Warning Light Near Handbrake On '98 Freeport

[Ravintow]

I'm still finding my way around the various indicators and warning lights etc on 'Ravi' (well I've only had him for just over a week and it has been christmas!) and I can't stop an oblong red lamp flashing near to the handbrake when the engine's turned off - unless I open one of the doors (when of course the dash 'door open' warning light comes on).Locking the doors makes no difference - it still keeps blinking away! It does of course stop when I turn the ignition on. There's no sign of this lamp in the owner's handbook or on the diagrams of the various lamps & switches etc. Any ideas please?

To date I'm delighted with wee Ravi - particularly his nippy turn of speed compared to my lumbering VW camper, and the power steering is a dream too after driving 'Big Red Bertha'.

[bothwell_buyer]

could be the light for an alarm or immobiliser - perhaps fitted later?

The alarms on these things were fitted not at the factory but when they came to the UK I believe - used to be you got a separate wee handbook for them.

[Ravintow]

could be the light for an alarm or immobiliser - perhaps fitted later?

The alarms on these things were fitted not at the factory but when they came to the UK I believe - used to be you got a separate wee handbook for them.

Don't think so, 'cos the whole thing seems part of the trim (ie 'moulded' in) - and there's nothing about it in the front part of the owner's manual which covers the alarm/immobiliser in great detail. (It's still blinking away out there!)

[bothwell_buyer]

could be the light for an alarm or immobiliser - perhaps fitted later?

The alarms on these things were fitted not at the factory but when they came to the UK I believe - used to be you got a separate wee handbook for them.

Don't think so, 'cos the whole thing seems part of the trim (ie 'moulded' in) - and there's nothing about it in the front part of the owner's manual which covers the alarm/immobiliser in great detail. (It's still blinking away out there!)

The alarm light is fitted in the panel below the radio by the toyota folk here before the cars got sent to the dealers. It looks and is reasonably genuine - just not fitted at time of manufacture. Thats why the manual doesn't mention it - cos its not factory fitted. The toyota manual for the alarm was a separate booklet. The alarm lights on mine look very much part of the dashboard and not an after thought, but they were fitted in the UK.

Really can't think of anything else it could be tbh.

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

I too would go for the alarm indicator option.

Can you upload a picci

The alarm and immobilizer are in response to an EU directive I seem to have read somewhere. So are fitted on arrival in the UK as are various other mods to bring them into current EU and British rules etc there is also something about emmisions as well. or so I was told when I baught mine from new 4 years ago.

[pinkbits69]

totaly standard, its the security lamp, if you put a key cut to the locks in the ignition that is coded to the imobiliser the ecu reconises the key and the light goes off and the engine starts, if the key is not coded the light still flashes and the engine will not start.

i.e. get a key cut from mr mint without coding and light will remain on but engine will not start

[Ravintow]

could be the light for an alarm or immobiliser - perhaps fitted later?

The alarms on these things were fitted not at the factory but when they came to the UK I believe - used to be you got a separate wee handbook for them.

Don't think so, 'cos the whole thing seems part of the trim (ie 'moulded' in) - and there's nothing about it in the front part of the owner's manual which covers the alarm/immobiliser in great detail. (It's still blinking away out there!)

The alarm light is fitted in the panel below the radio by the toyota folk here before the cars got sent to the dealers. It looks and is reasonably genuine - just not fitted at time of manufacture. Thats why the manual doesn't mention it - cos its not factory fitted. The toyota manual for the alarm was a separate booklet. The alarm lights on mine look very much part of the dashboard and not an after thought, but they were fitted in the UK.

Really can't think of anything else it could be tbh.

Yeah, my alarm light is there also (which is why I also thought it couldn't be that - unless they'd fitted two, which seemed unlikely) This light is on the hand brake moulding (just behind it), and I thought at first it was the handbrake on warning light, but again that's in a different place. Weird innit?

[Ravintow]

totaly standard, its the security lamp, if you put a key cut to the locks in the ignition that is coded to the imobiliser the ecu reconises the key and the light goes off and the engine starts, if the key is not coded the light still flashes and the engine will not start.

i.e. get a key cut from mr mint without coding and light will remain on but engine will not start

...but why is it flashing when there's no key in the ignition? i.e. are you saying this light should be flashing all the time - even when the vehicle is locked up and in my garage? Seems odd it goes out as soon as I open one of the doors! It's definately a pukka key from what you've indicated 'cos it starts the engine (as does my spare one) I'm amazed at all the help I'm getting from you lot. What a fantastic club - particularly for a 'Rookie' to the Toyota's inner mysteries! Cheers.

[bothwell_buyer]

totaly standard, its the security lamp, if you put a key cut to the locks in the ignition that is coded to the imobiliser the ecu reconises the key and the light goes off and the engine starts, if the key is not coded the light still flashes and the engine will not start.

i.e. get a key cut from mr mint without coding and light will remain on but engine will not start

...but why is it flashing when there's no key in the ignition? i.e. are you saying this light should be flashing all the time - even when the vehicle is locked up and in my garage? Seems odd it goes out as soon as I open one of the doors! It's definately a pukka key from what you've indicated 'cos it starts the engine (as does my spare one) I'm amazed at all the help I'm getting from you lot. What a fantastic club - particularly for a 'Rookie' to the Toyota's inner mysteries! Cheers.

