Towing & roadside assistance—one local call.
Lake View East & North Side focus · 24/7
English & Spanish assistance
Towing & roadside assistance—one local call.
Lake View East & North Side focus · 24/7
English & Spanish assistance
If the red brake-system warning appears while you are driving, get out of active traffic and stop as soon as you can do so safely. Do not keep driving just to see whether the light goes away. Once you are stopped, follow the instructions for your exact vehicle and arrange inspection or a compatible tow when driving is not appropriate.
For towing in Lake View East or Chicago’s North Side, call Rick’s at (312) 451-5785. Tell us what the dashboard shows, how the brake pedal feels and where the vehicle is located so we can discuss the safest next step.
A brake-system light can mean different things depending on the vehicle. It may appear because the parking brake is applied, the brake-fluid level is low or the braking system needs service. The symbol, color and dashboard message matter, so check the owner’s manual for your year, make and model.
Ford’s owner-manual guidance says that if the brake-system warning illuminates while the vehicle is moving, the driver should stop as soon as it is safe and have the vehicle checked. Your vehicle’s instructions may differ, but a red brake warning is not a light to ignore.
If the pedal feels soft, travels farther than normal, requires much more pressure, braking performance changes or the dashboard displays a direct stop message, treat that as an urgent safety problem. If you cannot get clear of traffic, there has been a crash, you see smoke or fire, or anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
A roadside jump start, battery replacement, fuel delivery or tire change does not diagnose a brake-system fault. When the vehicle should not be driven, towing to a repair facility is usually the service to discuss.
The ABS warning and the red brake-system warning describe different systems. Some owner manuals state that normal braking may remain available when only the ABS light is on, although the anti-lock function is unavailable. Ford’s ABS guidance is one example.
That does not make a general rule for every car. If both lights appear, the pedal or braking behavior changes, or the dashboard tells you to stop, follow the more cautious instruction and stop safely. The owner’s manual—not a generic internet description—should control what you do for your exact vehicle.
Rick’s provides compatible wheel-lift towing; we do not offer flatbed towing and we do not repair brake systems. Before dispatch, we need to confirm that the vehicle, drivetrain, wheel condition, parking brake, access and manufacturer transport requirements fit the equipment.
A brake or electric-parking-brake fault can affect whether the vehicle rolls, steers or can be loaded safely. Some vehicles or conditions require a flatbed or another transport method. If the manufacturer’s instructions or the vehicle’s condition call for equipment we do not carry, we will not describe wheel-lift towing as compatible.
Choose the repair destination before the tow when possible. Confirm that the shop is open or has an after-hours key drop and that it can receive the vehicle. Our driver guides include more help for planning a safe pickup and destination.
A useful opening is: “My red brake warning came on while I was driving. I stopped, the vehicle is off, the pedal feels ___, and I am at ___.” Report what you observed without trying to diagnose the cause.
In Lake View East, give the nearest cross street and the safest way to reach the vehicle. Near Broadway, Belmont Avenue, Clark Street, Sheridan Road or DuSable Lake Shore Drive, the correct entrance and direction of travel can matter more than a building name.
If the vehicle is in a garage, share the posted clearance, level, entrance street, gate access and whether it is near a turn or ramp. Review our garage and tight-space towing guide before calling if access is restricted.
Brake warning light on and the vehicle should not be driven? Call Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance at (312) 451-5785. We are available 24/7. We will ask about the warning, the vehicle and the pickup area, then confirm compatibility, availability, an arrival estimate and the quote directly.
Call Rick’s for towing and roadside assistance. Tell us your location and the service you need. Rick’s is open 24/7; availability and vehicle suitability are confirmed for each request.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance provides 24/7 towing and roadside assistance for drivers in Lake View East, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, North Center, Sauganash, and nearby Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods. We help with wheel-lift towing, jump starts, flat tire service, car lockout service, fuel delivery, and emergency roadside assistance when your vehicle leaves you stuck.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance has served Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side with 24/7 towing and roadside assistance since 2000.
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