US 2007 Brake light on the dash is on

2035 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Asantoyo4, Aug 31, 2020

TJ Weinh

Discussion Starter · Aug 29, 2020

The brake light warning came on and I took the car to Midas to get the front brakes replaced. The brake fluid is full, and the front brakes and all parts were replaced. Cannot get the brake warning light to go out. I am trying to find the fuse for the light, thinking it is a bad fuse. I have read all the posts; made sure the brake caliper; all was good. Help! This light is not going out even when the cars computer is cleared.

Thanks in advance!!

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Dr. Dyno

· #2 · Aug 29, 2020

Moved to correct forum.
The brake light is also lit by a switch on the parking brake lever. Make sure the lever is down and check for something defeating the switch.
A blown fuse couldn't cause it and the computer may set the ABS light but not the Brake one.

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SoNic67

· #3 · Aug 29, 2020

I concur with Dr. Dyno about the source. Check the parking brake.

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TJ Weinh

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 29, 2020

Parking brake already checked; I did the previous posts and have done all that was advised in those. All the parts for the brake system have been checked out. The parking brake works as it should. Next idea!

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TJ Weinh

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 29, 2020

PS I have been working on and around cars since I was six; contrary to my pic I do know my way around cars.

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Dr. Dyno

· #6 · Aug 29, 2020

TJ Weinh said:
PS I have been working on and around cars since I was six; contrary to my pic I do know my way around cars.

That's a little hard to believe, at least with electrical stuff. Otherwise you'd know a bad fuse, calipers or pads couldn't turn the light on.
The low fluid switch can turn it on. Disconnecting the switch makes the light think the level is okay.
The parking brake light switch can turn it on. Disconnecting it turns the light ON whether or not the brake is working.

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SoNic67

· #7 · Aug 30, 2020 (Edited)

Dr. Dyno said:
...at least with electrical stuff

As an electrical engineer, I know a lot of DIY mechanics that won't touch electrical. For them it's like magic

TJ Weinh said:
contrary to my pic I do know my way around cars.

Is this politically correct? Oh I get it, we are guys, so per today's social media "definition", misogynists?

Now, where I was? There are only the following sensors for the brake warning light to come on:

Brake Vacuum Warning SW
Brake Fluid Level Warning SW
Parking Brake SW

Did you push back the calipers and by doing so overfilled the brake fluid tank? Did it leak on the switch?
Do you hear any whooshing sounds by the booster (vacuum leak)?

Now, because you said that you have checked the first obvious ones (vacuum and fluid level), the only remaining option is the parking brake. That is a black wire, that gets grounded when the parking brake is applied. If that wire is grounded somewhere else on it's way to ECU, then the ECU it will still "think" that the parking brake is applied.
Now that circuit is different for 4WD and 2WD vehicles, and you didn't say anything about your vehicle (besides the title that is a 2007).

This is for 4WD:

See less See more

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RTexasF

· #8 · Aug 30, 2020

PS I have been working on and around cars since I was six; contrary to my pic I do know my way around cars.

Apparently not brake systems. Drop the ego and let those with knowledge try to help.

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Asantoyo4

· #9 · Aug 31, 2020

I'm not an expert in this generation Rav4 but I believe they might be the same way as the 13+, a real quick and easy way to check to see if it's your parking brake switch or a wire is by verifying if the DRLs turn on or not. I'm pretty sure that the DRLs will not turn on as long as you have the park brake engaged, this will be a good indicator that in fact is a faulty Park SW, not to mention the constant chime going off to alert you that the park brake is engaged when driving down the road

Good luck

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JuneBug

· #10 · Aug 31, 2020

Asantoyo4 said:
I'm not an expert in this generation Rav4 but I believe they might be the same way as the 13+, a real quick and easy way to check to see if it's your parking brake switch or a wire is by verifying if the DRLs turn on or not. I'm pretty sure that the DRLs will not turn on as long as you have the park brake engaged, this will be a good indicator that in fact is a faulty Park SW, not to mention the constant chime going off to alert you that the park brake is engaged when driving down the road.

The 4.3 doesn't chime when the parking brake is left on.

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Asantoyo4

· #11 · Aug 31, 2020

JuneBug said:
The 4.3 doesn't chime when the parking brake is left on.

Thanks for clarifying that, I wish the 4.4 didn't do that.

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SoNic67

· #12 · Aug 31, 2020

Asantoyo4 said:
I wish the 4.4 didn't do that

Maybe it can be canceled with Techstream. On gen3 the seatbelt warning chimes can be customized, so...

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Asantoyo4

· #13 · Aug 31, 2020

SoNic67 said:
Maybe it can be canceled with Techstream. On gen3 the seatbelt warning chimes can be customized, so...

Good call, I will have to look into that and see if it can be customized to cancel the chime when the e-brake is left engaged

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