Club 80-90 Forums

the red 'handbrake' light doesn't come on - brakes work fine - no leaks anywhere - where would i start to look to check/repair?
all hints and suggestions welcome -

The little switch just under the handbrake lever, hidden by the gaiter...?

try replacing the bulb...

mine dunt work either but i know when its on cos the levers up and it wont drive

never thought of that! do you mean the lever goes up!
thanks for the tips people - will have a look and root round tommorrow -

Rozzo wrote:mine dunt work either but i know when its on cos the levers up and it wont drive

Bad! The light SHOULD work because its not actually FOR the handbrake, it just comes on WITH the handbrake as a pilot check, much the same was as the water light comes on before you start your engine. It is the most important warning light on the dash! I'll just say i'm glad mine worked when my wheel cylinder exploded, as I'd have had no other was of knowing till I did my level check, or I crashed.

STOP PRESS!

There is a handbrake light?

Guess mine dosn't work either Is this just on later busses?

Another quick(ish) check is to unscrew the cap on the clutch/brake reservoir and lift it up so that the float drops, this will complete the circuit through the bulb to earth.

With the ignition switch on the brake light should illuminate.

If it doesn't...... time to check further.

Mike

cheers matey -
that's a really useful tip -

That's the good thing about this club - you always find out about one more thing you need to fix/worry about on the van.
And there was me thinking the handbrake light was only fitted to 'deluxe' models......

has it ever worked?

why dont you lift off the dash surround and ensure that the plug is in. if you are feeling brave check the led or the power to the socket.

and after my experiences recently, check the earth crowns behind the fuse box, to see if they are "all white" or "all right".

Grun wrote:Another quick(ish) check is to unscrew the cap on the clutch/brake reservoir and lift it up so that the float drops, this will complete the circuit through the bulb to earth.

There should be a tiny button on top of the cap to push that does that without having to take the cap off. Well, there is one mine. Test it every time you check your brake fluid- Could be a live (or at least van!) saver!!

The number of not working Brake fluid level lights is worrying me now!

Mine did'nt work when i got the van! i traced the wireing to the back of the fuse/relay where someone had disconnected the handbrake wire!!?.
Who knows why...

Just as I suspected - the handbrake/low brake fluid light IS for 'deluxe' models only! On mine - no handbrake microswitch, no brake fluid reservoir float, proper VW blanking piece behind where the light should be located.
One less thing to go wrong is suppose, might have to keep more of an eye on the fluid level though, just in case.....

its standard on late models(85 on) but not there on some late panelvans.
my handbrake light dont work, but the level warning light does.I know the handbrake wont work, coz i removed the wire coz a numpty had wired it to tell when the van was in reverse, and i kept thinking the handbrake was on everytime i went into backwards mode.......

geeez, some people need lights to tell them when they are going backwards......mind you the gear lever had one of them daft extensions on it, so maybe it was a good idea......took that off too