# Mazda MX-5 Break Warning Light **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mazda, lights, miata\ **Created:** [July 10, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582 "2010-07-10T15:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dhansell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@dhansell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dhansell)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/1 "2010-07-10T15:00:53Z")
I own a 06 Mazda MX-5 SE, # 305 0f 3500. When I accelerate quickly; like when I’m trying to merge onto the highway behind some bonehead that’s using the entrance ramp as a slow lane, the brake warning light illuminates. It goes away after several minutes, but seems unrelated to whether I’m accelerating or decelerating. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/2 "2010-07-10T16:14:53Z")
Have you checked the level of the brake fluid in your master cylinder? When the fluid level begins to drop, the light will come on intermittently. As the level drops further, the light stays on continually. You might also want to check the operation of the e-brake lever to see how this affects the functioning of the warning light, but my prime suspect would be low brake fluid. Incidentally, there are two causes of low brake fluid > A leak, which must be fixed immediately. > Worn brake pads. As the brake pads wear, the brake calipers extend further, thus drawing more fluid from the master cylinder. Have the condition of the brake pads checked after you take care of the fluid level. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/3 "2010-07-10T17:19:49Z")
VDC said it perfectly as usual. I agree with his every word. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/4 "2010-07-10T22:11:26Z")
I also agree. ---
**Author:** ![dhansell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@dhansell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dhansell)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/5 "2010-07-10T23:52:24Z")
The brake fluid is midway between the min & max lines. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/6 "2010-07-11T00:04:03Z")
Refill the master cylinder to the “max” level with the type of brake fluid specified in your Owner’s Manual. As they say in the Staples commercials, “That was easy”! P.S. Don’t forget to have the condition of the brake pads checked as soon as it is convenient. ---
**Author:** ![dhansell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@dhansell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dhansell)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-break-warning-light/51582/7 "2010-07-11T09:18:35Z")
Can / Will Do! Time for the 50,000 K check-up, anyway. Thanks, all.