My brake light goes on and off, usually its just on for about 2 minutes when I start the car. Handbrake is down and fluid is above the fill line. Any ideas? What else does the light indicate?

 

Wow I hadd the same problem too I checked the Hand brake adjustments and still the same, then I checked the fluid and I noticed the wires on the cap of the brake fluid resovoir and I kind of checked if it was loose then affter that the light went off.

 

my "Brake Lamp" is still lit on, due to Center and Passenger side brake light bulbs not working. need to replace them. where's the best place to get em? auto zone is around the corner!

 

^ yeah you can get the bulbs at auto zone.


I had the same problem...i just took of the cap, shook it, then put it back on. Everything is fine...maybe the floater sensor got stuck or something...

 

sweet, i might stop by auto zone tonight after work!

 

which light are you talking about? the hand brake light, or the light that indicates a lamp out? There are two lights. The hand brake light (at the top of the cluster) is REALLY touchy, and is not uncommon for that light to be on until the car warms up. Its due to an overactive sensor. The brake lamp light is at the bottom of the cluster (lights up behind the diagram of your car) indicates that you have a light not working.

 

Mine does the same thing! It is really aggravating me! Someone help!

 

mine did the same thing for a couple days a month ago. i didn't do anything, now it's fine.

 

I had the same dam problem on my 99 Acura CL 2.3... The brake light would stay on for about 2-5 min if I do not warm up the car before driving. Well I luckily found an PDF file of Acura Service Bulletin. Basically, what it told me to do was replace the Master Cylinder Reservoir Filter and Float. This solve the problem for me As for part number you can call an Acura dealer and get it...Parts are reasonably cheap Hope this helps...

 

I had the same problem myself with my 99 3.0CL and after doing some research, I found out that there is a factory defect in the center brake light indicator. My car does it off and on. The brake light comes on sometimes and then an hour later, after turning my car off and on, it goes off. The brake light still works, but the indicator is screwed up. I found this out when a friend of mine complained about the problem on her TL of the same year to an Acura dealership. I hope that this helps although it sucks like hell.

 

I noticed the same problem with my '99 2.3 a couple days ago, only mine is a bit different, here's the deal:

When coming out of first, the Brake Indicator comes on, I shift to second, it goes off until I reach about 2.5K then comes back on, once I shift into third, everythign is fine and no more on and off Brake indicator...my brakes feel fine, the e-brake is down and my fluid is right where it should be...what's the deal????

 

It got really cold here in the recent weeks. Car is in the garage overnight, where it's warm. Drove to work in the morning and everything was fine. After leaving it out all day for 8 hours, the handbrake light would not go off. Handbrake was down and no braking was taking place.

After running for about 15 minutes, it switched off. Then after being parked in the cold for 3 hours, the handbrake indicator turned on again - this time _AFTER_ driving for about 5 minutes. It then stayed on for 20 minutes till I got home.

This morning, started up and didn't see it while going for a short drive. However, I bet if I leave it out in the cold for a while, it will happen again.

Do I need to do anything about it?

 

Make sure your brake fluid is topped off, the sensor is very sensitive and mine does the same thing when it gets cold if there's not the right amount in there.

 

Thanks, I'll look into it.

 

So it got cold again and now it lights up again.

The manual says to "always use Genuine Honda DOT 3 brake fluid". The guy who owned this car before me always serviced it at the dealership, so I'm pretty sure that's what's in there right now.

Can I just buy some generic DOT 3 stuff and top it up, or would that be asking for trouble? I understand this could be a noob question, but I'd rather be safe.

 

Had this issue, buddy took off the cap, and poured a teaspoon of generic break fluid.... not joking he barely put ANY in... and it fixed the light.

 

So can someone confirm that I can safely add some generic fluid in there?

 

imho go with honda, its a matter of 5 dollars, but im just picky about what i put in my car. which is why i bought a whole bottle just to top it off two years ago nd now have to do it again. Honestly though i would be more concerned with the age of the fluid you're adding over the brand

 

I'd obviously pick up a brand new bottle, as I have none right now.

 

Ok, filled it right up and it still does the same thing. Any ideas?

I noticed that the light comes on sometimes on sharp turns / decelerations and then goes off when the maneuver is over.

 

Mine is back to doing it again. I'll try some things and let you know if I come up with something.