2003 with brake lamp indicator warning - no lights out

[rlcompos]

Greetings all-

I have a 2003 pilot with a brake lamp warning light on. Have checked all my lights and can't find anything burned out. Doing some research on another site, an Accord owner indicated a sensor that needs to be replaced. Does this sound right to anyone? Where would I find that sensor in the Pilot? Any help would be appreciated.

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by rlcompos

Greetings all-

I have a 2003 pilot with a brake lamp warning light on. Have checked all my lights and can't find anything burned out. Doing some research on another site, an Accord owner indicated a sensor that needs to be replaced. Does this sound right to anyone? Where would I find that sensor in the Pilot? Any help would be appreciated.

several possibilities, brake fluid, e-brake sensor....
this from honda-tech may help with similar issues:
Brake lamp warning light - Honda-Tech

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by rlcompos

Greetings all-

I have a 2003 pilot with a brake lamp warning light on. Have checked all my lights and can't find anything burned out. Doing some research on another site, an Accord owner indicated a sensor that needs to be replaced. Does this sound right to anyone? Where would I find that sensor in the Pilot? Any help would be appreciated.

Brake Lamp Light

[94eg!]

The light on your dashboard that says "brake" is only an indicator for your parking brake being on, or your brake fluid being low.

[rlcompos]

Greetings All-

Thanks so much for the replies. Just to confirm, it was the brake lamp indicator, not the parking brake indicator. Thanks so much for the info as I would have never been able to figure that one. One follow-on question: I have not yet added the brake fluid as the owner's manual says that other DOT-3 brake fluids are not adequate to prevent corrosion and that I need genuine Honda brake fluid? I wanted to get a reality check if anyone would like to chime in?

THANKS AGAIN!

[krazykarguy]

You do not need Honda-branded brake fluid. Any DOT-3 will be fine.

[94eg!]

Originally Posted by rlcompos

Greetings All-

Thanks so much for the replies. Just to confirm, it was the brake lamp indicator, not the parking brake indicator. Thanks so much for the info as I would have never been able to figure that one. One follow-on question: I have not yet added the brake fluid as the owner's manual says that other DOT-3 brake fluids are not adequate to prevent corrosion and that I need genuine Honda brake fluid? I wanted to get a reality check if anyone would like to chime in?

THANKS AGAIN!

Honda probably just uses a very high quality DOT 3 fluid with a high wet-boiling point. The higher the wet-boiling point, the longer the fluid will last in the system. Of course Honda doesn't advertise their fluid specs.

DOT 4 is made the same way, but to a higher standard. The best DOT 4 fluid is called ATE super-blue. It has a wet boiling point that's almost as high as DOT4's minimum dry boiling point. The stuff is even blue so you can tell when it starts flowing out of the calipers when bleeding.

BTW: You should change your brake fluid every 2 to 3 years regardless of mileage. It says so in your Owners manual. The fluid absorbs moisture in the brake system and becomes more likely to boil in emergency situations (boiling fluid = loss of brakes)

PS: Once the seal on a can of brake fluid is broken, consider the entire bottle "used". The fluid will absorb all kinds of moisture even when sitting on the shelf. If your only topping off, just buy one small can of fluid. If your bleeding the whole system, get two small cans or one big one. ATE is sold in large 1L cans. You should only need 1 to bleed the whole system.

[rlcompos]

Thanks SO much for the replies to my questions. It is greatly appreciated!

[rlcompos]

Thanks to all that offered suggestions. Brake fluid appears to now be fine. Lamp still remains, however. Where is the brake lamp sensor that was mentioned before? Under dash or under hood? Any thoughts on what else it could be? Much appreciated.

[rlcompos]

Just to close the loop, I finally had to give up as I didn't have the time to tear apart my dash looking for the light switch. Right before Christmas, I had a tail light go out altogether. I replaced it an viola......the light went away. I know that I checked all the lights, but as it was suggested, I am sure that I simply could not tell that one of the filaments in a bulb was already out when the other was working. Thanks again to all those who replied......

[hoorah]

Originally Posted by 94eg!

The best DOT 4 fluid is called ATE super-blue.

Just adding that ATE Type 200 is the same as super blue, but is gold in color and doesn't stain the reservoir blue like the blue stuff does.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by krazykarguy

You do not need Honda-branded brake fluid. Any DOT-3 will be fine.

If you change your fluid often any DOT-3 will do.

If you want to go the full three years (and have some safety margin in case you forget) you need a high quality fluid such as the Honda.
Mixed fluid is not recommended as each company has a slightly different formulation to get the specifications.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by 94eg!

Honda probably just uses a very high quality DOT 3 fluid with a high wet-boiling point. The higher the wet-boiling point, the longer the fluid will last in the system. Of course Honda doesn't advertise their fluid specs.

DOT 4 is made the same way, but to a higher standard. The best DOT 4 fluid is called ATE super-blue. It has a wet boiling point that's almost as high as DOT4's minimum dry boiling point. The stuff is even blue so you can tell when it starts flowing out of the calipers when bleeding.

BTW: You should change your brake fluid every 2 to 3 years regardless of mileage. It says so in your Owners manual. The fluid absorbs moisture in the brake system and becomes more likely to boil in emergency situations (boiling fluid = loss of brakes)

PS: Once the seal on a can of brake fluid is broken, consider the entire bottle "used". The fluid will absorb all kinds of moisture even when sitting on the shelf. If your only topping off, just buy one small can of fluid. If your bleeding the whole system, get two small cans or one big one. ATE is sold in large 1L cans. You should only need 1 to bleed the whole system.

ATE Blue and 200 are the same fluid just tinted differently for ease in fluid changes as required on race cars.

ATE SL6 may provide better ABS performance by allowing faster reaction time, but needs to be changed every 2 years.