handbrake warning light

[hrf]

Just some theory to chuck in here.

The handbrake warning light on early golfs in the center of the dash is a 12V bulb with no dropper resistor, unless it's been modded and an LED put in.

If its an LED in the dash the dropper resistor is on the printed circuit. Generally LED's don't fail within the lifetime of the car.
If the LED is broken and open circuit you will measure 12V at the point the LED was.  Your multimeter doesn't draw enough current to drop any volts across the resistor.

A small Voltage Regulator provides the dash system with a regulated 10V. A series resistor will drop enough voltage when the LED is working to leave about 1.6V across the LED itself.

[jase555]

thats great...................................................what does that mean? 

[hrf]

Reading back to your first question. Is this the single horizontal red light in the dash under the rear demist switch? If so, they are 12V bulbs and the bulbn gets replaced with the red/beige plastic housing. I'll send you one for a couple of quid.
(I think the other guys are talking about LED's within the instrument console between the speedo and the rev counter/clock.)

[turbodub]

If you take the back off the handbrake light then you can clearly see the bulb inside soldered onto the housing.

[jase555]

Right fellas,
this is where im at now.
fitted a LED today plugged it in and.............................................no joy. doh
looked at handbrake switch, continuity is fine but i have no voltage there.
does anyone know where the power comes from and if its through the fuse box and if so which one cuz the box lid doesnt mention it. 

[bomp]

Are you sure you put the LED on the right way round? Desolder and turn it around, then solder back on.

But you must have a resistor on it, or it will burn out instantly. You need a 470 Ohm resistor soldered to the Anode (the longer leg on the LED denotes the Anode).

This page might help http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htm

[jase555]

it would be nice if if did blow. at least i would know what to do. it is either already resistored down somewhere else or i have a fault somewhere. the 2 wire off the handbrake switch or both brown so i would think they go to a fuse somewhere as they are different colours at the dash light.

i will trace the wires over the weekend and let everyone know incase anyone else needs to sort this problem.

watch this space................................

thanks to everyone whos given me advise. 

[hrf]

This might help you trouble shoot your wiring, at least you should prove that works first.
From the Haynes manual for your model (Book 1081 Published 1999) Diagram 43 and 47

The principle is that the bulb (named K7) always has 12V on the BLACK wire when the ignition is on. (But I can't tell where this comes from). Check the BLACK wire has 12V.
The GREY wire is then grounded by either the handbrake switch (F9) or the brake fluid level sensor (F34).

Check using your multimeter on OHMS or CONTINUITY that the GREY wire connects to earth when you pull the handbrake up (with the ignition on).

If you suspect you handbrake switch, you could remove the cap from the brake fluid reservoir with the cable still connected, this should also light the bulb/led.


(The fuse on the right is for something else)

The colours might not be exactly the same. One of your handbrake wires might be brown (Meaning always earthed) and the other might be brown with a green stripe (Meaning switched to earth)

[jase555]

that seem to make sense HRF cheers

you are the bizz, taking time to do the diagram for me.

cheers pal i owe you one.

will let you know. soon