Handbrake light

[MML]

Has anyone ever seen a handbrake light remain on, with the handbrake off, carpet removed from around it, rubber handle removed and even the wire disconnected? It's happening on my car but we can't seem to find out why.

What could be causing it to stay lit?

cheers,
Martin

[Ron]

The design is for the wire to be grounded to turn on the light, so check it for a pinch, that the reservoir switch is ok and that your fluid isn't low ;-)

[MML]

Hi Ron, thanks for the quick reply! I forgot to say, the fluid level is full, how would I go about checking the wire for breaks? Where does it run through, is it under the console?

[Ron]

Hmmm, I'm not sure where it runs. ...but to be clear, a break would make it not work. Look for it pinched and grounded...likely something done during the last project???
It'll be a Black-White Stripe wire all the way to the instrument panel...If someone doesn't say where it runs, I'd just gently pull on it and walk the slack hoping to come across the problem if nothing else...

...try unplugging the reservoir switch.

[WelmoedJ]

Has anyone ever seen a handbrake light remain on, with the handbrake off, carpet removed from around it, rubber handle removed and even the wire disconnected? It's happening on my car but we can't seem to find out why.

What could be causing it to stay lit?

cheers,
Martin

When does this happen?
All the time or only under special weather conditions (like rain)?

I had similar experience with the emergency brake light.
It was on (glowing, not full on) if I was driving in rain.
First thought it to be a bad switch, but after checking the switch and replacing it, it happened again.

The brake fluid switch points to the front of the car.
So if it rains and moisture gets in the connector it could cause the light to go on.
The light is either glowing or brighter but never as is when using the brake.

I haven't yet fixed it but next check of the fluid level I will clean (again) and seal the connector's wire side to see if this solves the problem.
Perhaps you would check this connector and do the same.

[DMC5180]

Unplug the reservoir switch too this takes both normal ground points out of the equation. If the light stays lit then you have a chaffed/pinched wire to ground some place. If that is the case, I would be tracing the wires backward from the handbrake. You will probably need to remove the Driver seat if not already done. The wires also run along the left side of the center console. The console has metal tabs and edges combined with pass thru openings of the radio rack (all grounded structures). Another possibility might be the Instrument cluster circuit board connection finger tabs being messed up.

[Ron]

The wires also run along the left side of the center console. Do you know where the branch is? ...thinking rather than mess with the console, just snip it there and see which run the problem is in after shake tests and looking for the obvious.

[DMC5180]

Do you know where the branch is? ...thinking rather than mess with the console, just snip it there and see which run the problem is in after shake tests and looking for the obvious.

Not sure that I would want to SNIP any wires. I don't know specifically where the branch is. I do know that from the handbrake the wires run back to the wood panel under the carpet over to the Center console and tie into a larger bundle.

[MML]

Well guys.... first of all thank you for all the advice... we just had a bit of a "Doh!" moment!

Ron, you were right; I told you the brake fluid was full, but it was actually at the minimum mark - it turns out that we were looking at the wrong reservoir! :facepalm:

We totally missed the fact the brake fluid goes in the reservoir under the carpet, not in the one next the fuel filler. We didn't realise there were two separate reservoirs!
I think on modern cars both use the same tank, hence the misunderstanding.

What happened was, after the brakes were bled, the level dropped. The clutch reservoir was topped up, and the brake one obviously wasn't. This was done about a fortnight ago, around the time I first noticed the light acting up.

I'm just glad it was something straightforward. I had actually removed the binnacle to check connections, but it wasn't a wasted effort; an indicator bulb needed replacing as well.

Well that's enough head-scratching for one night! :thumbup:
Cheers everybody!

[Bitsyncmaster]

Well guys.... first of all thank you for all the advice... we just had a bit of a "Doh!" moment!

Ron, you were right; I told you the brake fluid was full, but it was actually at the minimum mark - it turns out that we were looking at the wrong reservoir! :facepalm:

We totally missed the fact the brake fluid goes in the reservoir under the carpet, not in the one next the fuel filler. We didn't realise there were two separate reservoirs!
I think on modern cars both use the same tank, hence the misunderstanding.

What happened was, after the brakes were bled, the level dropped. The clutch reservoir was topped up, and the brake one obviously wasn't. This was done about a fortnight ago, around the time I first noticed the light acting up.

I'm just glad it was something straightforward. I had actually removed the binnacle to check connections, but it wasn't a wasted effort; an indicator bulb needed replacing as well.

Well that's enough head-scratching for one night! :thumbup:
Cheers everybody!

I did the same thing when I first got my car.

[Ron]

Not sure that I would want to SNIP any wires.Well, the branch would be three wires crimped (and maybe soldered) and judging from what I've seen on Ds, I doubt you would do much worse putting it right back together...:tongue2:

=========

COOL BEANS, Martin!

[DMC5180]

Ron , I suppose your right But I just don't like cutting wires period. I'm a little anal about.

Anyway, I'm glad it was a simple DOH moment.

MML please read the location,location,location thread. Help us out here with your location so we can better help you.

[MML]

Ron , I suppose your right But I just don't like cutting wires period. I'm a little anal about.

Anyway, I'm glad it was a simple DOH moment.

MML please read the location,location,location thread. Help us out here with your location so we can better help you.

Yikes, I forgot to fill that in! All done now. :smile:

[DMC5180]

Very Cool! Thanks