Brake Light Comes On When Accelerating (Causes and Solutions)

Does your brake light illuminate whenever you try accelerating your car? Are you freaking out and wondering what causes this odd behavior? If yes, worry no more. This guide will discuss why brake lights come on when you step on your gas pedal and how to fix this problem.

Your brake light comes on when accelerating mostly due to low brake fluid level. However, the light can also illuminate due to the parking brake being engaged, worn brake pads, faulty brake light switch, malfunctioning ABS, or failing brake sensors.

In this article, we’ll discuss more comprehensive details on why the brake light pops up on your dash whenever you accelerate and tips for troubleshooting and fixing this issue.

Brake Light Comes On When Accelerating Causes

The brake warning light comes on when accelerating due to the following reasons:

Low brake fluid level

The most common reason for brake lights to come on when accelerating is low brake fluid level.

When the fluid gets below the recommended level, it may start sloshing around when you trigger the sensor, causing the brake light to illuminate.

Therefore, you should start by checking the fluid level inside the master cylinder reservoir and top it up if it’s below the recommended level.

The parking brake could be on

If your parking brake (also known as emergency brake) is engaged, it could also cause the brake light t pop on dahs during acceleration.

You may have forgotten to release this brake or it simply fails to release properly. Even if the brake stays slightly engaged, it will still trigger the brake light to pop on your dash.

Check that your parking brake is completely disengaged. Unfortunately, driving with parking brake on, even for just a few minutes, could cause damage to your car brakes.

We recommend you have your car inspected by a qualified mechanic if you discover you have been driving for a long time with the parking brakes on.

You have worn brake pads

As you may already know, your car brake pads develop wear over time. When they become excessively worn out, the brake calipers may start extending further in a bid to compensate.

This leads to a momentary drop in brake fluid level and consequently, the brake light will come when you accelerate.

Faulty sensors

The brake warning light coming on may also be an alter to you that your parking brake or brake fluid sensors are faulty.

In this case, you may want to have your car diagnosed by a qualified technician and any faulty sensors replaced.

Malfunctioning ABS

The brake warning light may also come on if there is a problem with the ABS (anti-lock braking system). This is the case for vehicles equipped with this brake system.

Faults in this system, whether it is hydraulic issue, a faulty sensor, or any other ABS related problem will trigger the brake light to come on during acceleration.

Overheating brakes

If your brakes overheat, they can cause the brake fluid to expand, thus triggering the brake light.

This is even more likely to happen if you are driving your car aggressively or even towing heavy loads and putting a strain on your vehicle brake system.

Here’s a video explaining why brake light comes on when accelerating

Video:

What To Do If Brake Light Comes On When Accelerating?

When the brake light on dash comes on when accelerating, you should stop driving your car, pull over, and inspect your car to find out what triggered the warning light.

Here are some helpful troubleshooting tips to help you with your vehicle inspection:

• The first thing to check is whether the parking brake is engaged.
• Next, you should access the brake fluid reservoir under the car hood and inspect the fluid level. If it is below the recommended mark, simply top it up and see if this will help clear the brake warning light. Make sure you use the correct brake fluid recommended for your vehicle model.
• After you perform the above check, you should try restarting your car to see if the brake light turns off.
• If the light is still on, go ahead and inspect your brake pads. If they’re worn out, they could have triggered the brake light to come on as they cause the brake fluid to drop below the recommended mark, especially after braking.
• You’d also want to inspect your car for brake fluid leaks. Leaks lead to reduced hydraulic pressure, making the brake light come on when you hit the gas pedal. In case of any leaks, have it repaired as soon as possible.
• If you still cannot identify the source of the problem after following the above troubleshooting tips, take your car to a certified auto mechanic. They have the expertise and tools necessary for diagnosing your car.

How To Turn Off Brake Light On The Dashboard

The best way to clear the brake warning light on dashboard is to fix the issue that caused it to activate in the first place.

Simply turning off this light without addressing the underlying problem is a temporary solution, as the light will come on again.

In a worst-case scenario, ignoring the light will cause more problems to your car and even compromise your safety on the road.

By following the diagnostic process we’ve just discussed in the previous section, you’ll easily find the reason why the light comes on.

You can then go ahead and repair or replace the problematic parts. Thereafter, you can restart your car and the warning light will be no more.

What Causes Brake Light To Come On When Accelerating Uphill?

If your vehicle brake light comes on when accelerating uphill, the problem could be low brake fluid level.

What usually happens is when your car brake lining wears, the level of fluid tends to drop to help keep the pads close to rotor.

