Brake Warning Light Coming On

[ArizonaPathy]

The parking brake warning light on my 2003 SE 4x4 with 93,000 miles suddenly started turning on about a week ago. It happens on the first drive of the day when the car is started cold, stays on for 5-10 minutes, goes off, comes back on again a few times, then goes off completely for the rest of the day. It also went on for a brief second today during a moderate panic stop from about 30 mph. The parking brake appears to be working as normal, although when I pull it up while driving, it seems to have very little effect at slowing the vehicle. Braking action is the same, distances are not longer and the pedal does not go to the floor. My front pads (Nissan Brand) have about 20% left, or 43K on them. The rears have not been serviced yet. I set the parking brake 99% of the time while parked. Weather is moderate here in Phoenix, about 35-65 degrees.

 

Any ideas on what this could be? Should I get the codes read?

 

Thanks.

[CaughtLikeFire]

The parking brake warning light on my 2003 SE 4x4 with 93,000 miles suddenly started turning on about a week ago. It happens on the first drive of the day when the car is started cold, stays on for 5-10 minutes, goes off, comes back on again a few times, then goes off completely for the rest of the day. It also went on for a brief second today during a moderate panic stop from about 30 mph. The parking brake appears to be working as normal, although when I pull it up while driving, it seems to have very little effect at slowing the vehicle. Braking action is the same, distances are not longer and the pedal does not go to the floor. My front pads (Nissan Brand) have about 20% left, or 43K on them. The rears have not been serviced yet. I set the parking brake 99% of the time while parked. Weather is moderate here in Phoenix, about 35-65 degrees.

 

Any ideas on what this could be? Should I get the codes read?

 

Thanks.

 

it hasn't happened with my Pathfinder but with other vehicles - if the brake fluid is a touch low, the brake light comes on when the car is cold (1st thing in the morning). brake performance is not affected. if you're concerned about your parking brake being too loose, follow the procedure here: http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=460197&postid=5191362

[nunya]

Your front pads have 20% left you say. That means your front calipers have the pistons extended out some, which in turn will make your brake fluid "low" since it will be in the calipers and not the resivour. The resivour being down some is tripping the sensor letting you know through the light (generally shared light with the e-brake). Get a set of pads on the front, get the rears checked then if still a little low top the fluid off to the fill line.