A Warning Light Means Auto Repair Time

When something goes wrong with your car or truck, one of the first signs is often a warning light that displays on the dash. This will help direct you initially when planning steps for auto repair. If a dash light is showing that there are problems with the braking system of your vehicle, there are several steps you can take to perform maintenance and repairs on your own before bringing the vehicle into an authorized garage.

One of the most common causes for the brake system warning light to come on is because the system is either low or out of fluid. Brake fluid is necessary to maintain the hydraulic pressure that allows the brakes to do their job and provide pressure against the drum to stop the wheels. If the reservoir is leaking or runs out of fluid, it can cause either the front or back braking system to stop working.

You can check the wear level onyour brake pads to determine which set of brakes is losing fluid. If you check the front brakes and find the pads are worn, then you can pretty accurately determine that the master cylinder will be low in fluid level. This is because less fluid is available to lubricate the system and so more wear and tear occurs.

Check the entire system for leaks in order to determine what sort of brake repair or auto repair you require. After you have replaced the worn pads, take time to flush and replace the fluid level. If necessary, empty the system completely to preserve and enhance overall integrity of the braking system. Other common causes of brake system warning light activation include leaks from the master cylinder, front or rear caliper brake seal failure, rusted or corroded wheel cylinder seals, flex hose failure at either the front or rear of the car. Check each of these in turn to determine the point of the problem and evaluate the best solution.

In the end however, it is best to trust professionals and ensure the job gets done right the first time. You can often do more damage and cause more expensive maintenance bills in the long run if you perform errors while trying to fix a problem yourself. Take your car into an authorized auto repair shop to get it fixed right the first time and consider the investment a long-term investment in your vehicle.