For over 3 months the dash board brake warning light on my 1997 2.2 Toyota Camry Auto has come on intermittently - sometimes not for 2-3 days then 2-4 times in an hour but always goes out after a few minutes. This is the same panel light as for the handbrake. The brakes are working 100%. I have replaced both bulbs in the tail cluster.

How can I fix this OR disable this feature without also affecting the working of the hand brake warning light?

Many thanks

Brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir , is at the minimum level, which means the brakes may need attention.

Thanks Kitsch but brake reservoir is full and I have had brakes/discs/pads all checked recently and all are OK.

. Spray brake light switch, located just above the brake pedal, with WD-40. If problem persists, adjust the brake light switch. Should the problem still persist, replace the brake light switch.

. Adjust emergency brake.

My 1999 Toyota Camry has a touchy brake warning light too. It comes on intermitently when the brake pads get worn down to a certain level. When the pads get worn down a bit (but still usable meat on them), I notice that the dashboard brake warning light starts coming on. I suspect that is because the brake fluid pressure sensor that detects imbalanced pressure between the rear and front brake fluid lines is miscalibrated or just plain too sensitive and triggers the light to come on when your front brake pads wear down a bit. The worn pads cause the front brake calipers to move out more reducing the front brake line's pressure. Therefore the brake line pressure switch gets pushed over and turns on the dashboard brake warning light. When I put new front brake pads on, the pressure comes back up and balances the pressure switch to turn the light off again.. . just replace your front brake pads. This fixes mine each time... until the front brake pads wear down again.

unbiased, you are only maybe about half right.
The hydraulic brake system is a diagonally split and balanced system so there is fairly even braking effort front-to-back in case of a failure in one part of the system.
The light is coming on because the fluid level in the brake master cylinder is lower when the pads are worn and the caliper pistons have moved outward to compensate. This closes the brake fluid level switch and turns the light on.
Next time the light comes on, visibly inspect the fluid level in the brake master cylinder. I think you will find it lower than normal. Driving the caliper pistons back into their bore to create clearance for the replacement pads cause the fluid to go back up into the master reservoir, thus closing the fluid level switch and making the light go off.
The brake pressure switch performs it's duties when the ABS system is engaged but it won't turn on any light while it's working.

Had the same problem with my wife's 1996 Camry. The problem was resolved after bleeding/draining & refilling the brake fluid. I would recommend trying this. You can get it done almost anywhere for around $150 or do it yourself if you a handyman, it's SUPER easy. You just need two people. Youtube how to change brake fluid and you can find tons of helpful videos. Also, be sure to research the proper sequence for your cars brake bleed. Most are to start with the shortest path from the master cylinder and work your way out further such as (Front driver side, then front passenger side, then rear driver side, then finally the rear passenger side). Hope this helps!

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Originally Posted by Vegitta99

Had the same problem with my wife's 1996 Camry. The problem was resolved after bleeding/draining & refilling the brake fluid. I would recommend trying this. You can get it done almost anywhere for around $150 or do it yourself if you a handyman, it's SUPER easy. You just need two people. Youtube how to change brake fluid and you can find tons of helpful videos. Also, be sure to research the proper sequence for your cars brake bleed. Most are to start with the shortest path from the master cylinder and work your way out further such as (Front driver side, then front passenger side, then rear driver side, then finally the rear passenger side). Hope this helps!

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Excellent advise!