johnny14

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So I was driving home tonight and noticed that my BRAKE light is semi on very dim and faint but its there so I thought I had my parking brakes on so I pressed gently down on it and confirmed it was fully released? I pulled over and pressed on the parking brake down and of course BRAKE is lit up very bright and normal but as soon as I release it I can see it still lit up but very faint. Im thinking it may be the parking brake switch?

I believe the 2nd gen TL's have two lights one for the parking brake and one for the brake system? Can someone confirm this? Now if that is the case and there are two warning lights the light that just states BRAKE should be specifically for the parking brake and that would indicate a bad switch correct? If there is a brake warning light for the braking system that would can be triggered by low brake fluid, burnt out bulbs, bad brake switch or brake sensor, etc...

Can someone confirm this.

Thanks in advance.

01tl4tl

the red brake light can mean low fluid level or park brake engaged
the sensor in res cap is often bad,,35 bucks for new cap
flip res cap over to see if light goes out

do you ever flush-change your brake fluid?

there is a brake LAMP warning light that means a bulb is out

there is no low pad light,,just the noise maker arm on pads

If the brake light switch fails it wont shift out of Park

johnny14

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Thanks for the response!

Ill flip the cap over and see if that helps. I didnt even think about that. When I was looking at the fluid level everything looked good from what I can see.

Brake fluid has been changed about a year or two ago so I dont think that would be the issue.

All rotors and brake pads were recently replaced so I know thats not the issue.

I dont think its the brake switch as everything seems to be working fine. All lights when pressed and released, etc. There is an parking brake sensor which Im thinking could be bad as well but not sure. I know that the parking brake is released as my car rolls and cant really feel resistance. When the parking brake is on the car wont go anywhere. Im going to try jacking up the rear and try spining the rear wheels with and without the parking just to make sure its releasing when it should.

01tl4tl

ahhhh you got new rear rotors!!!
the park brakes are mini drum brakes inside rear rotor
bet they didnt get set right to the new `drums`

johnny14

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Actually I did the brake job so I know everything is set up correctly. But I actually figured out the issue earlier this morning when I had day light since last night I got home late and was checking things out in the dark. It was actually the brake reservoir cap where it had about an inch crack on the stem of it towards the bottom. I missed it last night as the floater was covering it. Not sure how that happened but swapped it out with a spare I had laying around and light is gone!

Thanks for the posting as I probably wouldnt have even seen it if it wasnt for me turning it upside down to confirm the light was gone and than seeing the crack on the stem than.

01tl4tl

on the park brakes--you will need to make sure they are set,,,tight so wheel wont move then back off 6 clicks at wheel adjuster

note: many makers using wrong backing plate for TL
rear inner pad often has 3rd-middle raised tab on its back,,thats a no go for the TL
Need to grind it off flush or buy different pads
Visual ck for this prob: look under car at inside of rotor
if half shiny and half rusty its got the wrong pads

johnny14

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