Ok so this past week the hand brake in the gauge cluster light just comes on randomly or in between shifts. I have checked the switch at the hand brake and I have found nothing wrong with it. I am not sure where else anything could go wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

 

check your brake fluid level

 

+1

 

just checked it, it is a little low that brake lights sences the hand brake and the fluid level?

 

no, but with it being low and the motor sometime jerked around between shifts could cause it to tip to one side triggering the sensor that it is low. your ecu will tell you your fluid is low by your e-brake light coming on. sounds like your is barely above where it needs to be just moves around sometimes during shifts causing it to read low.

 

ahhh i see this is a smart car well my next question is it should be a closed system so how do you get low on fluid unless there is a leak which in that case how would i find it? unless i am all wrong about it being closed

 

got to think, your car is 5 years old. over time it is going to use up some fluid. i know you beat on it sometime so there is heavy braking at time causing the fluid to be more rapidly used.

 

well thank you sir, i will be putting in some fluid and seeing what happens.

 

you should probably just flush the system while you are at it... who knows how old that fluid is now.

 

there was not that much missing but i guess enough to trip it. I added just a little bit and it worked. thanks faded

I do plan on flushing it just need the time to do it.