It flashes when the alarm is active

[Ravintow]

totaly standard, its the security lamp, if you put a key cut to the locks in the ignition that is coded to the imobiliser the ecu reconises the key and the light goes off and the engine starts, if the key is not coded the light still flashes and the engine will not start.

i.e. get a key cut from mr mint without coding and light will remain on but engine will not start

...but why is it flashing when there's no key in the ignition? i.e. are you saying this light should be flashing all the time - even when the vehicle is locked up and in my garage? Seems odd it goes out as soon as I open one of the doors! It's definately a pukka key from what you've indicated 'cos it starts the engine (as does my spare one) I'm amazed at all the help I'm getting from you lot. What a fantastic club - particularly for a 'Rookie' to the Toyota's inner mysteries! Cheers.

It flashes when the alarm is active

That makes a lot of sense! (I guess it acts as a sort of deterrant to would-be thieves/vandals etc.) I just wonder why they didn't make any reference to it in the manual for complete newcomers like myself, 'cos anyone who gets a new vehicle and sees a big red light winking away will get anxious with no apparent explanation. Anyway, thanks again - all of you for your kind advice and assistance.

[anchorman]

The later models are the same although they've moved the light to a more promenant position. Some models in your vehicles era had a sonic alarm. When the light is flashing tap the side glass with a coin and it will sound the alarm 3 or 4 times to warn intruders off.

[Ravintow]

The later models are the same although they've moved the light to a more promenant position. Some models in your vehicles era had a sonic alarm. When the light is flashing tap the side glass with a coin and it will sound the alarm 3 or 4 times to warn intruders off.

Gosh, that's flash! I might be tempted to try that - but knowing me (and from what I've read about the 'tempremental' nature of the RAV alarm) the chances are the ****** thing will keep squarking and will make the neighbours (and sheep) unhappy if I can't turn it off! I think it was sensible to move it to 'a more prominant position' tho (or at least away from the proximity of the handbrake - 'cos I thought it might have been a warning about that). Thanks for the tip tho'.

[anchorman]

The later models are the same although they've moved the light to a more promenant position. Some models in your vehicles era had a sonic alarm. When the light is flashing tap the side glass with a coin and it will sound the alarm 3 or 4 times to warn intruders off.

Gosh, that's flash! I might be tempted to try that - but knowing me (and from what I've read about the 'tempremental' nature of the RAV alarm) the chances are the ****** thing will keep squarking and will make the neighbours (and sheep) unhappy if I can't turn it off! I think it was sensible to move it to 'a more prominant position' tho (or at least away from the proximity of the handbrake - 'cos I thought it might have been a warning about that). Thanks for the tip tho'.

As Bothy says the early kits were added at the import centre according to local (country) requirements. That is why it fits in a switch blank.

In Japan they don't really have petty crime (although it might not pay to tangle with the triads!). When I was in Tokyo they had camera shops out in the street and non were chained to the counter like they would be here. The hotel porters cart your luggage out into the street and leave it on the pavement when checking out. You can tell all the Europeans because they stand looking at the bags while the !Removed! ignore them. There are also about a million bikes on Tokyo station and not one is locked!!! My point is that they tend not to worry about cars getting nicked over there so that is why the alarm/immobilisers were not fitted!

[shcm]

My point is that they tend not to worry about cars getting nicked over there so that is why the alarm/immobilisers were not fitted!

Back in the mists of time, a former boss of mine worked for Rover during the H*nka tie-up (and they still used a few H*nka engines for a while after). He had to go and talk to H*nka about security/immobilisation. It took several attempts. They didn't think he was for real. Their stance was "Why should anyone want to steal a car?".

[anchorman]

My point is that they tend not to worry about cars getting nicked over there so that is why the alarm/immobilisers were not fitted!

Back in the mists of time, a former boss of mine worked for Rover during the H*nka tie-up (and they still used a few H*nka engines for a while after). He had to go and talk to H*nka about security/immobilisation. It took several attempts. They didn't think he was for real. Their stance was "Why should anyone want to steal a car?".

Aye - what a nice culture to live amongst.

[Ravintow]

My point is that they tend not to worry about cars getting nicked over there so that is why the alarm/immobilisers were not fitted!

Back in the mists of time, a former boss of mine worked for Rover during the H*nka tie-up (and they still used a few H*nka engines for a while after). He had to go and talk to H*nka about security/immobilisation. It took several attempts. They didn't think he was for real. Their stance was "Why should anyone want to steal a car?".

Aye - what a nice culture to live amongst.

Well, here in Orkney, the only fowk who set their alarms/immobilisers are the tourists! (which is why I'm a bit reluctant to do that coin-tapping experiment). The police keep asking locals "PLEASE lock your vehicles - and don't keep leaving the keys in the ignition when you visit Tesco"!! We've had a few 'joyriders' recently, but think that might just be due to the xmas/hogmannay spirit (of the bottled variety). The joys of island life!

[bothwell_buyer]

number 1 rav sometimes get left unlocked, but then I know that whiotever eejit nicks it will reverse out of the driveway into the shrubbery across the road.. and its regy is so old its not that attractive. Anyway, the car is now becoming a legend in its own lifetime up here so folk recognise it :blink: