My 94 940 does the same thing. One or more of the bulb contacts is dirty or not making strong enough contact in the socket.
To replace the rear brakes on a Volvo 850 you must first remove the old brakes. Then connect all of the wirings to the new brakes including the brake fluid line and the connection for the brake pads.
Because the e brake is hooked into your braking system and that system has a problem.
If your brake warning light is on, and for reasons that you are not aware of, you should NOT be driving this vehicle. If you know what is causing the brake warning light to come on, have remedied the problem, but the warning still persists, then you will have to take your car to a shop that is equipped for working on these brakes. And if the car is equipped with traction control/anti-lock brakes, the system is a lot more sophisticated, and near impossible for the home mechanic to work on anymore.
It means there is brake problem somewhere, maybe the back brakes.
Take you car in to a mechanic and have the brakes checked.
It should turn off, if all of the brake pad sensors are working. You might have a damaged sensor. Each sensor costs around $13.00
The brake pad squealers are warning you to have the brakes serviced soon.
There is a problem with the brake system, and the light is a warning for you to have it checked by a pro mechanic. Brakes are very important right? In my experience it was a cable that runs to one of the front wheels, it cost me $100 to have it fixed at a shop. It does not harm anything with the light on, it just means you do not have anti lock brakes working.
If your vehicle has separate dash panel warning lights for brakes and emergency brakes, then the e-brake light being on while not engaged may indicate that the e-brake switch may be maladjusted or faulty. If the brake warning light is on, it may indicate a brake fluid leak, or in some cases, low brake fluid levels in the reservoir. If your vehicle has a shared warning light for e-brake and brake warning, all causes listed above could apply.
The good news is the brake lights still appear to work even when this warning is displayed. Does anyone know if the brake lights are at risk of not coming on when you hit the brakes?
First, please understand that rear brakes do not work as hard as front brakes. The ratio of working is 60% front brakes and 40% rear brakes. Therefore, they do not wear out as quickly. Is this your observation and reason for asking the question? Second, if your rear brakes really are not working, you will experience a longer distance to come to a complete stop. Are you experiencing this? If so, then you really do have a problem with your rear brakes. You will have to check that the brake fluid is flushed (old brake fluid gathers moisture from the air and does not work as well) and you will have to check to see if any of the rear brake parts are "frozen" -stuck in place so that they do not squeeze the brake drum or disk. Please let me know how it goes. Your colleague in New Jersey
Could be low on brake fluid. This is a sign that the brakes need attention.