BRAKE light stays on

[McDannyboy]

Hi everyone, I'm new here so please don't be too harsh. I made sure to use the search function already but none of the threads I found answered my question.

Okay so as the thread title says my "brake" light on the dash in my s13 coupe stays lit constantly. I made sure to check my brake fluid and that was halfway between the min and max line. Then I decided to disconnect the parking brake switch thinking that that would help. And as soon as I unplugged it the light went out. After that I went on a short drive to make sure it stayed off and sure enough the light came on during the drive and hasn't turned off since. Whether I plug the brake light switch in or not the light stays lit constantly. Anyways, I just finished sorting out all the other lights on my dash and it would be really nice if I could get all the annoying red lights to turn off. Thanks in advance for the help everyone!

[los_inc]

Your alternator is dying or what ever you've added to your electrical system is causing a short.

[McDannyboy]

Okay, thanks a lot for your help! My car has been making a noise that sounds like alternator whine so I have suspected the alternator of going bad. I hadn't added anything to the electrical system recently either. Anyways thanks!

[LB 180SX]

could be your hand brake isnt adjusted properly. mine had that problem a while back. push down on the hand brake see if the light goes off. or move it around

[McDannyboy]

Okay, I checked the handbrake and giggled it around a bunch, didn't seem to help. Thanks for the help though. Looks like I'm getting a new alternator. Now I'm off to ebay.

[tmillz422]

check the fuses(in the bay as well) or fluid reservoir sensor or ebrake switch

[McDannyboy]

Okay, I solved my problem. Even though the brake fluid resevoir was above the minimum line, when I filled it the light went off. So I officially have no more lights on my dash, thanks guys!

[Dousan_PG]

Alternator?
Lol

Yes it's fluid.
Most common after ebrake handle

[xbl1nd]

brake light is known to turn on when alternator is taking a shit but it syncs with the battery light aswell, it would not just be the brake light itself

[Mrjbrown07]

I was just having the same problem, i didnt pay much attention to it for a while but then noticed my brake fluid was low, i just topped that off and haven't seen the light on since. (Of course when the e brake is up then it turns on)

[Touge180]

Did you check the rubber grouments on the brake light switch on the under the pedal or the switch itself?

[psherg]

Im having the same issue on my91 coupe, the ebrake light is lit and the battery light is dimly lit red which worries me because i dont want a drained battery over night. I topped off the brake fluid, the sensors look fine , how do i get to the brake switch

[psherg]

For the record i recently changed out my alternator, about 2 months ago

[94_240sx]

For the hand brake, there's a bolt you can turn under the handle. There's a small hole you can put 10mm socket. Try to tighten or lose.
If you remove the center console, you can see how the switch works. Check that.

One more thing, floaty in the brake master cylinder is supposed to trigger the switch when the fluid goes low, but sometimes switch goes bad.
Unplug the harness on brake master cylinder and see.
Mine was that way, so I had to leave it unplugged.
Eventually, I swapped it out with z32 master cylinder and everything was fine.

[tloh]

fluid, ebrake, or brake sensor. one of those.

[ultimateirving]

For the record i recently changed out my alternator, about 2 months ago

Where is the alternator from?

and is it possible that since the install of the new one, some of the plugs might have gotten loose? id double check around the alt and make sure its all good. Also i have heard the 10amp eng cont fuse can go out causing the same issue

[psherg]

i got my alternator from O'Reilly if i'm not mistaken it's an ultima remanufactured alternator. i had it put in professionally and it's possible a plug may have gotten loose, i looked around but it seemed fine.
I noticed today though, when i turned the car off, the brake light stayed on, then my battery light was dimly lit again, but this time the seat belt light kept flashing. i wiggled the key back and forth moving it from the off to accessory position a few times, and it turned off. I've found that if i sit for a random time period playing with it, it'll turn off. sometimes not.
all help is appreciated
-Paul

[ultimateirving]

i got my alternator from O'Reilly if i'm not mistaken it's an ultima remanufactured alternator. i had it put in professionally and it's possible a plug may have gotten loose, i looked around but it seemed fine.
I noticed today though, when i turned the car off, the brake light stayed on, then my battery light was dimly lit again, but this time the seat belt light kept flashing. i wiggled the key back and forth moving it from the off to accessory position a few times, and it turned off. I've found that if i sit for a random time period playing with it, it'll turn off. sometimes not.
all help is appreciated
-Paul

Ive heard of the remanned alternators going out.. So if you have time, drive to orielly and have them test the vehicle while its running can give you some more info.
Check that fuse i previously mentioned too

[psherg]

right on,
thanks for the heads up.

[Gamma]

I had this problem I did everything that was posted above an sum and that damn light continued...
What you guys have to do is remove the cluster but leave it connected to the harness and move around the harness wires and Brake light should go away it did for me. Also check the wires to see if they nipped or lose from the plugs that go behind cluster best of luck.. Just wiggle those damn wire lol