Technical Handbrake Warning Light

[peeyellowpanda]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2009 Panda. The handbrake warning light is on, even when the handbrake is off. I know that this normally indicates an issues with the closed brake fluid system however:

- The brakes feel fine
- The brake fluid looks topped up & at the appropriate level

I saw someone mentioned contactor could be faulty, but i'm not sure where this is located or how to resolve this.

This started a couple weeks ago, there were times on the A or M roads where the light, would flick off again. This has not happened in a while.

Any thoughts?

 

[koalar]

Both the fluid and handbrake share the same dash light

The body computer (BSI) tells the dash to put the warning light on

The BSI receives both the handbrake and Fluid level independently there is no shared wiring

They are both very simple to check with a scantool

Both are just switches that short to ground, you can watch them operate as you unplug them then short to ground

The light on the dash can be controled via any decent bidirectional software

Handbrake switch is here

I take it we are talking about this light

 

[peeyellowpanda]

Hi Koalar!

Thanks for this!

Yes we are talking about that light.

My Brake Fluid looks fine & are working normally.

I accessed this handbrake switch area. Unplugged it /Plugged it in. Handbrake on/off.

Still the light remains.

I've ordered a diagnostic tool to see if that will help.

Anymore thoughts?

 

[koalar]

Take the connector off the handbrake and short it to ground

Has to be bare metal not painted

 

[peeyellowpanda]

Thanks for the advice.

Pictures attached. Showing 2mOhms, which I assume is not an issue.

 

[koalar]

Both switches are just paths to chassis when closed

Just unplug the connector and put a pin in the end and jumper it to some bare metal


Or the switch on the handbrake should read zero ohms from the pin to ground or open circuit depending whether the brake is up or down

 

[peeyellowpanda]

So I did this with the handbrake on.

 

[koalar]

That's looks the cable not the switch in the photo

 

[peeyellowpanda]

Ah you mean where the fuses are connected to! got ya!

 

[koalar]

Ah you mean where the fuses are connected to! got ya!

Picture 2

The bit the white plug goes into

 

[peeyellowpanda]

So I got my multimeter on Resistance. Placed it into the handbrake white plug & then touched the other lead down to ground (the nut which fixes the handbrake down). This gave a me a resistant of 2 milliOhms.

So I think I did what you asked right?

 

[koalar]

The pin in here

 

[peeyellowpanda]

Right, I understand. Sorry for the confusion

 

[koalar]

No problem I should have explained better

 

[A3jeroen]

Pic 1 looks like the clutchfluid. Brakefluidreservoir is on the other side behind the battery.

gr J