Caterham Brake warning light??
Discussion
if you've got fluid (checking the pad material too would be a good idea) then it can only be a wiring issue, the warning light comes from the sensor on top of the master cylinder, if you disconnect the wires the light should go off. If it stays on there is likely to be a problem in the switch.
Although the rocker only moves so you can check the bulb is working, there's not much to go wrong with it
Although the rocker only moves so you can check the bulb is working, there's not much to go wrong with it
On most kits, this light is dual purpose, it warns about low brake fluid and it also tells you your handbrake is on.
This light is normally earth sensing. Basically this means that the light has a live one side and when you activate the switch (low fluid / handbrake) it connects the circuit to earth.
Find both the switches, one on top of the reservior and one next to the handbrake so it gets activated when you move the lever. There will be two wires going to each switch.
One will be a permanent earth (usually obvious as it's bolted to the chassis somewhere), the other will go back to the instrument pod to turn the light on.
Disconnect the wire going back to the pod (not the earth wire) on both switches. If the light goes out, then you have a switch problem, put the wires back on on different orders to find which switch is at fault.
If the light stays on with both switches disconnected, you have a problem in the wiring from the switch to the lamp (normally touching earth somewhere) or the warning lamp itself. If it's the lamp, it's usually part of a pod so it would be a whole unit replacement.
HTH,
John.
This light is normally earth sensing. Basically this means that the light has a live one side and when you activate the switch (low fluid / handbrake) it connects the circuit to earth.
Find both the switches, one on top of the reservior and one next to the handbrake so it gets activated when you move the lever. There will be two wires going to each switch.
One will be a permanent earth (usually obvious as it's bolted to the chassis somewhere), the other will go back to the instrument pod to turn the light on.
Disconnect the wire going back to the pod (not the earth wire) on both switches. If the light goes out, then you have a switch problem, put the wires back on on different orders to find which switch is at fault.
If the light stays on with both switches disconnected, you have a problem in the wiring from the switch to the lamp (normally touching earth somewhere) or the warning lamp itself. If it's the lamp, it's usually part of a pod so it would be a whole unit replacement.
HTH,
John.
My car (2004 kit) has no handbrake warning switch or pad wear indicator warning wiring and the circuit diagram shows the light is only associated with the fluid level switch. I have just checked on the car and mine is a normally open float switch so the warning light is only brought on by the closing the contacts on the float switch or by actuating the lamp test switch which has the indicator light built in.
My guess is that the float switch is the culprit (mine actually took a bit of encouragement to actuate just now so I guess its possible yours is just stuck).
If you have a DVM just disconnect the lucars going to the reservoir cap and see if the meter reads low ohms or buzzes when across the terminals of the cap. If it does then the cap is the issue.
Have fun!
My guess is that the float switch is the culprit (mine actually took a bit of encouragement to actuate just now so I guess its possible yours is just stuck).
If you have a DVM just disconnect the lucars going to the reservoir cap and see if the meter reads low ohms or buzzes when across the terminals of the cap. If it does then the cap is the issue.
Have fun!
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