How Long Can You Drive With Your Brake Light On?
The brake light warns you that your car braking system has an underlying problem. We recommended addressing the issue as soon as possible for smooth functioning of your car brakes. But can you still drive with the light on? And how long can you do it?
How long can you drive with your brake light on? You shouldn’t drive with the brake light on for long hours. The light indicates a problem with your brake system that can drastically affect your vehicle’s braking performance and cause accidents. Have your car diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible.
In this article, we have discussed more details about how long you can drive your car after the brake light shows on the dash. We have also discussed what causes the warning light to illuminate and what to do if it comes on.
How Long Can You Drive With Your Brake Light On?
Driving your car with the brake light on for long periods isn’t recommended as there are many risks involved.
Brake light popping on your dash usually warns you of an issue with your car braking system. As you already know, brakes are a crucial safety feature for your car that enables you to slow down and stop safely.
Therefore, if the light comes on, you should NOT continue driving your car. Instead, you should safely pull over when it’s safe to do so.
Contact your mechanic immediately and have the underlying issue diagnosed and the necessary repairs and replacements done to ensure your braking system continues performing optimally.
If you ignore the light and continue driving your car with a malfunctioning braking system, you’ll be exposing yourself to various risks and dangers as discussed below:
- Decreased braking performance: A malfunctioning braking system can affect your vehicle’s braking performance and make it more challenging to slow down or stop your car, especially when in emergency situations.
- Total brake system failure: Depending on the underlying issue, your car braking system can also suffer total failure. This can be catastrophic and can easily lead to severe accidents.
- Loss of control: Failing brakes will also lead to poor control over your car. This is especially true when braking on slippery surfaces or when you brake suddenly. It can also increase the stopping distance when braking, increasing the risk of a collision.
- High risk of accidents: If your vehicle brakes aren’t functioning properly, they can increase the risks of accidents for you and other road users.
- Severe damages and costly repairs: Ignoring the brake warning light can also worsen underlying issues in the braking system. It can turn a minor repair into a severe and costly issue to fix. However, with timely intervention, you can prevent further damage and save money on repairs.
As you can see, many dangers can come with operating your car with the brake warning light on. It’s, therefore, crucial to have the issue addressed by your mechanic as soon as possible.
What Causes Brake Light On The Dash To Stay On?
When the brake warning light appears on your dash, it usually indicates your braking system has an issue that needs to be fixed. There are many potential causes for the brake light to illuminate on your dash.
Below, we have discussed the most common causes of this warning light:
- Low brake fluid: When the brake fluid falls below the recommended level, it can activate brake warning light on the dashboard. Note that leaks in your car braking system can also lead to low brake fluid levels.
- Electrical issues: If your brake circuit is experiencing electrical problems such as a faulty wiring connection, short circuit, etc., it may also cause the brake light to stay on.
- Faulty brake light switch: The brake light switch activates the brake lights whenever you press your brake pedal. If it gets faulty or misadjusted, it will trigger the brake warning light on the dash to illuminate.
- Damaged brake lines: If your vehicle has damaged brake lines, they can lead to reduced brake fluid pressure. This will also activate the warning light.
- Worn-out brake pads: The issue of excessively worn brake pads forces the brake caliper piston to travel further to compensate for worn pads. This leads to reduced brake fluid levels. This is another potential cause for the brake warning light may likely come on.
Note that the warning light doesn’t usually specify which brake needs to be replaced. Therefore, you need to have a mechanic inspect your car to find out the faulty one and replace it for you.
What Should You Do If The Brake Light Comes On When Driving?
If the brake light comes on when driving your car, there are several steps you can take to find out what caused it to illuminate.
The first step is to check the brake pedal. The pedal ought to be fully released and not partially depressed or stuck.
If you find the pedal stuck, gently pull it up using your foot. If partially depressed, release it fully and check if the warning light goes off.
Next, check if the emergency brake is fully released. If not, you’ll need to disengage it completely and see if the brake light turns off.
If the brake light still doesn’t go away, check brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid is low, top it up to the recommended level.
