Hi guys,

I'm normally a reader, but I've had to step forward for advice. I recently had all brake discs and pads replaced with new ones (Alfa genuine), but the two dash warning lights continue to remain on when I drive.
Is it a dash problem? or is it down on the wheels somewhere??

Thanx

Jose
Australia
3.0 V6 '92

If the front pads have the wear indicator wires hooked up properly, then I'd suspect the rear lamps control unit which gives these symptoms when it fails. This is on a metal bracket under the glovebox.

Check the pad wear wires and the relay then check the brake light switch on the brake pedal to see if it is unplugged, then check to see if you have a burned out light on the brake lights. make sure the bulbs are clean and making contact. Make sure the pad wear wiring did not get pinched.
good luck
jason

I had a problem with my old 164 where as soon as the brake was depressed, the 2 warn lights came on.
Everything worked perfectly and i never found the problem to that.
Anyway, one day the 2 lights came on at all times and i traced the problem to the brake fluid switch which was faulty.
Have you checked brake fluid level and if switch is working ?

i have the same problem only the lights come on only once in a while. i assume the only way to service the switch is to replace it?

I have traced my problem to a dirty brake light switch on the brake pedal along with loose bulbs in the rear brake lights.
Cleans the switch with electrical cleaner then check all the bulbs for looseness. They may look like they are on now but once you leave they go off, setting the lights on the dash off when you hit the brake pedal telling you you have a bulb out. Also make sure they are the right type of bulbs, not 1156(I think or is it 1157??).
The fluid switch also needs to be cleaned and checked.
Good luck
jason

If your referring to my post serge, then the answer is yes, the brake fluid switch is just a few squids in uk. When i changed the switch, the brake fault lights reverted to only coming on when pedal depressed as opposed to on at all times.

Hey guys, I can't resist putting in my ideas of how this works, at least in the U.S.
There are three brake alarm lights. One says "Brake", another says "Stop", and the third is a little icon representing the discs. When either "Stop" or the "Disc" icon lights, "Brake" will come on also.
1. If "Stop" lights, "Brake" will come on also, and then you have a problem with the stop bulb circuit - either one is out, or there is a bad connection at a bulb, or to ground, or on the switch itself. Remember, the rear-window stop light is included in this. Fix the bulbs first, it's the easiest and most likely.
2. If the "Disc" icon lights, "Brake" will also come on. This is a front brake pad telltale making contact with ground, usually on the disc when you put on the brakes, but otherwise because there is a short on a pad wire, or because you've been ignoring your warnings, and the pad is down to where the tell-tale contacts all the time. The fix is obvious.
3. If "Brake" comes on alone, even when you aren't using the brakes, then you are low on fluid, or the fluid level sensor thinks you are! I took mine out of the reservoir and cleaned all the gunk off it, and it got well immediately.

How did I get this knowledge? I fought 'em all to a standstill, one at a time. Now NO lights come on when I brake, and the brakes even work pretty well! Hope I helped someone. Good luck. Dennis

Thanks Dennis, I think it's your second suggestion, because the original problem occurred after putting on new discs and pads, so I believe it's down there somewhere.

Thanx

Jose

Jose,

Just to add to the complications, the light not only comes on if the wire is down to ground but also open circuit. The light only goes out if there is a continuous circuit.

My advice would be to disconnect the brake pad wear connector under the wheel arch one at a time and short it out to see which one (if any) is causing the problem. At least you can identify where the issue is.

Richard
Cambridge, UK

Thanks everyone, problem is being attended to, thanks again.

Jose
Australia

hello,
i found this post very interesting and checked my connections and bulbs and all is fine (brakes are new). strangely the lights come on only when i applied just a slight pressure to the pedal, coasting. any ideas?
thanks