Red brake light still on with the handbrake off? Stop
First make sure the handbrake is fully off. If the light stays on, RACV says to have the braking system checked immediately, even if the brakes seem fine. If it came on while you were moving, the UK's Auto Express says to stop as soon as you can and have the car recovered, not driven. Pull over somewhere safe, switch off, and call roadside assistance if you have it. If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 000.
Which light is on?
| Red brake light | Amber ABS light | |
|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | An exclamation mark in a circle, or the word BRAKE | The letters ABS in a circle |
| Usual causes | Handbrake on, low brake fluid, worn pads or a fault in the braking system | A fault with a wheel sensor, the ABS computer or its pump |
| Normal braking | May be reduced | Should still work, without the anti-lock |
| Should you drive? | No, once the handbrake is ruled out | Keep it short and careful, with extra room |
What does the red light usually mean?
Low fluid is the one to rule out. The level falls slowly as pads wear and quickly if there's a leak, so a low reservoir can point to worn pads or a brake fluid leak.
Some cars also have a separate symbol for brake pad wear. NRMA's list of dash symbols counts it as its own light, so check the owner's manual if yours doesn't look like the circle.
What does the ABS light mean for your braking?
ABS stops the tyres skidding when you brake hard on a slippery surface. A computer watches a speed sensor at each wheel and rapidly eases the pressure on any wheel about to lock. That's the pulsing you feel through the pedal in a hard stop.
When it finds a fault, the ABS is switched off until the fault is fixed. CAA-Quebec, the Canadian motoring club, says you keep your regular brakes but lose that help, so avoid hard braking and get it repaired immediately. Auto Express is firmer and says to leave the car until it's repaired. A locked front wheel won't steer, which matters most on wet roads and gravel.
Traction control and stability control lean on the same parts, so the traction control light often comes on at the same time.
Why are both lights on?
On many cars the ABS computer also shares the braking between the front and rear wheels. If it has a fault, the car can lose that as well, and the rear wheels can lock sooner than you'd expect. Low fluid can bring on both lights too.
So two lights together isn't the same message twice. Treat it as a brake fault, and have it checked before you drive.
Work through it in this order
Handbrake
Release it fully and watch the dash. An electronic handbrake has its own symbol, so check that one has gone out too.
Pedal
With the car stopped, press the pedal firmly. CAA-Quebec suggests this as a first check. It should feel firm and hold. If it's soft or it sinks, don't drive.
Fluid
On flat ground with the engine off, look at the reservoir at the back of the engine bay. RAA says if the level is below the minimum line or the tank is empty, don't drive the vehicle.
One restart
Switch off, wait a moment and restart. An amber ABS light may clear if the glitch was brief, though the fault is often stored. A restart is no reason to ignore a red light.
Note it and send it
Take a photo of the dash and note what the car was doing when it came on. A pothole, a wet road or a recent wheel change are all useful clues.
What will the mechanic check?
For the red light they start simple: fluid level, pads, the handbrake switch, then the hydraulics. For the ABS light they connect a scan tool to the ABS computer, which names the wheel or circuit at fault.
Then they test it. Wheel speed sensors sit near the hubs, where grit, water and bumps can damage them, and their wires flex with the suspension. A sensor or a wire is a far smaller job than an ABS pump or computer, so ask what the code was and what confirmed it before agreeing to the bigger part.
A mechanic who does regular brake work and has a proper diagnostic tool for your make suits this job.
What's safe to check, and what's not
You can
- Make sure the handbrake is fully released.
- Press the pedal with the car parked and feel how firm it is.
- Look at the reservoir level on flat ground.
- Take a photo of the dash for the mechanic.
Leave to the mechanic
- Reading ABS and brake fault codes.
- Testing wheel speed sensors and wiring.
- Any work on pads, lines, fluid or the ABS pump.
- Deciding whether the car is safe to drive.
Where we land
Red light with the handbrake off: we'd park it and ask for a mechanic to come to the car, or a tow. Amber ABS light on its own with a firm pedal: we'd send the job today, make one short and careful trip, and stay off wet or gravel roads if we could. Both on: we'd treat it as red. A couple of minutes with the dash and the reservoir tells you which of those you've got.