HELP - Hand brake light stays on all time

[Madone_si]

My hand brake light (right hand side of steering wheel) stays on when I put the hand brake down in my black cab - only started to do it the last week... not done any work on it - so not sure why its started.

What I have done so far to troubleshoot.

1. I've checked the switch itself with another one - all fine. 
2. I've taken the one cable off the hand brake switch - good connection and switch itself is fine as well.

Could this be a earth issue?

Anyone had this issue before and how to fit?

thanks Si

[Judderi]

As far as i know the wire or switch on the handbrake lever is just an earth wire. Usually its just a dodgy switch but i think you say you have already checked that. The wire might have worn down to the wire somewhere and be touching bare metal thus making an earth. Try the lever and light ends 1st before you go ripping y car apart mate. 

[Madone_si]

As far as i know the wire or switch on the handbrake lever is just an earth wire. Usually its just a dodgy switch but i think you say you have already checked that. The wire might have worn down to the wire somewhere and be touching bare metal thus making an earth. Try the lever and light ends 1st before you go ripping y car apart mate. 

Yeah I think that is the case too - will have to folllow the cables and find that broken part. cheers mate.

Another job to add to the on going list..... will it ever stop?! 

[Judderi]

I think the easy answer to that is NO. But we all love tinkering at the end of the day. If we didnt we would buy a new car and use it to get from a to b. 

P.S shoot me if that ever happens.

[golfpro]

my hand brake stayed on for a while in my mk3, and i later found out it was coz i was out of brake fluid. Only just god away with it in the end, luckily i avoided death somehow in a big cloud of smoke.

Not sure if this has anything to do with it but thought id share my story anyhow.

[mk1]

What he said ^^^^^^^^.
Light doubles up as a low fluid level indicator.
Steve.

[Madone_si]

brake fuild level is a max - I'm going to have to check the cables as I think its earthing at some point alone the cables. Also I've tested the sensor in the brake fuild top cylinder and its working ok.

[alpesh]

On a MK1 the hand brake light is connected to a dual circuit.....
1st circuit: hand brake switch (located under the lever)
2nd circuit: Oil pressure switch. If the oil pressure is not right then the light will come on. I dont know if its means the oil pressure is too low or high.

Replace the pil pressure switch since these go faulty.

On some models the second circuit is the brake fluid level. So if the brake fluid is too low then the light turns on.

[richandhazel]

Another problem that I'm sure you would have noticed can be the handbrake adjustment may be such that the lever isn't pulling down onto the switch properly. Pushing down on the lever would confirm that.

[Madone_si]

Another problem that I'm sure you would have noticed can be the handbrake adjustment may be such that the lever isn't pulling down onto the switch properly. Pushing down on the lever would confirm that.

I tried that Rich - the light isn't working at all now - will be looking at this properly at the weekend - spent this weekend completing the new suspension install - what fun that was..... NOT!