2003 Cooper

Anybody with a similar experience? I stop at the end of my driveway to pick up the newspaper. Car is in a nose down attitude because of the incline. Parking brake engaged, trany in neutral. Back behind the wheel, the dash brake light does not go out when the parking brake is released. Brakes are not binding. Driving uphill from my driveway, the light remains on for 30 seconds/0.3 mile then it goes out. Has done this three days in a row. Goes out at virtually the same spot each day. Checked the brake fluid level and it is OK.

Possibilities?

Thanks in advance!

Haz

 

What about when you just apply the brakes with your foot? (bump)

 

Cars parked on severe angles might trigger the brake light if the reservoir is not full enough. There is a float switch inside the reservoir that triggers the light if the level is low.
Otherwise, it could just be a sticking parking brake switch.

 

With your car being a 2003 I'd bet that your brake fluid is a tad low. As your brake pads wear the fluid drops in the brake master cly. This is normal, just top up the fluid.

 

Thanks for the insight. I realized that the resevoir may have been a tad low. It's just that when the attitude of the car chaged, the light remained on. On my X1/9 it would have gone out immediately. Also, again unlike my X1/9, the brake resevoir also serves the clutch system. In reality, the clutch slave cylinder failed and was leaking. The fluid loss was such that after three days, the brake light came on after left turns! Problem is now fixed and, again, thanks.