Technical Handbrake warning light coming on

[Oppit]

Hello.
I wonder if any of you have ever encountered this before.

Over the last week or so,the handbrake warning light has been coming on for no good reason on my 1995 1.4ie.
It happens mainly when cornering,but not exclusively.

From what I've been able to gather myself,this can mean different things on different cars.

Have any of you ever seen this problem specifically on a Tipo?

My main question is of whether it's something to casually overlook,or if I'm in mortal danger!

 

[Galilio_Mad]

hello
this happened to me once
and it`s simple, there was no brake fluid in the tank
so i put some and the light went off
i took ot to the next level and checked the brakes ( front and back )
there was nothing wrong so it was only the fluid
so for you it is the fluid or the rear brake bads
best regards

 

[Hellcat]

Usually its the foot brake reservoir low. Sometimes its a dodgy switch on the handbrake system. If the footbrake reservoir is low then seriously check how much pad is left on the front brakes - rear brakes too if they havn't been changed for a while - as all that brake fluid has gone somewhere! Probably into the piston on the brakes!

 

[maddogmorg]

handbrake warning light? no brake fluid? i thought it was the brake pic which shows low brake fluid... my warning lights been coming on recently every now and then for the handbrake. i just assume its a dodgy switch? as far as i know the resorvoir is fine. but i think i might just check just in case.

 

[Hellcat]

There are two. One has the handbrake image ( i ).. The other brake shoes (( )). The first is handbrake on or low brake fluid. The second is front brake pads worn to wear detector level. This is usually not connected by now in your Tipo's life.

 

[sumplug]

There are two. One has the handbrake image ( i ).. The other brake shoes (( )). The first is handbrake on or low brake fluid. The second is front brake pads worn to wear detector level. This is usually not connected by now in your Tipo's life.

Yep.

Andy.

 

[maddogmorg]

luckily i read that, i was assuming it was just a dodgy handbrake light. i'm sure it doesn't mention about that in the haynes manual and as i don't have the car handbook which is sposedly amongst my brothers stuff somewhere. anyway took it to where my dad works and they opened it up and there was virtually no brake fluid in there!! it's been topped up now. they reckon it just wasn't topped up properly when they did the brake hoses for MoT but if it comes on again soon i've got to book it in.

Thanks everyone for the advice and also to oppit for bringing this up. i wasn't too worried about it and was going to sort it out next week as i assumed it was the handbrake switch

 

[Oppit]

Just to update,it was indeed a little low on brake fluid.

It wasn't horrendously low by any means,but was in need of topping up,which has gotten rid of the warning light.

Unless,of course,the handbrake warning light bulb has now blown.

 

[graytipoman]

also check the switch, i had an escort , which had the same problem, it was just the switch earth came loose. i hope this helps even though its from a different car

 

[maddogmorg]

with my mine i always thought it was ok but the tank is more opaque than translucent so i used to think it was ok. there can be quite a few reasons for it to be low but unless you've had work done on your brakes recently it's best to get your brakes looked at. if you're brakes have been done recently best to take it back to where it was done and just check that it's not a running in problem