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Handbrake Light


maw

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I've recently updated the interior of my car, all my switches, gauges & warning lights work apart from the Handbrake light. I've checked all the fuses (OK) & I checked the bulb (OK) so I'm now a little stumped!

 

Two questions:

 

1) do I need a working handbrake light for the MOT?

2) what other possible causes could there be?

 

As ever I'm relying on the trusty forum for help!

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so far as the law is concerned its not a handbrake light...its a low brake fluid warning light.

if you have a sierra m/c press the yellow bulb on top of the reservoir with ignition on & fluid at the correct level.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=129585

If it lights, your h/b switch is kaput...if not there is a fault in the circuit

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Thanks for the speedy reply Bob!

 

I don't have a sierra m/c & there is nothing for me to press to test! Got to love kit cars!

 

I'll take a look to see if I can get to the h/b switch before I start chasing the circuit. The MOT is not due until the end of March but I've never put a kit through an MOT & I'm twitchy at the best of times about them!

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Thanks guys... I'll have to venture out into the garage again. I cannot see anything to press that would give a level indicator... I just want everything to be OK & because I didn't build the car, nor do I have any mechanical knowledge, the learning curve is very steep for me!

 

It used to work, which is why I don't think it's the circuit (unless there is another set of fuses I've not found yet), so I guess it could be the switch, but until I undo the lever mechanism I don't even know what switch I need to see if that is the cause! They're cheap & so my thinking is it will be cheaper than my time trying to chase the circuit round!

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The MOT tester in the village that I took my daughters car to, to test the water so to speak, was very fair & honest but has very little experience with kitcars so I'm already cautious about the whole thing. I don't know if he'd be picky about having the 'light in the dash' but if I say "oh it's only for the level" which is obviously good & therefore will not come on!?! And I just don't wire it in!

 

I'd hate for it to fail on something silly if I cannot get it resolved in time that is!

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Guest chris brown

According to www.dft.guv.uk/ vosa/ the changes brought in 20th March 2013 includes checking the low fluid warning and either lit or inoperative is a reason for fail.

There is a pdf file that lists all the changes.

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Guest chris brown

Dont forget that having a warning light has only recently (to an oldie like me) been a requirement. Older cars have not been required to be retrofitted.

Not quite true Ian it has been a requirement for years but hasn't been a testable item on MoT. The first car I remember with one fitted was the first mini (1959) it had a spring loaded switch on the dash with the picture of a brake pedal on it, the idea was you were supposed to press it to check the circuit and bulb was ok and that is exactly what is done these days only the switch is operated by the hand brake.

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Thought I'd better provide an update incase anyone searches the forum in the future with a similar issue.

 

First up it was a faulty switch. Fitted a new one and jobs a good'un. I took the switch out and it looked pretty bad. Cleaned up the contact points but still no good. I tested by earthing the wire that fed the switch and bingo the light came on, so I then knew it was a bad switch.

 

Secondly, spoke to my MOT tester who said that the handbrake light is only for the drivers assistance and therefore is not an MOT failure. This may be different for newer registered cars however under new regs.

 

MOT test booked for Wednesday - hopefully it will all be OK!

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Thanks everyone for their support! This club continues to impress me more & more!

 

Car flew through the MOT this afternoon with tester admitting he was more in awe at my car than actually testing it! Honest guy who was happy to explain things to me. Anyone in Leicestershire who needs a fair test? I would recommend this guy. :-)

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