Check!!! brake light system

[eyedoll325is]

For the last week i have been receiving a Check!!! brake light system on my computer( so far 4 times). It tells me to trouble shoot it with the Owners manual, unlucky i dont have one. My brake lights dont turn on when the CHECK is active, i just turn off the car and start it again and the problem is fixed. what can it be? a switch? a loose bulb? also, it happened 3 times because i had my foot on the brake before i started the car, the last check happened when i was driving at 15 mph but i fixed by re-starting. any ideas?

 

[e30fr3@k]

could you perhaps tell us the year your car was produced, and what the exact message is? i believe it would allow us to better assist you.

 

[Bimmerlife]

Check brake light. That is the message. One of your brake light bulb is burned or perhaps the socket where the bulb is likes to melt from the heat the bulbs produce, covering the actual contact area. go to your trunk and open the plastic covers of the tail lights and check if everything is ok. It might just be the bulb.

 

[e30fr3@k]

man...the E30s don't have sophisticate messages like that. just blinks "check" and then displays a light up above the rear view mirror indicating what's wrong. i fell ripped...

 

[Bimmerlife]

Yeah the E36 is of course more advance. I was getting this message too and also check coolant level all the time. And I was like $hit what the hell the coolant reservoir fluid level is exactly like supose to be. So I removed the coolant level sensor and it was bad.

 

[mjbst111]

The brake check light will come on if you start your car without pressing the brake petal. If i don't, mine stays on until i do hit the brakes. Sound like thats your problem since if you turn it off then back on it goes away. but what they said above is also correct.

 

[e30fr3@k]

right-the E30's as well will flash "check" until the brake is engaged. but there's no reason to restart the car, simply tap the pedal.[driving2]

 

[flyinH]

if your bulbs are all ok and you still get the message,it might be a bad brake light switch.

here's a link if you want to do it urself.
http://www.geocities.com/karlkarlb/brakeswitch.html

 

[eyedoll325is]

check brake system is the message, and i have to restart the car to fix it, if i engage the brake it wont go off. Ill chech the bulbs, thx for your replies, the car is a 1995 325is manual

 

[eyedoll325is]

here is my car

i hope u guys like it

 

[e30fr3@k]

0o0o0o0o0o0o shiney

 

[Bimmerlife]

When you restart your car the message just go away but it does not fix the problem.

 

[e30fr3@k]

When you restart your car the message just go away but it does not fix the problem.

out of sight, out of mind

 

[Bimmerlife]

What do you mean?

 

[e30fr3@k]

"out of sight, out of mind" is the "phenomenon" in which problems "disappear" just because we don't notice them. i was making a joke and appearantly bombed it

 

[wood_e]

What do you mean?

e30fre@k is using a cliche reference to that if something goes away you'll forget about it

 

[Bimmerlife]

Oh. Im stupid cause I didn't understand.

 

[wood_e]

omg, I TOTALLY got beaten to the post!

 

[e30fr3@k]

omg, I TOTALLY got beaten to the post!

i win

 

[flandersmmm]

Had the check light come on on my E36 and it was the brake light switch which is attached to the brake pedal. Pretty easy to change. I was told if it wasnot that it could be a bad bulb including use of bulbs without copper base. They dont contact well. But I'd replace the brake light switch because it is very common.