ABS light + parking brake light = wtf?

[SarcasticDwarf]

I was in a grocery store parking lot a few minutes ago and had to hit the brakes because of someone blindly backing out. A minute or so later I noticed that both the ABS and parking brake lights in my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 were lit. I checked and the parking brake had was not engaged. I parked the vehicle, shut it off, and turned it back on. The lights are now off. What could it mean? The brakes were checked about 9 months ago and were perfectly fine then.

 

[Zenmervolt]

The parking brake light often doubles as a low brake fluid warning light. This light is triggered by a float in the fluid reservoir and occasionally if the fluid is near the "MIN" level a sudden stop or hard corner can trigger it as the fluid sloshes a little in the reservoir.

As for the ABS light, I've seen ABS computers get confused on occasion and then self-correct after re-starting the vehicle, don't worry about the ABS light unless it comes on again.

ZV

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The parking brake light often doubles as a low brake fluid warning light. This light is triggered by a float in the fluid reservoir and occasionally if the fluid is near the "MIN" level a sudden stop or hard corner can trigger it as the fluid sloshes a little in the reservoir.

As for the ABS light, I've seen ABS computers get confused on occasion and then self-correct after re-starting the vehicle, don't worry about the ABS light unless it comes on again.

ZV

Thanks. FWIW, I did do a bit of googling and saw some people mentioning a rear dif speed sensor or something like that being a common cause.