Hi there,

About three weeks ago I started to notice that the break warning light was visible in the dark even when the handbrake wasn't engaged - it's not fully on, it's as if a "ghost" of a light was left there; in daylight you don't see it unless you know it's there. I was obviously very worried (call me fussy, but the breaks are one of the "accessories" I'd rather not do without...), so I immediately checked the break fluid (which is still almost full, so that's not what's causing it). Then I brought my Panda to the "vet" but I was told it's not a problem with the breaks (thank God) and that I shouldn't worry too much, but this is bugging me, they couldn't tell me for sure why this is happening, and I don't want the battery to go dead. The "ghost" light goes off altogether only about 8 seconds after I've opened the door and locked the car from the outside. I've also been told it could be static electricity that activates the LEDs, but this is weird. The worst part is that the other evening I've also noticed the same "ghost" light appearing on the City function and the Beams lights.

Has anyone had a similar problem/ does anyone know what could be causing this? How can I fix it?

The car is a 2006 1.1 Panda Graduate (Petrol), and I've only done 11,000 km.

Thanks!

Does that model have brake pad wear warning via that light? (My 4x4 doesn't have break pad wear sensors -- instead the brakes squeal to let you know they're wearing -- but I think some models do)

I ask this because my mum's old Renault used to dimly show its 'pads wearing out' light during the winter because the salt from the roads would make a weak electrical connection between the sensor in the pad and the disc.

Pete

We have minimal salt on the roads in Ireland - mostly use other grits as well as just not needing it, it doesn't get as icey here.

I suggested (on boards.ie when recommending the OP to ask here) that it could be a dislodged/loose LED appearing to glow out through the shadow mask for the other lights, but this is just a guess.

Ok, first things first - that, obviously, should have read "Brakes", not "Breaks"... :doh:

Thanks for that Pete - as Cian said there's little salt on the roads here, and besides my car does not have those sensors (it's pretty much a bog standard model).

Cian, thanks for suggesting this site and for your idea it might be a dislodged LED - the "funny" thing is that the lights are not all beside each other...

The mystery continues, I suppose. :chin:

Seeing as nobody else is responding - what dealer did you bring it in to?

The fact that the lights staying on after locking doors indicates that this is the cluster keeping the lights on itself. You could try disconnecting the battery for a couple of hours, but I have had this on a few different Fiats and it has turned out to be the cluster itself. I have experienced this on Bravo,Grande Punto and Ducato, not Panda.