Handbrake/Brake warning light

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
yeti
Registered user
Posts: 0
Joined: 04 Sep 2009, 23:10

Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by yeti »

I have just changed a rear wheel slave cylinder and have bled the brake. the fluid was just past the the min mark on the master cylinder and i topped it up and re-bled..all seems good apart from the warning light will not go out when the handbrake is released. the wire hasnt come of the switch on the handbrake, and if i pull it off and earth it it still doesnt go off. looked in the manual and it says there is a low fluid warning switch on the same light circuit. But i cant find one on the master cylinder...is there one and if so where or can anyone shed light on my light that wont go out

User avatar
SyncroSwede
Registered user
Posts: 71
Joined: 20 Mar 2008, 20:21
80-90 Mem No: 4977
Location: Devon.

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by SyncroSwede »

The switch for the fluid level on the master cylinder is in the screw cap. If you have one (and there's no reason you shouldn't) then you usually unplug it when you remove the cap.

Have you forgotten to re-connect?
1989 16" Syncro 2.1l WBX… replaced by a 2010 T5 GP

User avatar
ermie571
Registered user
Posts: 4970
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
80-90 Mem No: 2129
Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by ermie571 »

You may not have one on an early van.....Ermie doesn't have it.....

Em
x
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG

yeti
Registered user
Posts: 0
Joined: 04 Sep 2009, 23:10

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by yeti »

Ive checked the cap and there is no switch or wire, my van is a 84 reg. the warning light has the two black wires , the larger being the thick black coming from the handbrake.The other ive not followed yet.

User avatar
sezicoolcat
Registered user
Posts: 586
Joined: 24 Apr 2008, 16:42
80-90 Mem No: 5198
Location: Chatham, Kent
Contact:

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by sezicoolcat »

Can a handbrake warning light or buzzer be installed?
If you've gotta go, you've gotta go. (Camping that is :-) )

User avatar
VWCamperfan
Registered user
Posts: 993
Joined: 08 Jul 2007, 19:47
80-90 Mem No: 4000
Location: Sheerness, Kent.

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by VWCamperfan »

sezicoolcat wrote:Can a handbrake warning light or buzzer be installed?


Why on earth would anyone want one of those...!!!!! :rofl
Mark.

I'm Not A Complete Idiot... Some Bits Are Missing!

1.6 Modified CT engine.

simony
Registered user
Posts: 316
Joined: 19 Feb 2007, 18:17
80-90 Mem No: 3423
Location: northants

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by simony »

have you tried unplugging the plug on the back of the warning light and re-connecting ?
simon

User avatar
sezicoolcat
Registered user
Posts: 586
Joined: 24 Apr 2008, 16:42
80-90 Mem No: 5198
Location: Chatham, Kent
Contact:

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by sezicoolcat »

VWCamperfan wrote:
sezicoolcat wrote:Can a handbrake warning light or buzzer be installed?


Why on earth would anyone want one of those...!!!!! :rofl


Hi Mark - I needed one when I did about 40 miles on M1 with hand brake on going to the Pikey weekender last weekend mate, and cooked the rear wheel hubs!
Could fry an egg on those wheel hubs I could.
I pulled off M1 to get fuel, "'ere" is said to Ian "we aint got no brakes" but a few presses and they started biting each time I used them...
Anyway, pulled up for fuel, went to pull handbrake and found it was on.

My beemer has a hand brake light that comes on in the dash - why not on a T25? One must be able to put in a simple circuit?

Ians idea - Mahoosive sticker on dash saying "HANDBRAKE" :idea

S
If you've gotta go, you've gotta go. (Camping that is :-) )

User avatar
VWCamperfan
Registered user
Posts: 993
Joined: 08 Jul 2007, 19:47
80-90 Mem No: 4000
Location: Sheerness, Kent.

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by VWCamperfan »

It is available Sarah, all the bits and stuff. Switch for handbrake lever, lamp and lens for dashboard and a bit of wiring should do it. It is a standard fixture on some vans.
Did hear about your handbrake journey. I'm sure there must be a better way to bed the brakes in! :D
Mark.

I'm Not A Complete Idiot... Some Bits Are Missing!

1.6 Modified CT engine.

User avatar
DevonAid
Registered user
Posts: 203
Joined: 31 Dec 2006, 18:02
80-90 Mem No: 3607
Location: SE London

Re: Handbrake/Brake warning light

Post by DevonAid »

Hands up on this one as well - I did the same as Sezicoolcat on the way back from the Big Chill festival last year. I only left it on 1 click as far as I can tell (ie didn't release it fully). We were driving back through the night and the first warning we had was the brake pedal went straight to the floor! Not funny at all but managed to avoid an accident as the roads were so quiet. After we'd stopped (ie rolled to a halt using gears, the footbrake and handbrake were completely u/s) there was a distinct toasted brakes smell.

There is no handbrake warning cabling or switch, no low fluid level switch or lamp/lampholder in the dash in ours ('85 Devon). Now I'm absolutely paranoid about the handbrake and am constantly checking it on journeys. A warning light would be better, let's face it none of us are perfect and it's an easy mistake to make (for me, anyway).
1983 T25 Devon conversion 1.9DF

Locked