The “Braking power low” warning message on your Lexus can be a pretty scary thing to see since in most cases the vehicle will not start.
The low brake power message can appear for a variety of reasons, but I’ve found that most cases are caused by four things.
In this article, I will go over the most common causes of the “low braking power” warning message on a Lexus.
Let’s get to it.
Lexus “Braking Power Low” Common Causes
From my experience, here are the main cause/causes:
Low Battery Voltage Due to a Bad Battery
The most common cause of the “low braking power” warning message on a Lexus is a bad battery.
If your car has been sitting for a while or you never replaced the battery before, chances are that it’s not getting enough juice to start right up. This can be due to either a bad battery or one that just needs to be recharged.
When the battery fails, it causes all sorts of electrical problems on your Lexus. In some cases, other fault codes come up alongside the braking power low.
Your Lexus battery will usually last anywhere between 3-5 years.
I will say 80-95% of the time this problem on your Lexus is caused by a bad battery and replacing it should solve the problem.
Low Brake Fluid
The other common cause of low brake power is a low brake fluid level.
When your brakes are applied, the hydraulic pressure forces brake fluid through a series of pipes and valves in order to push the pads against the rotors.
If there isn’t enough fluid, it won’t be able to do its job properly. This can result in your Lexus not starting and showing “braking power low”.
If your battery is still in good condition and the voltage is over 12.6 then the next thing, I advise you to check is the brake fluid level.
Dirty/ Contaminated Brake Fluid
Dirty/ Contaminated Brake Fluid: The third most common cause of low brake power is dirty or contaminated brake fluid.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the air and normally gets dirty over time.
When this happens it can cause a “Braking power low” to come on your Lexus.
Outdated Software Version
When you buy a new car, it comes with the latest software version.
However, over time there will be newer versions of the software released.
If you don’t update your Lexus software it can start to malfunction and display a lot of errors like braking power low.
From my experience as a mechanic, this rarely happens but it does happen.
It’s important to keep your Lexus up-to-date with the latest software version so that you don’t run into issues like this.
How to Fix and Reset the Braking Power Low fault on a Lexus
Now, let’s talk about how to fix the braking power low fault on a Lexus. here is what I recommend:
1. Have the Battery Tested and Replaced
The first thing I advise you to do is If the battery is old and has lost its charge (or can’t hold a charge), then it can cause a lot of issues with your vehicle’s computer system.
So you will need to replace the old battery with a new one This will usually fix the issue.
Make sure that the battery that you get is compatible and strong enough to power your Lexus.
If your Lexus is failing to start then have someone jumpstart you or use a portable battery charger to get your engine to run.
2. Check Brake Fluid
If you are confident that your battery is still new and in great condition, then the next thing I recommend is to check the brake fluid.
You need to check for two main things, which are Brake Fluid Level and brake fluid condition.
If the brake fluid level is low, then you need to add more of it. Check your manual for the correct amount of brake fluid needed for your Lexus model.
The color of the brake fluid should be clear and transparent. If it is dark, then you need to flush your brake fluid and replace it with a new one.
3. Software Update
If all of the above-mentioned checks are still not helping you fix your Lexus, then I recommend that you update the software.
I advise you to take your car to any nearest Lexus dealership and let them update the software for you.
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