Hello folks,

I bought a 94 accord for 1k with 163k miles that needs work. Got the car purring good now, but have one outstanding issue. The "Brake Light Warning" Light. Its the warning light on the car icon in the speedo dash. The light comes on and stays on once you hit the brake for the first time. According to the owners manual this means one or more of the Brake Lamps are DOA. Well this is not the case all lights are working.

Anyone know how to test this system? The eletrical diagrams in the serivce manual do not show how to test unless I missed something.

Thanks in advance

 

You could also check the wiring to the brake reservoir.

 

That works by comparing wattage among the brake bulbs. Got the wrong wattage someplace? That would appear to be a working bulb.

Occasionally someone has had to replace all the bulbs just so they match each other.

There's a little component in the taillamp cluster, #26 in the picture. That's the sensor that drives the warning light. Look for loose/dirty/corroded connections.

 

Hey guys thanks for the posts.. I will need to check the wattage of each bulb. That’s one thing I have not done yet. Thanks for the suggestion.
I did check the sensor cluster and all wiring for obvious breaks, shorts ect. All looks like the day it rolled off the factory floor.
I was hoping I could just measure Ohm's across the sensor leads for a quick test or continuity test, there has to be some test one can do??

 

A test might be in the shop manual. Look at the on-line manuals thread over in the DIY section.

 

Don't know if this is your problem, but I thought I'd mention it. Take the cover off the brake fluid resevior, and check if the rubber attached to the cover is hanging down. if it is, push it back up into the cover. That's what was causing the light on my old 92 Accord.

 

Did you check the rear-window mounted brake light? If this is out, the brake lamp warning will be illuminated.

This feature occasionally causes problems similar to yours. Fix sometimes is simply to replace all the bulbs. Don't know for certain but suspect that a cracked filament that momentarily opens sometiimes causes this.

good luck

 

There's a "BRAKE" warning lamp which is set off by either brake fluid or the handbrake.

I think ropersc's talking about the "BRAKE LAMP" warning which is set off by burned-out bulbs.