Brake warning light question

Not certain about this model, but many cars have 2 rubber buckets in the master cylinder. When the first fails the warning light comes on due to loss of pressure at the first piston and the second bucket (or piston seal) does the work. The brakes still work but the master cylinder is on the way out. It's usually the first brake part to go apart from shoes. But 5 years is a bit early, I guess my '91 is still on the original.

Sounds like a bad brake fluid pressure sensor. I don't know about the location on this Camry, but generally they screw into the master cylinder, and that's what the wire connects to. It may also be integral with the master cylinder...

"mjc13 13 @verizon.net>"

There is a float switch built into the reservoir. The electrical connector is on the side of it where you disconnected it. If the switch is bad then you just have to get a replacement reservoir (not the master cylinder).

I've never tried it (or need to), but if you can gain access to the float then you can check the electrical continuity at the external connector as you move the float up and down.

Allen G. wrote:

This could be an indication that your brake pads are wearing out and more fluid is needed to keep them touching the rotors, thereby reducing the amount of fluid in the reservoir enough to trigger the warning light.

Yep, this also worked for me. I brought the level up from the low line to the high line (very little fluid), but the brake light never came on once today. I'm crossing my fingers it stays off.

Thanks!!!

If it was right at the low line, then the float sensor was doing its job. If it was above it, it could maybe use a small adjustment.