showing how to test the sensor? And why does the owner's manual (which calls this light the "Brake System Warning Light") say that if the light does not go out after releasing the parking brake, you've got a problem? And then says to check the brake fluid level?

That light is more like a 2 1/2 for one deal. Besides reporting if the parking brake is on or if the fluid is low, in conjunction with the ABS light it will warn of even more dire problems.

Ken

 

I just wanted to thank everyone who responded.

Now I have plenty of things to check.

 

Every car I've ever been around (that's only about 15 years, but still...) uses the same light on the dash to show the e-brake on, and low brake fluid.

Almost always, if the light is on, then you're brake pads are worn down, which drops the fluid level in the brake reservior, which trips the light.

Rarely ever is it actually the e-brake, unless it's an older vehicle that the e-brake cables have stretched and someone screwed up and over-tightened them to compensate.

 

we talking about the same light?

 

^^^Yes that light indicates both parking brake engagement as well as low brake fluid level. If the parking brake is completely disengaged then check the level in the master cylinder.

 

low fluid means worn pads.. and yes it can mean the fluid is low, the pads are low, or the ebrake is well. out of pads..

beers

 

i got the same problem im going to try and add brake fluid today and see what happens.

 

just did it my lights off

 

Glad to see your light went off!

Now go find out why your brake fluid was low in the first place. It's not a good fluid to be leaking. I'm gonna lean towards other posters suggestions that it's time for new brake pads rather then a leak.

If you do need pads, you'll probably want a buddy to help suck some of that freshly added fluid back out again as you depress the caliper pistons to keep the reservoir from overflowing; just don't have him pull so much out you let air into the system. Brake fluid eats through paint like a fat kid eats chocolate.

 

you guys are so fn awesome that light has been on for many months and i just thought about checking here to see if there was a solution and filling the brake/clutch fluid fixed it.. it wasn't empty just a little low, it was above min but not much.. thanks a bunch!!!