Technical Brake fluid sensor???

[MazCinq]

Ok so I have done a little reading and I need to confirm if I have come to the right conclusion, my Handbrake warning light has started coming on when driving, its very random and comes on for a few mins then goes off for a few mins and repeats this while driving, the brakes work ok and the level is right but I was wanting to sell/swap the car and I morally cant until I know and have sorted this issue out.

The car drives totally fine but it has this light coming on and I feel uncomfortable because its something to do with the braking system.

 

[fingers99]

Could be a dicky handbrake switch or the level sensor (assuming you have no pad tell tales).

Often it's nothing more than the cable for the sensor or switch shorting out to earth.

 

[MazCinq]

I have fitted new discs and pads on the front so I know they are good, I will have a play with the switch on the hand brake leaver etc and check wiring. cheers Fingers.

 

[KRaikkonenNo1]

Make sure filter isn't clogged up, meaning fluid won't go through and appears to be full when it is not

 

[PuntoHowTo]

What KRaikkonenNo1 said, there is a little plastic mesh filter sits in the top of the brake fluid bottle doesn't let the fluid through properly, so seems to be at the right level when its not, pull this out and top up.

 

[MazCinq]

will go check that now.

 

[MikeSalt]

If the filter is fine, then check the handbrake switch. I had this issue on my mk1, which was quickly fixed with the help of a blob of solder.

 

[MazCinq]

ok got an update, went out and unscrewed the cap and pulled the filter out and all the fluid in it disappeared and I could see the level was around min, topped it up and so far so good, the light has been kept off.

thank good it was a stupidly easy fix lol.

Big thanks guys for your help.

 

[Brendan W]

Not done yet.
Part b) Why was the fluid level low? Leak , pad wear ? Clutch is part of the system as well.

 

[MazCinq]

well I had brand new discs and pads fitted when I got the car so i'm assuming I lost abit of fluid then, I cant find any leaks and there are no visable signs of leaks.

 

[MikeSalt]

Fluid level has probably dropped due to pad wear (or even not checked when the new pads were fitted). Keep an eye on it, and if you find you're topping up again in a week, then you'll know something is amiss. I had a pin-hole leak in the clutch hose that wasn't obvious as a leak.

 

[Brendan W]

If anything at new pad and disc time the level will rise as the pistons are retracted and will overflow if you take your eye off the ball. Clutch slave cylinder is one usual suspect .

 

[PuntoHowTo]

After new pads the level does drop quite a bit once they've bedded in, I wouldn't worry about it

 

[MazCinq]

the pads that came off were only half worn when I had the new ones fitted but its something I do as a precaution when I buy a fresh car, you never know what kind of life they have had or how old lol. spoke to the lad that fitted them and he said he checked the level after fitting them and there had been some over flow but the level looked good but as we now know it had a blocked filter lol.