Numerous problems with 1999 V6.. need advice (whine noise,brake light)

hello everyone,

I recently have a whiny noise coming from my engine in my 1999 V6 stang. It has about 30K miles on it. The whiny noise is present at idle and also accentuated when I give it gas. In addition, when i steer it distorts the previous noise into something else. And finally, for no reason when i accelerate my brake light in the instrument panel stays on. Weird.

I tried to pinpoint exactly where the noise is coming from and it comes from the biggest circle on the belts.. i believe that might be the ac compressor. It also doesn't make a big difference if the ac is on or not.

I checked my power steering fluid as the manual says (reach operating temperature, full steers a few times, engine off) and i found out that it is not in the FULL HOT range, in fact it does not touch the stick at all but i do visually see the red fluid not far from it so i am guessing i do have to top it off. Can low steering fluid cause some, or all these problems?

thanks.

WOW. What a little top off p/s fluid does! No more engine whine no more steering whine. Good.. i think i got that over with.

Now the brake light still fluctuates on and off though. So you say replace my brakes? Just brake pads? Front or rear? I haven't replaced the fronts.. but i have the rears a year or so ago. The thickness is all fine it appears.

Alrighty, thanks for your suggestions.