Every time I start driving, on first and second gear the brake light comes on. The hand brake is always down all the way and it doesn't do it on any other gears,

anyone else has had this happened? any input is appreciated

I've been having this problem for a month or less

 

Your brake fluid is low. Besides monitoring other parts of the braking the system also monitors fluid level. When it is on the verge of being low, hard acceleration will cause it to slosh and the light will flicker (this is why you see it more in the lower gears).

Check your brake pads for wear. As they wear down, your fluid level will drop. DONT add fluid if this is the case, just replace the pads. If you add fluid, it will spill out and make a nasty mess when you compress the calipers to replace the pads. The fluid will be at normal level when you replace them.

If the pads are not worn, then check for leaks in the brake system somewhere. Fix them and top off the fluid.

 

If your Brake fluid is low, the swaying of your vehicle in lower gears may trigger your brake lights to come on...
I hope it is something this easy!

 

I feel stupid now, i was typing my response and repeated ^^^^^^^^

 

You need new brake pads most likely. Just had mine changed im guessing you've got about 40k to 50k miles? dealer charged me 200 for parts and labor for front pads.

 

damn 200 for fronts?
i called a dealer in my area cause i need work done on my rear brake pads and they quoted me 190 for all four with resurfacing...

but back on topic...

i had the same prob and just needed new brake pads and light went away - DO NOT top off the fluid till u do the break pads cause once u change the pads - if u topped off the brake fluid, it will over flow

 

thanks, I just order some red stuff pads. That should do it.

thanks again

 

Wow... $200 for the front?? It is literally a 20 minute job tops. Talk about getting ripped off

 

Yeah thats a big rip off...dont worry its an easy job, anyone can do it, even with no prior knowledge..

heres a link if u need it:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=86011

good luck, it is an easy job.

 

I just went through this 2 weeks ago... Change ur front brake pads... Thats it..

 

OH i know it was a rip off its the dealer... but midas quoted me 220!!! not as bad dealer quoting me 600 just to INSTALL springs

 

oh wait, I'm sorry, it was 170, I got an oil change that day too

 

dude....you can save a lot of money doing this stuff your self, and you get alot better quality parts(in terms of oil, cause u pick your own)

but, to each his own....

 

I am well aware of that. But some of us don't have the time, or the parts, or the space to do it.

 

and when you get your brakes done at the dealer they will cut your rotors so you dont have to worry about a brake shimmy or uneven wear to the pads...

 

I have rotors turned if I really think they need it. I have never once had a wear or brake performance issue from not turning rotors, and I cant count the number of times I have changed brake pads without doing so.

If they need turned, you can simply take them to any place that does brakes and pay them to turn them. You dont have to go to a dealer or have the whole brake job done at the shop.

 

how often do rotors need turned??

my back ones felt as if they might have been slightly warped, b/c when i had the wheel off there was one spot that would stick when rotating...but i have a new set on anyways

 

There are widely varying opinions on this. But mine is that you should resurface if the rotor looks or feels rough or is warped. And every time you surface them, you lose thickness on the rotor.

If you feel pulsation under hard braking, then you should have them checked and surfaced if they are thick enough for surfacing.

 

ive been having this same problem ill have to look in to it

 

x2

It's reccomended to have them resurfaced regardless of how they look but pretty much unless there is something noticeably wrong with them your fine