Hand Brake Light

[jibbbbbb]

just noticed today, if i pump the brakes 3 to 4 times untill the pedal goes hard while the engine is running , the hand brake light comes on is this normal , or is it a new problem

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

just noticed today, if i pump the brakes 3 to 4 times untill the pedal goes hard while the engine is running , the hand brake light comes on is this normal , or is it a new problem

No it's not.

Have you checked the fluid level?

How come you needed to pump it initially?

[jibbbbbb]

just noticed today, if i pump the brakes 3 to 4 times untill the pedal goes hard while the engine is running , the hand brake light comes on is this normal , or is it a new problem

No it's not.

Have you checked the fluid level?

How come you needed to pump it initially?

will check the fluid in the morning, i was pumping it because i read what ancorman wrote about your brake pedal will drop when pressure is apllied when engine is running, and it did . but after that i tried pumping the brake pedal and it does become hard then i notice the handbrake light came on

[sywy]

Does the handbrake actually come on?

It sounds like the hill start assist? Although you don't normally pump it, but press hard for a few seconds.

[anchorman]

I think the fluid might be a bit low. You can exert tremendous pressure in the sytem and I think by pumping the pedal you have just admitted enough fluid into the system to get below the switch in the reservoir. It should be above the minimum mark but not necessarily to the maximum. As the pads wear out the fluid will fall but even with the pads fully worn the fluid should not fall below minimum unless somebody has let some out in the past OR the pads go below the minimum thickness OR the discs are badly worn below thickness. You should not overfill it in this case as when you put new pads in the pistons will be pushed back, the fluid will be displaced back to the res' and it will then spill out under the bonnet. If you do spill any on paintwork, wash it off right away as it can be harmfull and cause the paint to peel.

If you get somebody to pump the pedal hard while the engine is running you see a fair old storm taking place in the res' so don't be too concerned. Just check the following things;

the fluid is above the minimum mark on the res.

if you pump the pedal with the engine off it should go rock hard.

Cheers