Brake warning light

[Davey101]

Very quick question... what does it mean when the red handbrake light starts to come on under normal braking? How much is it likely to cost me?

(this is in my 1985 80 GL)

Many thanks

[4v6]

This sounds like a low pad warning or low fluid warning light.

Check the brake fluid first, and if its low have a look at the pads, as the fluid level being down indicates the pads are worn (if no system leaks).
If those are ok then it may be the handbrake warning switch sticking- i used to get this occasionally on my old coupe.

[Coxy]

cheapest fix is take the bulb out!

Correct fix is one of the above.

[4v6]

Originally Posted by Coxy

cheapest fix is take the bulb out!

Correct fix is one of the above.

I know of someone who did that on a ford granada abs bulb!....
Wasnt me i hasten to add!

[TheTwelveQuidKid]

Originally Posted by 4v6

I know of someone who did that on a ford granada abs bulb!....
Wasnt me i hasten to add!

It wasn't me either. I did it on a Toyota Carina because I couldn't be bothered to buy a new ABS sensor.

[Davey101]

Right... I've had a look and the brake fluid is low.

I managed to get a guy from work to have a quick look at it (he's an MOT tester) and he thinks the pads are fine and the fluid is a bit dirty in colour. I'm going to get some more fluid and top it up so that I've got a better idea of whether it's leaking and how fast.

Thanks guys!

[4v6]

If its leaking from anywhere, id lay money on the rear brake cylinders.

[Davey101]

Originally Posted by 4v6

If its leaking from anywhere, id lay money on the rear brake cylinders.

That's what this guy thought too.

I've asked the previous owner if he has any experience of it and he said no, he never had to top up any fluids in the year or so he owned it (except for the screen wash ) However, he did say to get it looked at sooner rather than later:

On my 1985 Audi Coupe the right rear cylinder went, left me with no brakes as I lost all pressure - never saw it coming either, was driving along, suddenly had no brakes. Fortunately I was just coming in to our estate where i lived then, so was only doing about 10mph.

As I said though, it's never been low whilst I had the car, so I'd deffo get it checked out.

Does that sort of thing happen a lot? Only I've got a 200 mile round trip starting after work tomorrow and a further 3 similar trips over the next 3 and a bit weeks...

[4v6]

Easiest way to tell if the rear cylinders are leaking is to take a torch and have a look behind the rear wheels at the lower edge of the backplate and see if any evidence of fluid loss is er...evident.
If its leaking badly itll be all over the place, but if theres none its likely the fluid was low simply because the pads have worn, so the fluid goes down.

[TheTwelveQuidKid]

Originally Posted by Davey101

Does that sort of thing happen a lot? Only I've got a 200 mile round trip starting after work tomorrow and a further 3 similar trips over the next 3 and a bit weeks...

It's not an everyday event, but it does happen occasionally. I had a customer who it happened to. He was approaching a line of stationary traffic in Southampton and when he tried to brake, the pedal went to the floor. He avoided crashing by going up the pavement. Then he drove all the way from there to the other side of Portsmouth using just the gears and the handbrake, so I could fix it.