Brake warning light

Stop and check right now

Pull over when you safely can and stop driving. First check the easy thing: is the parking brake still on? If you release it and the light goes out, that was the whole problem. If the light stays on with the parking brake off, do not keep driving the car. Have it towed or brought in rather than driven any distance.

What the light means

This light means the car has detected a problem with the brake system itself, not just a reminder that the parking brake is up. Most cars use the same warning light for both, so the parking brake is always worth ruling out first. Once that is ruled out, the light is telling you that brake fluid is low, or that pressure in the system is not what it should be.

The common causes

Left-on parking brake is the most common reason this light comes on, and it is harmless. After that, low brake fluid is the next most likely cause, and low fluid almost always means a leak somewhere in the system, at a wheel cylinder, caliper, brake line, or the master cylinder. Worn brake pads can also trigger it on some cars, since pad wear lowers fluid level in the reservoir as the caliper pistons extend further. Less often, it points to a failing master cylinder or an issue with the ABS or brake pressure sensor.

What it takes to fix

A brake system that is losing fluid is a brake system that can lose stopping power, gradually or all at once, so this is not something to put off. If it is just the parking brake, there is nothing to fix. If fluid is low, the shop needs to find where it is going before doing anything else. That means checking the fluid level, looking over the lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder for signs of leaking fluid, and checking pad and rotor wear at the same time since pads are cheap to inspect while the wheels are already off. Depending on what they find, the job might be as small as topping off fluid and replacing a worn seal, or as involved as replacing a caliper or the master cylinder. Auto Star can do a proper look at this rather than guessing over the phone. They're open Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, at 28801 Meridian E, and the number is (253) 375-7057.

Warning-light symbols and meanings vary by vehicle — always check your owner’s manual. This is general guidance based on what the light indicates, not a physical inspection, and a light on its own never names a failed part.