Sometimes you may find that fluid is low but you recently topped it up, or you find it extremely low. In this case, you could be dealing with a leak that needs to be addressed immediately by a mechanic.
Ultimately, take your car to a mechanic. If you tried all the above tricks and the light still does not go away, have a qualified mechanic inspect your braking system for other underlying issues.
How Long Can You Drive With Brake Wear Indicator?
The brake wear indicator alerts you when your brake pads become worn out and need to be replaced.
That said, the length of time you can drive with the brake wear indicator on usually depends on factors like the wear severity, type of car, and driving conditions.
For most modern cars, the indicator comes on when your pads are at 3mm thickness. You can safely drive with the pads until they turn 1mm thick. In other words, you can still do 1000 miles without any problems.
However, various factors will determine how long you’ll drive with the warning light on. These include your driving style, brake pad composition, type of roads, etc.
You can also visually inspect the brake pads through your car wheels. If you can spot any visible pad material left, then you can still cover a good distance of weekend driving with it.
Generally, we advise you against driving for extended periods with this warning light on.
If you think about it, this indicator simply says your brake pads have become too worn out to the point that they may become unsafe for you and need replacement.
As such, driving your car with worn pads can lead to risks such as compromised braking performance, extended stopping distances that increase the collision potential, and even complete brake failure.
The best action when the brake wear indicator comes is to have your brake pads changed as soon as possible.
This will help promote your safety as well as that of other road users. It will help prevent further damages that attract costly repair.
How Long Can You Drive With Your Brake Fluid Light On?
The brake fluid light comes on when your vehicle’s brake fluid level is low if there’s a fluid leak in the braking system.
Therefore, we don’t advise you to continue driving with the brake fluid light on as it compromises your car braking performance.
As you may already know, the brake fluid is what enables your car to stop and prevent collisions. It acts as the intermediary between your brake pedals and the brakes.
When you press the pedal, the fluid converts this force from pressed pedals into pressure. The pressure is then transmitted to the rear and front brakes via the fluid, thus stopping your car.
Without brake fluid, your car is unable to produce the necessary pressure to brakes to make your car stop.
This means driving with low brake fluid is dangerous and can lead to poor braking performance or total failure of the braking system—risking potential accidents!
When the fluid light comes on, you’ll need to check the cause behind it. The most common reasons why this warning light illuminates include:
- A leak in the braking system
- Worn-out brake pads
- Damaged brake lines
- Contaminated or degraded brake fluid
When the fluid light comes on, safely pull over your car when it’s safe to do and check the fluid level in the master cylinder under your hood. Inspect your car for any leaks.
Alternatively, you can have your mechanic diagnose your car and fix the underlying problem for you.
If you’re wondering how long you can drive with your brake light on, you may also find our article on how to replace a brake light useful. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to replace a brake light in case it needs to be replaced. Additionally, if you’re interested in understanding the difference between a brake light and a tail light, our article on brake light vs. tail light explains their distinct purposes and functions.FAQs:
Is it safe to drive your car with the brake light on?
You shouldn’t drive your car with the brake light on. This light usually indicates an issue with the braking system, which is likely to affect your braking performance and compromise your safety on the roads.
How long can you drive after brake pad warning light Mercedes?
You shouldn’t drive for extended distances after the brake pad warning light on the Mercedes comes on. This light indicates your brake pads and worn out and unsafe, so you should have them replaced as soon as possible.
How do I turn off the brake warning light?
The best way to turn the brake warning light is to identify and fix the underlying problem causing the light to come on. Turning off the light without resolving the issue can be hazardous for you and other road users.
Conclusion
Driving for extended periods of time with the brake light on isn’t recommended. The light usually indicates an underlying issue within your brake system that should be addressed as soon as possible. Ignoring this light can lead to poor braking performance, total braking system failure, and further damages that cost more to fix.
Many reasons can cause the brake light to illuminate on your dash. By following the tips discussed in this guide, you can easily diagnose your car and find the exact cause for the light to come on. If you’re not comfortable inspecting your car, get a certified mechanic to diagnose and fix the underlying problem for you.