annoying little problems

[Edward]

1. Every time i give the car alot of gas going uphill, the handbrake warning light starts flickering on the dash. I checked the switch under the handbrake and it "looks fine". Is there any way to test to see if the problem is really coming from there?

2. Both interior side panels in the back seat knock against the bodywork on the car, i tried sticking some think double-sided tape inbetween where i thought it was knocking to stop it (already checked the repair guide and no the knocking isnt coming from the passenger side bracket of the rear seat). worked for a while then started again. Gonna give it another go soon enough but was wondering if this is a common problem or is my bravo unique in its own special way

I know these things arent the end of the world, but they bug me so any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Edward]

and can someone please tell me what the word "bump" implies???

 

[Owen]

there are small strips and blocks of foam at the back of the panels to prevent noises etc. check that these are present. also check the spiky steel clips behind the top of the panels that grip the panel to the bodywork, make sure they are not loose or missing. To eliminate the handbrake switch as the cause of the flickering light, simply pull off the connector at the handbrake switch. Its likely that the wire has rubbed metal somewhere and is earthing, especially when stuff moves a bit under hard acceleration..

Owen.

 

[shaun_brava]

dont know about the knocking noise but with the handbrake light, it is also the low brake fluid light so when you are going uphill the brake fluid will be off the sensor, making it think that there isnt much in there when there is, its just because your not on level ground, may also happen if youre going round a roundabout for a while, mine used to do that.

it would be dangerous to just unplug the wiring as then you dont know if the handbrake is on or off, at lights i know hat i would pull off with the handbrake on if it wasnt for the light most of the time lol.

hope i helped

Shaun_Brava

 

[shaun_brava]

and "bump" is just something you type into a thread to put it back to the top of the list of posts.

you could type anything, suppose"bump" is just appropriate as you are "bumping" it back to the top.

Shaun_Brava

 

[MickN69HLX]

click here for your noisey interior,
http://www.fiatboo.co.uk/fix-a-bravo.htm#interior

 

[Allan Wall]

re

definately as above for the handbrake warnign light, check your brake fluid, if its low dont just top it up, you shoudlnt ever use brake fluid, the onyl reason it shodul get low is if your brake pads are worn and the pistons further out etc.

check your brake pads!!



noisy interior i donty know, only think i can suggest is taking out the panels you think are noisy and going for a drive to check its them.

then maybe putting some foam or something in behind the panel when refitting.

or just making sure all the screws etc are done up.

 

[Edward]

ye the foamy bits behind the panel are still there, the knocking comes from in between them (i think) I'll give it another look on the weekend.
About the handbrake, if i were to unplug the switch wouldn't that stop it from both flickering and working altogether?

p.s. thanks for clearing up the "bump" thing hehehe

 

[Allan Wall]

re

i dont think so, the switch is on and the light off when the handbrake is down, when you pull on the handbrake it makes the switch off, light comes on?

so unplugging the the switch woudl be like it being off all the time? so light woudl be on all the time?


that woudl be very stupid thing to do anyway if you ask me, you need to forget the relationship between the light and the handbrake, yours is almost certainly caused by low brake fluid, normally casued by either a leaky brake pipe - very dangerous, or by the pads getting very worn so more brake fluid in pipes, less in resevoir, dangerous if you get to metal to metal as you effetively lose your braking!

Allan

 

[Tommy L]

Or the clutch slave cylinder is leaking some fluid!

Check under the battery tray to see if any fluid has leaked onto the gearbox!

 

[Owen]

disconnecting the switch is only to prove that its not the cause of the problem. Don't leave it disconnected. As the lads said, check the brake fluid and check for leaks, especially the slave cylinder..

Owen.

 

[Anonymous]

Everybody is in complete aggreement regarding brake fluid, never happendon my bravo but sometimes on my proton the switch inside the fluid resevior used to stick causing the light to stay on. yours is more likely to be low fluid, carry out the checks as stated in other replies

 

[Edward]

could it simply be a matter of topping up brake fluid? coz to be honest i havent seen any wet/leaky patches near the battery, gearbox or under the car for that matter. I think my pads are getting quite worn out too, but i dont understand how worn brake pads would cause the light of the low brake fluid to flicker.

Thanks for all the info, would have never realised that the light is related to brake fluid otherwise.

 

[Ashley h]

i had a knocking sound like that that really used to **** me off, after tightening all the bolts and stuff i realised it was the catch to lock the rear seats in place, ive just padded it out now and its fine,see if its the same

 

[Stu R]

It will be your fluid that is low. If your brake pads are worn then this would also expain it.

As your pads wear down, the cylinder that keeps them in contact with the disk has to move out further. This inturn will lower your brake fluid.

On the fluid tank lid is a plastic float switch that sensors the height of the fluid in the tank. The fluid level is probably just above min but when you accelerate hard, this is pushing the fluid to the back of the tank and dropping the float switch just enough to make the light come on.

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[Edward]

ahhh i c... that'd probably also explain why it only happens uphill.

Thanks again, very informative of you all

 

[brewster]

i had the same problem! twice

alrite, i have a warrenty on my car, its a bravo 1.6 16v my handbreak lite kept cuming on when i put the foot down a little, so i took it in to arnie clarks and it was the slave cylinder, i got it back and it was fine no problems till a month later, same situation, i took it back in and they had fited a faulty part to my car which got replaced last week, no problems

 

[Buzz]

Bring Up My Post
B U M P

see how that works? =)

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4, and owner of a Bravo 1.8

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[Anonymous]

Check your slave cylinders on your rear brakes - you will need to get the drums off, which could be tricky if everything is worn.
Once off if there is any sign of fluid leak then you will have to replace the slave cylinder (you can refurbish them but its not worth it) and the brake shoes as they will be contaminated with brake fluid. You will have to clean everything as well to get rid of contamination.

You should then replace the shoes on the other side (assuming the cylinder is OK) so everything wears at the same rate and is balanced.

Then you will need to bleed the brakes to get any air out.

Check the condition of the drums as well. If they are worn then its best to replace them as well - makes getting it apart next time much easier, as well as improving the brakes!