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"BRAKE" Dash Light On

26K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  Jpc647 
#1 ·
So, yet another issue with the Compass... I shouldn't be surprised every time something happens to this engineering marvel...

Title explains it. While I'm driving, the e-brake light remains on. The lever is all the way down and the light flashes when I pull the e-brake up in gear.

What are some things to check for this? Never seen this before...
 
#2 ·
Hi icer22x,

Sorry to hear about this, if you decide to visit your local dealership for further diagnosis I'd be happy to offer assistance if needed. Just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 
#9 ·
UPDATE:

Flushed brake system as well as I could today. Started with the back calipers and started pumping brake fluid out of the lines (while keeping the master cylinder topped up with DOT 3) until it was clear in the tube. Didn't see a lot of air in there. Just a few small bubbles here and there.

Brake light is still on. My next place to look is the e-brake switch.
 
#10 ·
UPDATE:

I replaced the brake fluid level sensor. Only about $4. Still have the light on the dash.

The only other easy fix I can visit is the switch under the e-brake lever. I'll be getting that later.

:(
 
#11 ·
SOLVED:

Well... as I was trying to solve my windshield wiper pump issue here:
http://www.myjeepcompass.com/forums...5-windshield-washer-motor-not-activating.html

I simultaneously solved my brake light issue. Since I was not getting current in the wiper pump connector I traced the two wires (PITA - had to rip some wire tape off in multiple places to keep testing Ohms) all the way back to a connection near the TIPM - which I just recently replaced to fix a headlight issue. As I looked down I saw that I had forgot to plug in one of the connectors in the bottom of the TIPM... OF WHICH THE WIPER PUMP WIRES BELONG TO.

ICER YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

I plugged it in, BAM. Wiper pump works like a charm. As I was sitting there inside the Compass cursing myself I noticed the brake light on my dash went off as well! I have no idea why because it was on before I replaced the TIPM so the unplugged connector couldn't be the culprit... or could it? I'm not 100% certain the brake light had any relation to this connector I plugged in... Maybe with me moving wires around down there I removed a short? Maybe the brake light will come back on... Or just maybe it DID have to do with that TIPM connections. Oh well...

I also discovered why my back windshield washer wasn't squirting like it should. If you open the back door and look up at the base where the hinges are connected, you'll see 5 rubber circular grommets. Pop those out and remove the 4 nuts and undo the plastic expanding fastener by pinching/pushing it towards the front of the vehicle. This pops off the spoiler and will get you access to your rear windshield wiper hose of which has a plastic connector joining the two sections of the hose. Mine was snapped in half - so fluid was getting back there, but it was just leaking down the back window. Why these two sections of hose couldn't just be one unit is beyond me. Designed to fail if you ask me... Anyway, I'm lazy and didn't want to wait so I JB Welded it back together.

If you have any questions about any of my troubleshooting or any of the parts I installed, let me know! That brake fluid level sensor seems like it's impossible to install, but it's actually really easy.

Goodnight!
 
#13 ·
You're right it should, but I hung it up to dry too soon and gravity pulled it apart. Found it lying on the ground this morning. I can't find the part on RockAuto, so off to Home Depot to find something that will work - possibly a metal connector.
 
#15 ·
Can you please tell me how you were able to change brake fluid level sensor? I have manuals on the location, it just not tell me how to access it. I know that I can't reach it from the top. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Rocky Steve
It is located on the bottom of the master cylinder reservoir. If I recall correctly (it's been over a year since I changed mine), all you have to do is push a tab down and pull it out. It is hard to do because it's so tight underneath the reservoir. I think I removed some things to get better access to it. Let me know if you need anything else.
 
#17 ·
No I definitely didn't do that. I think at most I removed the air intake unit (two twist screws located near front) and the large air intake tube (metal screw clamp IIRC). Just whatever that was easy to remove and got me better access to the underside of the master cylinder reservoir I removed.
 
#18 ·
Hi to all. I found a video clip today on YouTube that shows how to remove the sensor. The sensor pulls straight out of the master cylinder towards the passenger side of the car. You may need a screwdriver to pry it a little, but it came right out. It did not fix the emergency brake light issue that I have been chasing for years but that's how that's done.
 
#19 ·
I had the same problem with my 2011 jeep compass (brake light would not go off). The problem is the ground on the sensor (black/yellow wire) for the brake fluid monitor. The fix is to add a new ground wire to the black/yellow sensor wire. After adding new ground wire, plug sensor back in before testing. If you leave the sensor unplugged and restart vehicle the brake light will clear for about 5 seconds and then come back on. Once you plug the sensor in with the new ground wire the brake light will stay off.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Where is the actual ground for the switch? I'm guessing there are a few different sensors all grounded together, and while grounding the brake light switch independently might fix the brake light on the dash, there are most likely other sensors not receiving proper ground too.


2012 Jeep Compass here, and the red Brake Light is staying on all the time. A couple weeks back, I played with the E-brake handle and got it to go out for a while. Now it's staying on all the time. It does blink if the e-brake is engaged and the car is in drive, but it no longer goes out.

I can't find anywhere where theres a how to on how to remove the center console to get to the e-brake switch. Anyone know of one on the compass?
 
#22 ·
So I tried something last night. I unplugged the sensor on the master cylinder, I used a paperclip to jump the connector (make a loop into the pins) and then I grounded that paper clip to the strut mount.

The light went off! But, after a couple of minutes it came back. So I'm not sure what that tells me. I did it again, the light went off, and then came back a minute or so later. I'm guessing maybe it's not the brake fluid sensor?
 
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