Hey does anyone know a reason as to why my damned e brake light won't turn off? sometimes its off but most of the time its on and it drives me nuts...any ideas? i searched but couldn't find anything sadly...

thanks in advance! :banana:

With the engine off and key ON and the light is on, try removing the connector to the alternator and see if the light goes out then. If it does, you may have to replace the alternator.

With the engine off and key ON and the light is on, try removing the connector to the alternator and see if the light goes out then. If it does, you may have to replace the alternator.

um....really?

I would think the best place to start would be to remove the 4 screws that holds the shifter surround in, then unsnap the shifter boot and e brake boot and remove the shifter surround, then inspect the switch which sits right there below your e brake handle.
Touch the (only wire there) to ground and see if the light goes out, if it does, then look closely at the little switch and fix whatever is wrong with it, it is the simplest switch on the entire car.

um....really?

I would think the best place to start would be to remove the 4 screws that holds the shifter surround in, then unsnap the shifter boot and e brake boot and remove the shifter surround, then inspect the switch which sits right there below your e brake handle.
Touch the (only wire there) to ground and see if the light goes out, if it does, then look closely at the little switch and fix whatever is wrong with it, it is the simplest switch on the entire car.

yes, really
the ebrake light tends to go on if the alt is going bad... :unamused:

Check your brake fluid. My buddies e-brake light was on in his wrx and the dealership said that the light monitors brake fluid as well as warns you if the e-brake is on. Check that and get back to us.

Check your brake fluid. My buddies e-brake light was on in his wrx and the dealership said that the light monitors brake fluid as well as warns you if the e-brake is on. Check that and get back to us.

Interesting. I'll bet you are correct and have the solution.

Check your brake fluid. My buddies e-brake light was on in his wrx and the dealership said that the light monitors brake fluid as well as warns you if the e-brake is on. Check that and get back to us.

was just coming in here to post this.

indeed and the fluid sloshing around in the reservoir is what can make it intermittent

... and it's worth noting the IF the fluid is low THEN you should check your brake pads for wear since that's about the only place the fluid can go barring leaks - don't top the fluid off until you have done so

Interesting. I'll bet you are correct and have the solution.

im surprised the electrical god himself didnt know this!!!:p:p

the brakelight does monitor a few things like posted above.

it could also be the brake switch itself.

The truth be known, there is a lot of things I don't know Jdubya301. Especially about the newer cars beyond years 2004. By using forums like this it helps everyone learn things about the cars we like so much. I put my foot in my mouth sometimes but I try to keep it out of there as much as I can.

+1 on the fluid level. If it's that low, you have a leak or need new pads. If you need new pads and don't wanna mess with changing the fluid, don't add anything, or when you compress the calipers in, it will magically refill the fluid resivoir. If you add fluid, then do pads, you'll magically overflow the resivior and have to go rinse your engine bay out.

damn guys thanks!!! this helps a lot! i hope to go it's not the alternator, but i'm guessing it's the fluid levels. I've had the same brakes on for about 46K and well yea it's prob time for a brake job. Thank you again for all the input!! :banana:

so what was the actual problem... ? haha

i'll let you know when i can afford new brake pads...but i'm assuming that's it...i checked my fluid resevoir and it IS low, so yea, it'll prob go away when those pads are replaced.

What if the brake AND battery charge light come on at the same time? Fluid level is fine, alternator belt is brand new and adjusted properly, the only thing I can find out of the ordinary is a frayed/slightly corroded battery grounding cable. I'm thinking it's either that or the alternator is going out.

Any ideas on how to isolate the problem?

I think you are going to have to replace the alternator. Those lights turn on when it is having a problem.

as per my original problem, i finally changed my brakes and voila! no more light! :) thanks for all the responses and help everyone. good to know the brake light isn't only just for the ebrake... :banana:

Good deal. Thanks for the update.