Pontiac Repair: Brake Warning Light, brake warning light, rear brakes

Question
Todd,
I have a 1998 monte carlo w/ 3.1 engine. The other day while backing out of the driveway the brake warning light came on in the dash. I checked the front & rear brakes and found the front pads were pretty worn replaced them & topped off the fluid, the rear looked fine. There are no leaks in the system and they seem to work fine but the dash light is still on. I guess my question is would the worn pads trigger the brake light to come on and is there a reset or something to make it go off.
Thanks, Dave.

Answer
Hi David:
the red warning lamp on the newer cars will come on for a few reasons. If it quipped with ABS and the ABS lamp comes on for certain faults the red lamp will turn on with the ABS. I'm guess that is noit the case because you didn't mention and ABS lamp. second the parking brake switch can turn that lamp on. lastly the low fluid levle switch in the master cylindr will turn it on. The fluid was more then lilley low due to the brake pads being worn out so indirectly worn pads can make the lamp go on. as the pads wear the pistons in the master cylinder extend outwward to take up for the loss of fricton material on the pads. My guess it the swich in the mater cylinder is stuck.  use the handle of a screw driver and tap on the mater cylinder resivoir and see if the lamp turns off. if not just unplug it and see if the lamp goes out.