Q: Brake, VSC and ABS lights on, grinding noise during braking

asked by on May 25, 2016

Hello. My car has gone around 110,000 miles. The dashboard has been showing several lights illuminated in the last few months. There is the brake warning light illuminated red that would show sporadically. Also, the ABS and VSC lights would be illuminated occasionally. When I went to the shop to get my oil changed, the mechanic had my brake pads replaced because they were worn. After that, only the brake warning light would sometimes turn on. While I was driving on one occasion, I made a U-turn and applied the brakes. There was a loud grinding noise. It seemed as though I couldn't brake as well as I used to. The noise was noticeable several times in row while I was applying the brakes and the three lights were on--the brake warning light, VCS and ABS lights. When I went back to the mechanic, he said that there was air in the brake lines. They bled the system. Could that possibly cause that loud grinding? I am about to take on long-distance driving and I was wondering if it is really safe to drive the car now. Thank you.

Brakes, Steering and Suspension Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

If you are going on a trip, then have a different mechanic check the system to make sure you do not have a problem with the anti-lock brakes. The brake pads would not have caused any of these lights to be on. Maybe the mechanic that did the brakes did not test the ABS of VSC. Have these systems checked to see if they have a code stored.

You may have a sensor for one of the wheels being bad. The grinding noise can be from the brake pad material (which is normal) or you may have another problem like wheel bearing issues. Only a brake check can tell what these issues are.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Lots of tire wear and wear is not even
Greetings and thank you for writing in with this question! We first need to separate “wheels” and “tires.” Wheels are the metal (aluminum or steel) piece that the tire (black rubber) mounts to. Tires should generally last longer than 30,000...
Knocking sound
Hello. It sounds like there is something broken in the engine internally. A push rod could be bent, a lifter could be stuck, or the engine bearing could be messed up. Have your vehicle's noise inspected (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection) by a certified...
Heater not working
If steam is coming out of your vents, the heater core is leaking. Replacement of the heater core on your particular vehicle requires dashboard removal and should only be attempted by qualified technicians like ones from YourMechanic. They will be...
changed fuel pump cant bleed fuel lines
I have never had to bleed the air out to make the vehicle start after replacing the fuel pump. You should have the fuel pressure checked to see if you are getting 41 to 47 psi when you cycle the...
Clunking noise and jolting when put in reverse
Many different faults can cause the vehicle to clunk and not be able able to shift out of gear. Transmissions use the fluid to help change gears, and when fluid is low or dirty, it can cause many issues with...
I have an engine light code P0507. It says that there is a high idle issue with my vehicle.
Hi there. The code P0507 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0507-obd-ii-trouble-code-idle-control-system-rpm-higher-than-expected-by-spencer-clayton) means that the idle air control valve (IAC) is registering a higher rpm than normal. Check all of the vacuum lines to the engine. A small vacuum leak will cause the engine rpm to...
My car will not start - 2003 Toyota Matrix
Hi there. Unfortunately, once there is oil and coolant mixed, there is the possibility of a cracked cylinder head/block or a blown cylinder head gasket. This is a serious condition as the internal damage generally snowballs into worse; the main...
P0171 bank 1 upstream O2 sensor
Hello, thank you for writing in. The bank 1 upstream oxygen sensor is referring to the oxygen sensor that is before the catalytic converter. If looking at the exhaust system, it would be located on the main pipe between the...
While riding over a hump, there is a sound from the shock absorber 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hello - shock absorber noises, both front and rear, is a fairly common complaint among Jeep owners, and for a few years now. Whether it is "normal" or acceptable is a subjective question, but if there is any fluid leaking...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Sienna
The The 2012 Toyota Sienna is one of the most innovative and luxurious minivans on the market today. Not only has Toyota increased its size to better compete with the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Honda Odyssey, but you can...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Farmer
If If you're a farmer, you know that what you need isn’t a used car – it’s a used pickup truck. How else are you going to haul around hay, implements, garden produce, fertilizer, and all the other things you...
How to Buy a Good Quality Brake Drum
The The introduction of disc brakes beginning in the 1970s eclipsed the older, more outdated technology of the drum brake. This style, however, is still used in some cars today, most often on the rear brakes and typically in order...