Handbrake/Fluid Warning Light

[SoundillusioN]

Right this is doing my head in.

After a few moments with the engine running, the Handbrake/Fluid Warning Light would come on and stay on.... I have tested the fluid cap sensor and it appears to be switched on all the time, so will need to see if I can fix or replace.  It's not the original as the car has a mk2 16v servo etc.. However the cap isn't off a MK2 and have no idea what it's from!  I had to chop the plug off the loom and make new individual connections to use it.

My other problem is that I cannot for the life of me find where the handbrake switch wire is supposed to go.  Having a connector at the end of the wire suggests that it shares a connection with a low fluid level sensor wire away from the fuse box, I cannot see any spare connections. I checked the following pin locations at the back of the fuse box to try and trace somewhere to stick it.

C/12 - brake fluid switch
B/1 and A/15 - brake fluid/handbrake warning switch
E/13 - handbrake warning switch

In my new looms there are no wires in the above pin locations!  WTF!? Looks like there never was.

Resorted to plan b, removed instrument panels and located plug for the warning light, found the correct wire and spliced the handbrake switch to the plug, did a continuity test and lifted the handbrake, result.  however, when I put the battery back on, I heard a fuse pop.. now obviously the switch does nothing again

Any suggestions, am I missing something as I'm loosing the will to live?

[rubjonny]

bridge the pins on the level sensor plug, if light still on problem is elsewhere.

you should have an ignition live wire to the handbrake warning light, and then the earth side should run to the switch either direct or via the fusebox area

[SoundillusioN]

bridge the pins on the level sensor plug, if light still on problem is elsewhere.

you should have an ignition live wire to the handbrake warning light, and then the earth side should run to the switch either direct or via the fusebox area

There is no longer a plug at the sensor end as the cap is different, I had to chop the plug to make two individual connections.  When I did a continuity test between the two level sensor wires I get nothing.  When I tested the sensor, it was switched on all the time.  I believe the cap is fooked, what I don't get though is even if the sensor is unplugged the light comes on after the engine has run for a few seconds!  What I havent done is bridge the connection like you suggest so I will try that. 

Is the level sensor a circuit breaker or a switch?  I though both the level sensor and the handbrake switch create a path to earth for the warning light.

The handbrake is a different issue as I couldn't find anywhere to plug it in.  So I spliced one of the two earths to the warning light and connected it to one of them, I got a positive continuity test when I lifted the handbrake but when I did this with the battery back on I heard a pop from the fuse box, now at the moment it's dead as a result.

[rubjonny]

duh yes you're right its a path to ground so just unplug it :embarassed:

with the handbrake switch it sounds like there may be a short in the wiring before the bulb? or maybe the bulb itself is dead

[SoundillusioN]

duh yes you're right its a path to ground so just unplug it :embarassed:

with the handbrake switch it sounds like there may be a short in the wiring before the bulb? or maybe the bulb itself is dead

  Yeah but that still doesn't explain why the light was on the whole time it wasn't plugged in otherwise I would have left it like it was.....  hmmmmm?

Bulb is fine as it was on all the time.  but now you mention a short that could be the problem as when I wired in the handbrake switch wire to an earth for the light the tester confirmed it was working but blew something in the fuse box when the battery was reconnected.

Whats worth noting is that when the ignition is in position 2, the light is out.  When the engine has started and running, the light is still out, then 20 seconds later it comes on and stays on... not sure why there is a delay.

[rubjonny]

sounds like you need to check the wiring over carefully, something isnt right there

[SoundillusioN]

sounds like you need to check the wiring over carefully, something isnt right there

Tell me about it.  I was originally confused as to why those pin locations in the fusebox were empty but I think there must have been a revision that I am not aware of (bear in mind my replacment looms came from a later cabby and i'm not sure what year). 

Not sure if you've seen my project/dubrides thread but I was scratching my head for ages due to my horn wiring not working, that turned out to be that the sterring rack/column were no longer earthed!...

Migh drop the dash out again since most of the instruments are out already and do some hardcore tracing and tidying up.

Thanks for your help and input so far... always appreciated

[rubjonny]

i have a vague recollection that the early ones dont go via the fusebox, been a while since i had the dash out of my cabby...

[SoundillusioN]

i have a vague recollection that the early ones dont go via the fusebox, been a while since i had the dash out of my cabby...

Well thats confusing then because my cars an 83 tintop and the looms are from a slightly later GLI cab.... (so I was told).  They might not be.... Also I believe the GLI Looms are the same as the GTI... Until now I havent spotted any major differences and I chose the GLI looms as they are easier to find and this set was clean and unchopped.. in fact this set still have the VAG stereo wiring and plugs intact which I have never seen in any of my MK1s.

[rubjonny]

mine was an 83 cabby, which was early enough to be the same as mk1 tintop without a roof

the later ones the wiring changed a fair bit along with a few other things, but mine was all mk1 tintop stylee, same tank, same exhaust etc