So my hand brake light stays on during cold starts in the morning when the hand brake is down of course... and it seems to go away once the car warms up. What could be the causes of this? I know I need to have my pads changed soon... could this trigger the light to stay on?

 

^ Same problem here. I didn't really think too much of it, as it never affected my driving..yet (knocks on wood)

 

Yeah, I'm not really bothered by it as long as it's not effecting anything else. But just annoying watching that brake light come on and off and having my passengers in my car telling me to put my e-brake down when it already is.

 

Same thing happened to me. You need new brakes.

 

When pads wear down, the fluid in the resevior takes the place of the displaced volume. in plain engish: check your brake fluid, it maybe low.

 

I'll double check that today. Thanks!

 

had the same problem and changed the brakes and its all better now

 

If the brakes are good and the fluid level looks fine, check inside the reservoir. The sensor may be hung up.

 

^^That. I had my brakes checked when I took my car in for service, they said the brakes were all good, but I still have the light coming on in situations like your's. The sensor that's attached to the cap needs to be adjusted. I just popped the cap off and wiggled it around a bit until it sat perfectly. After that, no more light coming on.

 

seems so odd to me that a simple sensor like that could trigger it! It's only during the morning when it's cold. Or when I drive 300+ miles non stop. When I drive to Vegas, only on the last stretch of 10 miles that light comes back on...

 

I know, I also thought it was just too weird, myself. I drive to work in the morning and the light stays on, drive back and it shuts off when it's supposed to.

However like I said, I just readjusted (i.e. wiggled around) the sensor under the cap. Ever since then it's never stayed on after I take off the parking brake. Might as well give it a shot, at least before you go getting new brakes.