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Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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GEOneedHelp
Novice
Jun 1, 2007, 10:12 AM
Post #1 of 10
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Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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Please I need help I Have a 1992 Geo Prizm this is my car from college and back home. Recently I had some lights pop up. The BRAKE light and BATTERY light. I have been to the mechanic and they say my brake pads are fine. I am thinking this might be my alternator? but my car starts up fine. When i pressed on the brake the lights would show up then when i released and gased the lights went away. Now the lights just stay on.
Please help I do not want to get stranded on the highway by myself driving home or to school. 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE 
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 2, 2007, 3:28 AM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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I'm having trouble coming up with scenario that would connect the two lights??
The brake light if the red one is probably low brake fluid. Just filling it up may shut the light out but it shouldn't need to be filled up but maybe once in the life of the brake pads so a leak should be investigated if found low. That light could also be from the parking brake which can do that when cables get rusty and don't release properly.
Check the voltage of the battery with engine off and engine running. Off about 12.2V and running should be about 14V but not less than 13.5 or more than 15.
Now find out how old the battery is. They are marked with numbers, letters or even just pull out dots that say the age. Over 3 years is losing it's dependability and if it fail badly can wipe out the alternator so old ones should be replaced just because of their age even if it's not the current problem.
If money is an issue you can get a multimeter, test light, and alligator clips on red and black wires all for under $20 bucks and they would be handy to have. That's for cheap stuff and certainly more expensive stuff is better but these work and I buy them for just a tool box in the trunk of each car.
See what you find and hit back,
T
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GEOneedHelp
Novice
Jun 2, 2007, 10:34 AM
Post #3 of 10
(1115 views)
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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Thank You Mr. Greenleaf for responding
Would I be able to check a leak from the brakes without lifting the car up?
I just had the axel replaced on the right side because the rubber part had a rip.
Assuming the it is a small leak from the brakes or something and a old battery these I should still be able to make it from albany to NYC a few times??? Hopefully
Thank You
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 2, 2007, 12:25 PM
Post #4 of 10
(1113 views)
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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Red warning lights mean business and yellow/amber means soon but not to be ignored. Brakes could be a faulty switch that is not a total safety issue but if it leaks brake fluid how could you know when it blow out and you have little to no braking at all? You can't fool with that one and if it's not a leak or you can't find it then at least bring the small container of DOT 3 (department of transportation) with you and you might be able to safely get to a safe spot but that's trouble you don't want.
The battery can wait if it tests as I mentioned. They are funny about age and can work like new until they quit. New ones can too but the odds are far less.
I know money is tight -- just saying college about says that. Others have things but you can buy a mulit-tester for about $9.96 at Wal-Mart and a few bucks for a test light. They are cheap but you can get a voltage reading, check fuses without taking them out and more for a thing the size of a pack of cigarettes.
The area that the shaft was replaced would be a place to look for the brake leak if in fact it's a leak at all. Brake fluid will wash right off with water so you won't find it if you have just driven in the rain and evidence will be washed away.
Albany to the NYC is not all that far but who could ever say any car is going to make any trip so what we do is reduce the odds of a breakdown. Any of us can breakdown which is why we have spare tires and assorted stuff with us to maybe get out of it.
Find out what you can about these two issues. Folks are here to help you as best we can with a keyboard,
T
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GEOneedHelp
Novice
Jun 2, 2007, 7:49 PM
Post #5 of 10
(1112 views)
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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oh yeh its all red lights and it has been on and off for a few months already,
I once asked a mechanic when it first happened and he said if it goes on and off dont worry about it.
Your Right I should get some brake fluid in case.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 3, 2007, 3:56 AM
Post #6 of 10
(1111 views)
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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No mechanic should tell you not to worry about warning lights. I understand that if it comes and goes it could be difficult to find out why. It should still be investigated especially with brakes.
Don't let carrying brake fluid with you be a security blanket. That's not what I meant by that. It may allow you to drive to get yourself out of harms way but is not a fix. It's not safe to even be broken down on the side of the road in many places and that's all I meant. It may not work for a second to just fill up an empty master cylinder. If it can get you off the road as a last ditch effort fine. Not to just delay fixing the problem until it's convenient for you. We share the roads and your ability to stop the car if compremised can involve the safety of others that you may just plow into with no brakes. Price/cost is secondary. The cost of an accident is far more expensive and may involve injuries to yourself and others counting on you to have a safe car.
It's your responsibility to get answers and the fix for this,
T
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GEOneedHelp
Novice
Jun 3, 2007, 11:03 AM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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I understand and Thank you very much for all your help
P.s. - For the brake fluid if it is low, should I drain out the old? if so how would I do it, and if not its okay to add onto the brake fluid?
Thank you
(This post was edited by GEOneedHelp on Jun 3, 2007, 9:04 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 5, 2007, 9:35 AM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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If you find it low enough to set a light off there's a leak. You can just top off if just a little low.
To change it all out for new you would emply most of it (like with a baster dedicated just for the car!) -- fill with new and bleed all the brakes maintaining it on the full side while doing that and when done leave it full.
Cars do not consume brake fluid but it does show a lower level as brakes pads wear as it has displaced the wear with the brake piston moving closer which is normal. From new brakes to needing to replace them there should be enough fluid to cover that. In general a one time top off for the life of pads about does it,
T
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GEOneedHelp
Novice
Jun 8, 2007, 11:34 AM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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Hi Tom,
I just went to a local mechanic around my school and they said it was the alternator with the problem, and it would costs $191 to replace.
Would it be possible to make around a 3hr drive back home? Without getting it fixed because this may be my last time using this car, and I do not want to put $200 into it and not use it again.
Would it help if i took a few rests within the 3 hr drive, and not use the radio would that cause reserve more power for the alternator??
Thank You
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2007, 3:37 PM
Post #10 of 10
(1091 views)
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Re: Help with my GEO1992 with brake light and battery light
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Never mind the alternator for the moment, what is the brake light? I don't see an alternator causing that problem??
If alternator was just putting out a small charge it might make a small trip with all electrical things off and pull fuse on daytime running lights. If it's putting out no charge it probably wouldn't last an hour even with a good battery as the fuel pump and other necessary engine controls are still using power and reserve in battery will not last all that long.
So for your answer: No -- it won't make it or at best you are taking a big gamble,
T
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