Handbrake light whilst driving?

G

Gebbly

Member
 Hersham, Surrey
Hi All,
As usual I am after advice. Over the last week we have driven maybe 200 miles on holiday. This afternoon whilst driving the 'handbrake on' red warning light came on whilst doing about 40 then went off after about 5 seconds. It happened another couple weeks of times on a drive. Any idea what it could mean? I don't know if it's relevant but a couple of weeks back the vanos was replaced.
 
Sounds like the fluid level is low. Check that first.
But the cars are throwing up some odd faults in this heat, so could be spurious.
 
Thanks for the fast reply. After some searching on here I saw other mentions of brake fluid. Just checked the reservior and it's right on the min level. I think the first time it happened I was going up hill. Are there different types of brake fluid like engine oil? I am in a premier Inn next to a petrol station so maybe they have some I could top up with? Can you top up like oil or does it need a brake flush or anything? Please excuse the idiot questions.
 
Gebbly said:
Thanks for the fast reply. After some searching on here I saw other mentions of brake fluid. Just checked the reservior and it's right on the min level. I think the first time it happened I was going up hill. Are there different types of brake fluid like engine oil? I am in a premier Inn next to a petrol station so maybe they have some I could top up with? Can you top up like oil or does it need a brake flush or anything? Please excuse the idiot questions.
Click to expand...
Get some Dot4 fluid and simply top it up.
Could well just be that the wearing of the brake pads has lowered the level, but do keep an eye on it in case you have a leak.
 
Isn't the handbrake a mechanical mechanism operating separate pads to the braking system. As such isn't it more likely that handbrake is sticking as there is no connection to the brake fluid. Or am I completely wrong
 
Mike6 said:
Isn't the handbrake a mechanical mechanism operating separate pads to the braking system. As such isn't it more likely that handbrake is sticking as there is no connection to the brake fluid. Or am I completely wrong
Click to expand...
The light has two purposes. It shows when the handbrake is on but also serves as a warning for low fluid level.
It’s all in the manual.
 
I spoke to my mechanic on the phone and he said it could be fluid level but could be something else so call RAC to make sure it's safe. RAC guy found leaking brake line in offside rear arch. Disconnected, cleaned, reconnected and tightened and leak fixed. Seemed ok so he left. Then I tried driving local road and there is now a rubbing noise that increases frequency as I speed up. I think something is rubbing where he reattached the wheel. I'm in a premier inn car park with none of my tools so I can't check. Now waiting for another RAC man :(
 
Really sorry to hear that. :(

Presumably the leak was one end of the flexi-pipe, so maybe the RAC man has left it rubbing on the wheel? Anyway I hope the next one can sort it for you. :thumbsup:
 
I can just about get my hand back there and I can feel towards the front of the rear arch there is a pipe or tube and it is touching the rear wheel on the inside. Is there some sort of clip or something that should hold the pipe away from the tire?
 
I don't really know, but I just had my rear brakes pipes replaced in kunifer and the firm that did them sent me this photo inside the OSR wheel-arch which shows where it connects to the flexi-pipe. It looks like it might be clipped to the suspension arm.

Brake Pipes OSR 080626.jpeg
 
The brake line was indeed rubbing on the tyre and had worn away part of the plastic sheething. RAC man didnt want to disconnect in case it reintroduced the leak so it is held back with a cable tie and hopefully that holds until I can get home.
 
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