Low Brake Fluid light - but brake fluid is full?

Is this an example of a stuck sensor or would this be a possible problem with the actual brakes? I don't want to cause damage to the car, but also don't want to bring the car in just to have them reset the computer code and tell me that it's something I can do myself.

2001 Venture, but I imagine this would hold true for other models that year.

Ideas?

Reply to
Peter A. Schott
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Is the fluid in the master low? Is the fluid black as coal tar? The sensor is a float, there is reed switch in the bottom of the reservoir, and a magnet on the bottom of the float. when the float hits the bottom it closes the reed switch. If the fluid is really grungy the float can get stuck. If the fluid is low, have the brakes checked, as pads wear the caliper pistons extend further, more fluid in the caliper, and the fluid level drops.

Whitelightning

Reply to
Whitelightning

Sounds like it might be time to change the fluid. I'll check that out in the haynes/chilton book to see what they say about replacing. IIRC, that may be well worth turning over to a shop. I seem to remember my dad muttering a lot when he bled his brakes. :-)

As far as I can tell, the level is full, so the more likely cause is that the sensor is stuck and if replacing the fluid would fix that, it sounds good to me.

Thanks.

-Pete

"Whitelightn>

Reply to
Peter A. Schott

Unplug the Sensor from the master, if the light goes off then you know for sure there's a problem with the float in the master. If not then you have a different problem.

Reply to
JBDragon

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