General Blinking handbrake light

[Sparrow]

Hello all,

I have a Fiat Panda 1000 CL i.e. from 1990. It drives pretty ok, apart from that the little red warning light for the handbrake is constantly lighting or blinking. The brake pads were checked recently, they are still OK. I also filled up the brake fluid so I suppose that can't be the problem. If I press the brake pedal the light turns off for about one tenth of a second and then it lights again, and when I stand still most of the time the light is off.

Someone told me the brake pads may be worn out anyway. Since I know nothing about cars: HELP!

Sparrow (Age 26, The Netherlands)

 

[John H]

AFAIK there are no worn brake pad lights on a 1990 Panda - certainly not with UK specification.

You're correct that the brake fluid level warning switch uses the handbrake warning bulb too when there is a problem.

Looking at the various diagrams in Haynes I can't see any obscure way this could happen, other than the brake fluid level switch to be on because the float has popped, or the fluid level is lower than it should be (and the fluid is disturbed when you press the pedal), or the wiring is rubbing on the bodywork and worn through the insulation - providing the earth the switch normally would if the fluid was low, or the handbrake was on.
Or for there to be a problem with the switch itself.

I think the reason for the flicker when you press the brake ( assuming the level and switch are both OK ) could be that the whole of the master cylinder moves a bit[:0] when you press the brake pedal (hard).
This may move the wiring slightly.
The master cylinder moves on my CLX - I've stopped worrying about it now...

As a way of seeing if it is the fluid level, or switch, you could disconnect its wiring , and see if the symptoms change.

Check also the wiring around there to make sure it's not rubbing on any metal edges.


Let us know how you get on, either way.
If the problem persists I'll have another think and see what I can come up with.

 

[Martiny10]

Hi there,

Check the bulkhead earths for signs of decay.

Bad earthing can cause the warning lights to come on.

If the car had dim headlights this is another symptom of bad earthing as the brake warning lights and one of the headlights are earthed at the same point.

Regards,

Martin

Fix It Again Tony!

 

[John H]

Originally posted by Martiny10
Hi there,

Check the bulkhead earths for signs of decay.

Bad earthing can cause the warning lights to come on.

If the car had dim headlights this is another symptom of bad earthing as the brake warning lights and one of the headlights are earthed at the same point.

You may well be correct, but the way I took the information from Haynes I couldn't see that as a possibility for this particular lamp:
it seems that it is supplied a voltage whenever the ignition is on, and earthed to light up, as does oil pressure warning.

Nearly all the other warning lights share a common earth and are supplied a voltage as and when to light up, by being in parallel with the indicators, fog lamp, main beam...

With either the instrument panel earth, or a lamp cluster earth, missing you have plenty of ways to get these other warning lamps to light (albeit a bit dimly)

 

[grinni]

remove your carlifter (jacking equipment?) sorry for my bad english. its lying on the brakesensor.

greetings from germany.

 

[steveyensen]

Welcome to the forum, Sparrow!

As John/Martin say, earthing could be the problem here, particularly with a 14 year old Panda as yours is ...

If you're checking the common earth, then go round the whole car and ensure that all earth connections are clean and tight, then coat them with petroleum jelly (Vaseline in the UK).

Earthing problems have resulted in the most amazing faults on my old 1989 1000 CL (now deceased)

As yours will be left hand drive I cannot say exactly where the earthing points are, sorry.

Steve the geriatric Panda and Beagle freak

My white Panda 1000CL - 31-08-1989 to 09-03-2004 (may she rest in pieces )
J*** ***: Gorgeous little red Panda 750L in good condition - screaming for me to rescue her