Handbrake Warning Light Flickering All The Time

[Simon Parish]

Hi All

 

Was out for a drive in the car today and the handbrake warning light keeps coming on and staying on, even when the handbrake is fully down. At certain times the light will go out but then it comes back on again.

 

I'm thinking the switch on the handbrake may be faulty so I'll be getting a new one, does anyone have the part number for this?

 

Cheers

Simon

[Dave R]

check your brake fluid level....

should be wired for the same lamp

[Snapperpaul]

The handbrake circuit goes through the master cylinder level float.

Check that first then check handbrake microswitch sometimes its as simple as a sticky float or the microswitch has moved slightly

[Simon Parish]

Cheers fellas. Will check the fluid levels tomorrow

[Longboarder]

Please, it's a low brake fluid warning light. First thing to check is if your brake fluid is low. You never know. It might just be doing the job it is there for.

IVA/SVA requires that there be fitted a means of testing the circuit for the low brake fluid warning light from the drivers seat (if the level in the reservoir is not visible from the drivers seat) and it is common to wire an earthing switch for the low brake fluid warning light circuit, activated by the handbrake being applied, to act as the testing mechanism.

 

Nigel

[Guest chris brown]

Well put Nigel. No requirement for handbreak warning for those who remember the early Mini the "break" test switch was on the dashboard.

[Bob Tucker]

the master cylinder also has a test switch....its the cream coloured rubber bung in the cap.

press it & see if the warning light comes on.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sierra+brake+fluid+reservoir&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SQXAUpvIMoWChQf4wICYCg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1092&bih=513#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=niMwU9ClxrS5YM%3A%3Bm5D3t-6sumc57M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi1099.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fg400%252Fdanielburberry%252FIMAG0087.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.locostbuilders.co.uk%252Fviewthread.php%253Ftid%253D149840%3B1023%3B612

 

Bob

[Simon Parish]

Bob,

That would be fine if there were any wires attached to the cap

 

Simon

[Longboarder]

If you don't have a LBFW mechanism in the cap is there one in the reservoir itself? (although fords standard practice was to have the float and electrics in the cap.) Are there wires around the brake reservoir which have become disconnected or shorted? It's only useful purpose is to tell you if your brake fluid level has dropped to critical and regular visual checks make it unlikely to be a problem that you would miss but there is the possibility of a sudden leak in the system leading to brake failure so it's worth having IMO.

A handbrake warning light in itself serves no useful function. Bit like a horn warning light.

 

Nigel

[Snapperpaul]

OK

Back to basics

Which car.... You don't say

Which master cylinder... We are all assuming 2b with Ford Sierra running gear but you could be talking about a tin top

[richardm6994]

Simon.....I'm sh1t at electrics but I had a similar thing.....

 

 

My hand brake has a little switch that is connected to the earth side of the warning light circuit. The wires from this switch ran from the handbrake across the top of my tunnel (under the carpet).....over time the wires chaffed and shorted onto the chassis making the warning light illuminate.

 

I would bet that the handbrake switch is either jammed on and needs a bit of wd40 to get it working again or the wire have shorted onto the chassis somewhere.

[speedtripledan]

if your stuck bring the car down to me and i will have a look for you