If you check the reservoir and find the brake fluid level is running low, you’d want to inspect your car for brake linings as well as hydraulic system for potential leaks.

A failing sensor could also be the cause of this problem. Try unplugging your car brake fluid level sensor the next time you go uphill.

If the warning light doesn’t illuminate, then you sure have a failing sensor causing the issue.

Other potential causes of brake light activating when accelerating uphill include worn brake pads and brake fluid leaks that lead to low brake fluid levels.

If you’re experiencing this problem, it’s important to have your car diagnosed by a certified mechanic. This will help identify and fix the underlying issue to ensure your safety on the road.

Why Does E-Brake Light Come On When Accelerating?

If the emergency brake (or parking brake) light comes on while accelerating, the first thing you should check is whether the parking brake is engaged.

If the parking brake is released and the light still stays on, it is probably because you have low brake fluid.

Check the brake fluid reservoir for the fluid level and top up the fluid if it sits below the recommended level. Make sure you only use the recommended brake fluid for your car model.

You may top up the fluid level but the light still refuses to go off. If this happens, then you may want to have your brake system inspected by a qualified mechanic.

Your car may be having brake fluid leaks or worn brake pads that could be causing the fluid levels to run low.

Overall, the e-brake light coming on when accelerating indicates there is a problem with your braking system.

You should have the problem diagnosed and fixed as soon as possible for optimal safety and performance of your car.

Why Parking Brake Light Keeps Coming On And Off While Driving

Sometimes your parking brake lights will keep coming on and the goi8ng and coming on again while driving.

This can happen regardless of whether you’re driving on a smooth highway or a rough road. This is usually an indicator of your car braking mechanism having a problem or worn brake pads.

The most common problems behind this behavior include low brake fluid level, faulty sensors, defective sensors, and issues with your car ABS system.

If you still cannot uncover the issue with your car, it is good to have it diagnosed by a qualified mechanic who will accurately pinpoint the problem and resolve it for you.

Why Do Brake And Battery Light Come On When Accelerating

In some cases, both the brake light and battery light will illuminate on dash when accelerating.

Brake light and battery lights coming together could be signaling you that your car charging system has developed a problem.

When the two lights come on, they indicate that you have a bad alternator. It could also be caused by failing voltage regulator, wiring issues (e.g. damaged wiring or loose wiring), and issues with the braking system.

If you notice the two lights turning brighter, it could mean that the alternator is losing amperage and your car battery isn’t charging.

However, if the lights are simply solid and not flashing/moving, then you could be having an issue with the brake switch for parking brake system.

When the two warning lights illuminate, you would also want to check the brake fluid level. Topping up the fluid to the recommended level could make the brake light go away.

When faced with this problem, consider pulling over and doing a quick inspection of your car. Does your car have a strong burning smell? If yes, that’s an indication of a broken alternator.

Check the brake fluid level and top it up as necessary

Inspect your battery for loose connections. Also, check if the terminals are corroded

If you can’t find any fault, take your car to a mechanic to have the underlying issue diagnosed and fixed.

If you’re experiencing a situation where the brake light comes on when accelerating, you may also find our article on brake and battery light on helpful. This article explores potential reasons for both the brake and battery lights being illuminated simultaneously and provides guidance on how to address this issue. Additionally, if you’re noticing the brake fluid light on but the fluid is full, our article on brake fluid light on but fluid is full discusses possible causes and offers troubleshooting tips.

FAQs:

Why does Infiniti G37 brake light come on when accelerating?

The Infiniti G37 brake light comes on when accelerating due to low brake fluid levels, brake fluid leaks, or worn brake pads.

Why does Nissan Maxima brake light come on when accelerating?

The Nisan Maxima brake light comes on when accelerating due to brake fluid leaks, low brake fluid, or worn brake pads.

Why does my handbrake light come on when I’m driving?

Your handbrake light comes on when driving due to various issues like low brake fluid, engaged handbrake, or hydraulic braking system. Have your car diagnosed by an auto mechanic to find out the exact cause of this problem.

Conclusion

The brake light on the dash coming on when accelerating in most cases has something to do with low brake fluid level. Thus, the first place to check is whether the brake fluid is up to the recommended level in the fluid reservoir. If the fluid level is okay, check if the parking brake is fully disengaged. Check other potential causes such as worn brake pads, faulty brake sensors, malfunctioning ABS system, and overheating brakes.

We have just discussed how to troubleshoot your vehicle when the brake light illuminates and find out the underlying problem. If you follow our troubleshooting guide above and can’t uncover the underlying issue, take your car to a qualified auto mechanic for further diagnosis and fixing of the underlying problem.