I have jusy bought a fiat Punto xbox edition, however the car did not come with users manual and I have a slight concern. I have noticed now and again when I break or turn a sharp corner that the handbreak symbol (!) on the dashboard lights up for a few seconds then goes out. Is this normal or is there a fault? The car drives fine, there does not seem to be a problem with the breaking it has got me baffled!

check the brake fluid level

It's a common problem with Fiat's I believe, my Mk2 Active 8v also does it and has done it since I bought it and it doesn't bother me. I believe it's either due to handbrake cable sensor or sensor in the brake fluid drum thinking the fluid is low as you brake/turn and the fluid spirls around the drum.

Try tightening your handbrake a little if it takes more than 5 clicks to hold the car on a hill. You can do this by removing the ashtray from the back console, set car in gear, release handbrake and tighten the nut a little.

Also remove and re-seat the little filter in your brake fluid drum, i believe this also causing it.

Hope this helps... newbie here, had the car 2 months and learnt loads due to this forum

Bleed all of the fluid out of the brakes topping up constantly. Do every brake until it runs clean. This will change the fluid and clear gunk out of the system. It should be done every 3 years but never is and brakes act up due to old crappy fluid.

If its the thermometer symbol its showing the engine is too hot. Check out the cooling fan, radiator and coolant levels. Any gurgling is bad news top up and bleed before driving and find the leak before it blows the HG.

Mine does this but only because mine is connected to my strut brace.

Thanks very much for the suggestions, I have checked the break fluid levels all is fine so maybe this is just a characteristic of the car, I don't have any immediate concern I just wondered why it was happening

If its the thermometer symbol its showing the engine is too hot. Check out the cooling fan, radiator and coolant levels. Any gurgling is bad news top up and bleed before driving and find the leak before it blows the HG.

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I was mixing information & should have said "Any coolant gurgling is bad news..."

The stuff about bleeding & changing brake fluid will get rid of old fluid that can contain moisture which might bring up the warning light. Another cause of the light is a brake pad hitting its wear indicator contacts.

WhiteSei said:

Another cause of the light is a brake pad hitting its wear indicator contacts.

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Funnily enough, mine has been doing this for almost 2 months since I bought it and it's just been left in to a mechanic an hour ago to have the brake pads replaced as they're completely gone, so i'd recommend you get the brakes checked before they begin to do damage and start wearing the discs like i believe mine have done.

They're probably near due replacement anyway so getting them replaced wouldn't be a bad thing for the price of them (£25 in halfords, much cheaper elsewhere obviously.)

Cheers for that, I will get it checked over to be on the safe side a bit of a boy racer owned it before me so it's a good point!

Would you be able to let me know if this light still comes on after you have had the breaks replaced? It's unusual as it doesn't happen every time I brake and nothing comes up on the display, just a small flash of the (!) for a second or so then it goes.

Your symtoms are exactly the same as mine, it flashed randomly for a split second when braking or turning, but not always.

I just got the car back, drove it 5 miles and I didn't notice the light coming on at all. There is also much less movement in the brake pedal, which i think is an indication of the condition of the pads.

I was charged £63 for replacement of the pads, plus an oil and filter change. I supplied the filter and pads, so that was pretty much just for labour, few litres of oil and some brake fluid. Not bad I think.

Here's a link to the punto mk2 haynes manual: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=...pt=1&_sadis=&LH_CAds=&clk_rvr_id=243233066393


I'll get back to you in a few days and let you know if it's stopped completely.

That would be spot on if you could let me know, thanks very much for the link!

in the top of the brake fluid pot is a filter, some times it dont drain so fluid sits in it and makes it look full. its best to remove it and check level

As said above, the brake fluid level may look fine but you need to hook out the little filter with your finger and then check. The filter stops the fluid from dropping into the main chamber.

i dont know if you know this but that light is connected to a trip switch under the handbrake gator, if you take it off you will probably find the switch is knackerd or a wire is lose. it only comes on when the handbrake lever physically pushes the switch down so i guess if its flashing while driving its a lose switch making the circuit.

i never noticed but mine didnt come on ever, until i tightend the handbrake and noticed the loose wire, i connected it and wa la the light now comes on with the handbrake.

Done 100 miles in the car over the weekend and didn't notice the symbol appearing following replacement of the brake pads.

Unlike the above poster the (!) light works as it should when I use my handbrake so it's nothing to do with the wire on my car as described above.

Thanks very much for your help, will get that looked at

cgarr04 said:

Done 100 miles in the car over the weekend and didn't notice the symbol appearing following replacement of the brake pads.

Unlike the above poster the (!) light works as it should when I use my handbrake so it's nothing to do with the wire on my car as described above.

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when you fit new pads fluid level rises

dave said:

when you fit new pads fluid level rises

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The fluid is always topped up to maximum in my car. I always add a little every fortnight or so when checking oil, adding water etc.

Replacement of the pads on my car has definitely stopped my brake light from flashing randomly, now I've just got to get the airbag light from flashing randomly too!

cgarr04 said:

The fluid is always topped up to maximum in my car. I always add a little every fortnight or so when checking oil, adding water etc.

Replacement of the pads on my car has definitely stopped my brake light from flashing randomly, now I've just got to get the airbag light from flashing randomly too!

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Does that happen when the brake pedal has been pressed?

as i have had that problem for a while, and the otherday the Airbag light was on
Fiat Ecu scan said code 14 - Passenger isolation switch has interferance

Dunno if the 2 are related
But i thought the flashing was it self testing - like the EPS etc

Ziggy