The brake warning light (the one with the exclamation mark) on our '93 TR Magna 2.6 came on intermittently and when it did the pedal almost went to the floor. We checked and found no fluid leaks but the rear pads were almost down to the metal so we replaced them. Now the brakes seem fine but I was wondering what the warning light actually detected. Is it lack of fluid, pressure, something else?

The warning light will come on for most things, low fluid level, longer than normal pedal travel, etc... I know on my car 3rd gen that if i go to hard around a corner the light will come on....

Not sure what it actually detects, but my brakes overheated in my TR and the light came on....3 minutes after i'd managed to stop the car after the brakes failed :nuts: .

I am 90% certain it is fluid levels. When your brake fluid goes down to far, that light will come indicating there is a problem. It happened to me as well. Replaced the fluid, never happened since. Also my mechanic backed up my suspicions so yeah, that'd be it I'd say.

Yeah fluid level. Mine used to come on around hard corners, then gradually made a more frequent appearance, and in 1500km or so it came on and stayed on until i got the fluid replaced.

As for that brake going to the floor problem, have only seen that happen when putting new pads in and bleeding the brakes.

The brake warning light comes on when a pressure differential is detected between the both sides of the hydraulic system. If you're certain you're not loosing any brake fluid and there is not a visable leak anywhere, then I'm afraid your master cylinder probably has a leak internally and needs to be replaced. If you're sitting at a stop light with your foot on the brake, all seems normal and then suddenly it just sinks to the floor, this is a classic symptom of a dead master cylinder.

Oh, one other thing it could be is an ABS system leak, however I don't think ABS was an option in TR 2.6

Its a warning light for a reason.. Start with the basics and work form there.. Fluid level will be the first thing id check..:shock:

The brake warning light comes on when a pressure differential is detected between the both sides of the hydraulic system. If you're certain you're not loosing any brake fluid and there is not a visable leak anywhere, then I'm afraid your master cylinder probably has a leak internally and needs to be replaced. If you're sitting at a stop light with your foot on the brake, all seems normal and then suddenly it just sinks to the floor, this is a classic symptom of a dead master cylinder.

Oh, one other thing it could be is an ABS system leak, however I don't think ABS was an option in TR 2.6

It hasn't done it since we changed the rear pads which were very worn and the pistons were way out. Is it possible that pads could have caused a pressure differential?