Continuous brake light flashing causes many troubles and indicates severe error codes. These issues are typically related to the braking system in your automobile.
However, there are also other common reasons for this problem. The article below will give you a clear answer on why is my brake light flashing and what to do to fix the case. Let’s get started!
What Is Brake Light?
The brake light is the red signal at the back of the vehicle that automatically illuminates when you press the pedal. Please do not mistake it for the red tail lights. Its red color appears to be more luminous.
When you use the parking pedal, your vehicle’s electronic brake system warning light illuminates. The light symbol can be the letter P, or in some cases, it is the “!” exclamation mark on the displays.
The color for this symbol can also be red or yellow, depending on the manufacturer. So you must learn important information about your vehicle’s brakes in the owner’s warning guidance.
So a blinking brake light on dash means that the luminous red light at the back of the vehicle turns on and off repeatedly.
This driving condition can arise from many factors and cause minor to severe problems.
Why Is My Brake Light Flashing?
Engaged Parking Brake
Driving your automobile while the brake pad sensor light is on is prohibited since it might harm the brake rotor, pads, and tires. The electronic brake warning light turns off when you let off the pedal.
If the flashing brake light on dash is still on after fully releasing the parking brake, something must be wrong with your car’s brake assist system. A symptom of this is heavy braking.
Therefore, you should go to the mechanic for a warranty check if there are some pedal squeaks or brake stuck.
Low Brake Fluid
The exclamation mark (“!”), surrounded by a yellow circle, is next to the battery voltage symbol on the displays. It indicates an absence of brake fluid in almost vehicles.
The braking system can still operate even when the indicator is yellow. But if the indication in the display goes red, you must go for a warranty check immediately.
An intermittent fuel cap warning light might imply error codes like low brake fluid or a significant hydraulic system problem.
So if you let the key warning indicator light keep illuminating, you will suffer from a costly and even fatal brake assist system failure or cancel the operation.
Therefore, you need to go to automakers to check fuel and locate the error codes to decide if your braking system requires brake repair or a brake fluid cleaning as soon as you discover the fuel cap warning light flashes.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
The anti-lock brake system is a common feature of modern vehicles. These ABS brake systems help to prevent locking up steering wheels and losing traction tires in slick driving conditions.
This ABS control module features a separate tire pressure warning light that commonly reads “ABS light”. However, the ABS module can vary among models.
The ABS control unit will not function correctly if the speed engine operates. A technician can run a diagnostic test on the ABS warning light to identify the brake issue and locate a fix.
Bad Brake Lightbulbs
Worn-out brake lamps might be another signal cause for your active driving display flashes.
You can have a friend watch your vehicle’s backside when you press the brake pedal to test the beeping of the check engine light.
Whatever the tire pressure warning light setup, there should be at least two lamps. If none of these key warning indicator lights illuminates, you know the issue exists.
Replace your parking brake light bulbs, and the indication light should turn off.
You can also head for a warranty check if you have no one to help you.
The mechanic will make complete brake inspections of your vehicles to identify the problem and deal with the tail brake stop lights replacement.
Overly Sensitive Brakes
After conducting the above problems in no vain, it might properly be because of your overly sensitive brakes.
Some symptoms of this can include heavy braking, dirty wheel speed sensors, or dirty radar sensor.
The brake fluid flush from the tank can pressure the rotor pistons and rear wheels, lead to an excessively sensitive brake module or even damage the steering wheel.
Moreover, contaminated brake rotors and pads can also bring on brake sensitivity. Liquid from transmission gushes out to the braking fluid and can leak into the brake system and hasten your wear sensors.
It might sometimes cause the engine to cancel operation or create a continuous beep sound.
What Should I Do When The Brake Light Flashes?
Light Indicator Flashes Before You Drive
If you have not driven, but the emergency brake light flashes on and off repeatedly, check the electric parking brake first. Make sure you completely release the brake to avoid checking the engine lights.
When the parking brake is released, but the brake system warning light remains on, you should examine the brake fluid flush level through the dashboard lights.
The low fluid level will need to be topped up.
Light Indicator Flashes After You Drive
Keep an eye on your brake pedal if the parking brake light flashes while riding. Your pedal sensation could feel strange if the braking system leaks brake fluid. Therefore, stop at a safe place to see the case.
If there is an emergency and your vehicle does not have enough brake fluid, you can top it up if there is available fresh brake fluid.
However, you still need to go to the mechanic for a warranty check as soon as possible.
There are also some notes when you top off the brake fluid.
- Be careful not to cross the “FULL” line.
- Use the proper DOT kind of brake fluid.
- Brake fluid is poisonous and can ruin your paint, so take caution while handling it.
Once more time, since filling fluid can be quite complex and dangerous, it is always better to keep the mechanic hotline in mind and contact them for assistance.
FAQs
How Do Brakes Work?
When you press down on your car’s pedal, the master cylinder converts the brake bump power into the hydraulic brake and transmits it throughout the vehicle.
So hydraulic pressure travels through the braking system when the braking mechanisms are engaged.
Different cars can have different systems from others. However, in the brake disc, the calipers bind the pads to the rotor, or steering wheel strokes force the braking shoes against the pads.
How To Tell If My Brake System Light Is Working Or Not?
Modern vehicles have three rear lights: a central bulb in the back window, two indicator lights in the rear brakes, and both embedded in the back bumper.
You can apply a pedal bump while your buddy stands behind your vehicle to see whether the system works well.
If you are checking alone, use a mirror or put a broomstick on the pedal and fold it behind the seat before walking behind the car and checking yourself.
Can I Drive With My Brake Light Flashing?
Some drivers wonder if it is alright or not to drive when the brake pad sensor light goes on. Then the answer is no because the brake light blinking must never be disregarded.
Brake lines alert lights indicate an actual issue that might jeopardize the safety of the drivers and the vehicles. So as soon as you discover the problems, stop immediately for a check.
Is Indication Light Blinking Legal?
Yes. Flashing tail brake stop lights, intended to alert other vehicles to emergency stops or hard braking, are not permitted by the transportation department.
Instead, you can increase emergency brake light intensity to alert other drivers to hard braking and emergency stops.
Moreover, there is, in fact, no rule that forbids pressure warning light flashes. Therefore, you can use this emergency brake light flashing to display an emergency.
The urgent stop indicator indicates a significant amount of vehicle retardation concerning the current state of the road.
Conclusion
Overall, the typical answers to the question of why is my brake light flashing lie in four factors: engaged parking brake, low brake fluid, bad brake lightbulbs, and overly sensitive brakes.
Therefore, you should master warning light systems like the hydraulic brake unit, the sensor interference, the lightbulbs, and the electrical tape if you experience a problem.
However, as they are the most frequent causes, there might properly exist other potential factors. So the best way is to go for a professional warranty check to ensure your vehicle’s driving condition is well.