handbrake light

[G0DF4Th3R]

my handbrake light refuses to go out even after i put it down. sometimes it acts normally but after driving around for awhile it goes back on again even though the handbrake is down. is it a fuse?

bambam

[blind_elk]

Its likely a lack of brake fluid. I think it can also indicate a blown brake light.

[nismoman18]

usually this happens in front wheel drive cars where people do too many handbrakies and the thing just stays on due to a broken switch. In ur case it might just be a fault, electrical. its not a fuse cos the light wouldnt go on at all if it was. U might have to look up where the wiring for it is so u can fix it

[2rismo]

Check the brake fluid dude.

My handbrake light is switchable... i.e. i have a switch on my dash that used to be the 180 speed cut thingo that now, all it does is switch the hb light on and off...

ROFL

[Leewah]

As others have suggested, check yr brake fluid or check the pads. The handbrake light also comes on if the rear brake pads are worn.

[G0DF4Th3R]

ah didnt know that the light comes on if its lacking brake fluid...tot it was electrical...

thanks for all replies will check it out

[R33-JET]

aah ppl

i had this problem ages ago

and i thing u's are all looking at it to deeply

it will most likely be the handrake cable running from handbrake to dash

all u need to do is find it and under handbrake stick, it will be thin white cable with red stripes through it

adjust it a bit and u will find it will fix that problem

[G0DF4Th3R]

yeah i reckon its an electrical fault as i pulled out the whole dash for spraying including the gear surrounds so must have caused something to go wrong

checked the brake fluid and its all good more than half full still left

[BHDave]

The handbrake switch is an earth switch, basically when you pull up the handbrake it completes the circuit to ground, put it down it breaks the circuit.

I had this problem a couple of days ago. Turns out there was another wire spliced into my handbrake light signal wire which had been hooked up to something in the past but wasn't any more. The connector on the end of the wire was shorting against some metal work and bypassing the switch, result was handbrake light on permanently.

You've probably got a short somewhere which means the switch is being by passed. Unplug the switch and if the light stays on you'll know for sure. It only takes 2 minutes to pull the centre console off and try it.

[G0DF4Th3R]

thanks dave i'll give it a go tomorrow

[The Tool]

Originally posted by BHDave

I  had this problem a couple of days ago. Turns out there was another wire spliced into my handbrake light signal wire which had been hooked up to something in the past but wasn't any more. The connector on the end of the wire was shorting against some metal work and bypassing the switch, result was handbrake light on permanently.

A bit off topic but you might be interested to know that my handbrake is hooked up to my turbo timer, so if u take the keys out and release the handbrake then the timer straight away kills the engine. Perhaps this explains the mystery wire...?

[JimX]

G0DF4Th3R, did you sort this out? I got the exact same problem the other day - handbrake light went on when I was going around a corner, then stayed on for about 15 minutes then went off again and has been off ever since. I was thinking it was a sensor detecting low pads, or the brake fluid level as has already been discussed.

It seems too freaky a coincidence for it to be something like a short. Out of all the wires in the car, what are the odds that I have the exact same short as you in the handbrake switch? I think it's gotta be something else.