Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys , just a quick one,

I got a light come on today that I have never seen come on before, it's the big rectangular one below handbrake warning light, anyone know what it is.

It's flashing now and then

Cheers

You have a handbrake warning light ?

What model / year van is this ?

I guess it's the handbrake warning light (never worked tho)

The light above headlight switch , two red block lights, bottom one flashing , top one (handbrake light ?) inop.

It's a 85 diesel, but dash is petrol .

Bottom light is for 'handbrake on' indication but I believe it also indicates low brake fluid too. 'Handbrake on' is constant rather than flashing so I'd check your fluid level. If the handbrake doesn't usually trigger it, clean the switch mechanism below the handbrake.

The other rectangular light above this light (might possibly) be for diesel glow plugs but since I have only owned petrol vans I can't say for sure.

1664 wrote:Bottom light is for 'handbrake on' indication

Bren as a matter of interest, do you know if all T25 have this ? (I ask because of the 3 I have owned I never had a handbrake on light unless I just never noticed it ! - will check later !)

Like it was a few years into ownership before I discovered that the heater controls are supposed to light up

Well my Dad's 1981 Aircooled had it, my 1986 DG had it and my 1990 DJ has it so my money's on 'Yes'.

The switch is just a sprung metal spike and plate affair - hardly surprising it fails after a bit. I think I had to clean the one on my '86 van if my memory serves me correctly. Think I've a couple of photos knocking about somewhere - give me a bit and I'll chuck 'em on

Found 'em!! Same switch assembly as the cab courtesy light door switches in the 'A' pillar. Pictures taken before I realised my camera had a 'macro' feature

Handbrake on


Handbrake off


Indicator in Dash


and indicator behind dash (ignore top circular lampholder; that's for the tow bar indicators)

Thanks for that Bren, but I feel daft now, my handbrake warning light works fine I just never noticed it before It's not summat you consciously look for, unlike say the oil or coolant lights !

read this with interest, on my 89 diesel multivan i have a blanking plate(looks factory) where the handbrake warning light is, no switch or wiring from hand brake lever, and no sensor or wiring from brake fluid reservoir should this wiring be there? also i think the top part of the warning light was for u.s. market (seatbelt warning)

Interesting, I would not be happy without a fluid warning light, esp with the fairly common clutch slave cylinder leaking issue. Easy enough to retro fit one though

Check this carefully guys please, but I think that light also warns of low brake/clutch fluid in the master cylinder resevouir inside the dash pod. It lights when the level is low, but maybe not on all models. It also lights to say the handbrake is on, and the earth wire is prone to getting ripped off the connector under the rubber 'carpets'.

Take care and check carefully would be my advice! Hope this helps.

PaulG

BALDY3260 wrote:read this with interest, on my 89 diesel multivan i have a blanking plate(looks factory) where the handbrake warning light is, no switch or wiring from hand brake lever, and no sensor or wiring from brake fluid reservoir should this wiring be there? also i think the top part of the warning light was for u.s. market (seatbelt warning)

I purloined the reservoir cap from a very dead panel van in a Croatian scrappy - then realised it was just a plain cap, no level sender. So, no, not all vans did have. I'd have thought a "posh" Multivan would have, though.

My '82 hasn't got the light, it has a blank plate like the above mentioned, my friend's '81has the light which warns the handbrake is on, and also is connected to the float switch in the brake/clutch fluid reservoir cap.

Funnily enough I found this thread after searching for handbrake switch.
I was looking so that I could connect my DVD head unit to it so it wouldn't work while driving.

I don't have a switch! So in the interest of safety what can I do (apart from not watch DVD's while driving, which I wouldn't do anyway!) Is there a work around for that or do I just rely on good old 'common sense'

Jon