General Brake light on dashboard.

[steesh]

Hi, my brake light keeps coming on on the dashboard, normally happens after i have applied the handbrake and then let it off to pull away, it sort of flashes on briefly.

It also sometimes flashes on randomly while driving, seems to be when going round corners.

I have checked the brake fluid level and it looks fine but i couldnt really see properly, and the car brakes ok.

Cheers

 

[jug]

if you cant see the fluid level then take the cap off.
also consider pad wear indicators if you have them.
or a faulty switch on the handbrake.
or a faulty switch on the reservoir.
or a wiring/connector fault.

then again we're talking italian electrics here, so it probably means there is nothing wrong at all and it will go away by itself once another fault comes along.

 

[steesh]

I took the cap off but couldnt see inside, i shall have another go at the weekend.

I was just going to stick a bit of blue tack over the light, then it wouldnt annoy me so much!

Going to get it serviced next week as i dont know when it was last done, going to get the brakes and timing belt examined and have them done too if poss.

Used to have a 1.4sx, got a 1.6sx now, much better to drive, has a slight ding on the nearside front wing/bonnet which i shall get repaired sometime too.

 

[mountainmachine]

shove a torch in the top usualy eluminates any liquid!

 

[steesh]

Dont have a torch, might try a match tho....................

 

[mountainmachine]

Dont have a torch, might try a match tho....................

Dont think it flammable, so you could try, :devil:

 

[jug]

its not flammable at all so no worries.

i have visions of a burnt match head dropping into the reservoir

 

[mountainmachine]

its not flammable at all so no worries.

i have visions of a burnt match head dropping into the reservoir

Yup me too bit like the guy who used an open packet of matches to hold open his cambelt cover while he took some pics, then latter realise that a load were missing!:yum:

 

[steesh]

The brake light only seems to come on under hard acceleration, must be fluid related me thinks.

Another thing i have noticed this morning is the rear window heater only works half way down, only noticed as we had a frost this morning, dya reckon its a fuse or the connection to the rear window thats to blame???

AND, lol, the front passenger door handle is loose, is there just a screw or summat i can tighten inside the door???

Thanks for any advice in advance

 

[Tomasso]

1. Check the fluid and add some DOT4 - 'tis a 5 minute job.
1a. If this happens again, inspect the system for leaks (around flex hoses in front and rear, around drums)

2. Some heating lines can be torn - inspect them closely - then buy a conductive paint (repair kit) and fix it for good.

3. There are two allen bolts right in the handle - look from underside. If they're tight, this may mean that the plastic part they're bound to is broken and needs replacement (scrappy).

 

[steesh]

Thanks for that, i shall endeavour to get out and look tonight. Im a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my cars so i like everything working if poss, especially the brakes!!

I read you can press the button on the top of the brake fluid reservoir and a light comes on on the dashboard or summat, how does this work and what does it actually denote. I tried pressing it and nothing came on so does that mean its ok or not ok?

 

[Ozric-Al]

Thanks for that, i shall endeavour to get out and look tonight. Im a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my cars so i like everything working if poss, especially the brakes!!

I read you can press the button on the top of the brake fluid reservoir and a light comes on on the dashboard or summat, how does this work and what does it actually denote. I tried pressing it and nothing came on so does that mean its ok or not ok?

Mine does this all the time and it's due to a loose connection on the reservoir. If I push it in and press the reset switch it will stay off for a few days then comes back. One day I might get round to a permanent fix.

Have you had any major work done on the engine recently? Mine started shortly after a cambelt change so they must have disconnected the switch I guess.

 

[steesh]

No engine work, i just bought the car at the weekend, will be getting it serviced next weekend, will get the bloke to check it, after reading through this forum it seems a common fault, amongst others! lol

I didnt really have any faults on my first Brava 1.4sx, it was 5 yrs old and had done 40000 miles when i got it, this one is 9 years old and has done 110000 miles so i suppose its to be expected.

Ive come from a Ford sierra with no power steering etc so im over the moon with my Brava, its so easy to drive, just how i remember it, so im willing to over look the few small problems it has, as long as they are fixable.

 

[steesh]

I also have a bit of damage to sort out on the front wing/bonnet.....

 

[Tomasso]

how does this work and what does it actually denote

This is only for checking if the indicator works ok.
BTW, it's all in the manual

 

[steesh]

You'll have to bear with me, im good with PC's , not so good with cars lol

 

[steesh]

I had a look on the door handle for the 2 screws but couldnt see any, are they on the outside or inside?

 

[jug]

if you open the door you can see a single torx head bolt level with the handle but on the side of the door. that is one of the handle's bolts.
if you then remove the door card and inner lining plastic, there is also a single 10mm bolt holding the handle on from inside the door.
if you remove the handle from the car there is also a single hex bolt holding the handle's hinge onto the handle base. (sometimes this hinge gets damaged if handle is pulled to hard, making handle 'sloppy')

any of the above could be causing your problem.

 

[Tomasso]

Yeah jug, you're right!

Dunno why I thought steesh was talking about inner handles...

 

[jug]

Dunno why I thought steesh was talking about inner handles...