Handbrake Light keeps flashing at me!

[Jimmy Little]

Hi,

I have a 2000 ford Ka 1.3, and have just had an MOT last week, the car has been fine, but over the last few days the handbrake warning light on the dash has been flashing at me. I have checked that the hand brake leaver itself is properly down and that nothing is stuck on there, and the car itself does not feel like I’m driving with the hand brake on…. Strange

Any ideas before I book her in for a pricey check up!

[McMav]

loose wire on the connector I had on my v old AX years back. If you can get to the button sensor for the handbrake just check the wire is on fully.

[Skii]

Yep - sounds like a similar problem with my VW brake light switch. Either a loose wire or contact or some dirt/debris has got down there. You will need to probably remove the trim around the handbrake base to get to it.

First thing to 'try' would be a squirt of WD40 down there - see if that solves it

[Jimmy Little]

thanks guys, you don't reckon it is the hand brake rubbing a little do you? is that possible?

[Barakka]

First thing is to check in your owners manual for the exact meaning of the light. On some cars it is the same light that is used for handbrake, brake pads and brake fluid....

As I say the manual....

[Jimmy Little]

thanks dude i don't have a manual but i think i shall get one!

[Barakka]

thanks dude i don't have a manual but i think i shall get one!

In that case it could be worth doing a quick visual check on the brake fluid level and the thickness of your front brake pads. Does the light come on at any particular time, like braking, or cornering or is it just totally random.

[Jimmy Little]

i'm still not sure if it is random, i fear it is more under cornering and braking, sometimes it just seems very faint flashing... now i'm a noob with cars you see!

[Zak33]

on a Ka it is possible that the LOW BRAKE PAD WARNING LIGHT is also on the handbrake bulb.

Will find out....back in a mo

[Zak33]

SORTED:

ITS LOW BRAKE FLUID

so lift the bonnet, look for a square ish semi transparent bottle in line with where your pedals are in the car.....check the level

bet its low

[Jimmy Little]

thanks Zak i will go and have a look in a tick if i can duck out the office!

[Jimmy Little]

ok just checked the levels and it is over the min line, the light can sometimes stay on, or just dimly flicker... any other ideas guys? i shall ask my handy mate john later!

[TeePee]

Top up the brake fluid to near the max line and see if that fixes it, since thats the easiest step. Then check the pads. You should be able to change the pads yourself fairly easily, but a mate who knows stuff might be useful. A dealer will charge too much!

[bmh.01]

If the level is read through contacts in the cap that sit in the fluid then what might be happening is that when you put your foot on the break then the level drops just enough to make the warning light flicker and when you go round a corner the fluid gets thrown to the corner of the tank and drops the level enough again, so top it up and see if it fixes it.

[Jimmy Little]

back again! sorry could not get near a computer over the weekend, i hvae not used the car since my first post, and will go and buy some brake fluid today.. can i ask is there a certain type i need to get? or will they all mix and match? as i don't know what's in there at the mo?

[Richie]

Go to Ford dealer and get some from them then. Mebbe try speaking to a mechanic rather than the front door and see if he will top it up for you