Brake warning light

[phil_cardiff]

Has suddenly appered on. Was intermittently on and off yesterday and now seems permanantely on. What could it be? There's plenty of brake fluid in the resevoir. Any thoughts before I go to the garage?

[Gizmo!]

Pads?

[bluetone]

Sounds like low fluid - when you say there is plenty is it at max or not?

[A2Z]

Dirt in the handbrake switch/handbrake not fully released?

[phil_cardiff]

The fluid isn't full to the brim, it's way above the minimum level though.

[bluetone]

When mine was approx half-full, at first the light would come on when cornerning (fluid sloshing around and giving a low reading) and then stayed on. I topped-up the reservoir and sorted the leaking caliper = job done.

As above though, there is a switch for the handbrake too so worth checking that out; I don't know where/how myself without Rod's book in front of me.

[I Am Milk]

Gizmo! said:

Pads?

It's not worth buggering about with breaks.


Just whip a wheel off and check your pads! Could answer your question in 10 minutes!

[phil_cardiff]

Topped up the fluid to extinguish the light.

Now what is causing the loss of fluid? Am I correct in thinking that it's either:

1. A leak in the system?

2. Worn pads?

Judging by the amount of brake dust on my front wheels I think it could be the latter.

[phil_cardiff]

Grrr. It's frustrating when you buy genuine pads from a more expensive competitor as they advertise that the pads "come with a full fitting kit including springs backing plates and clips" only to find on delivery that the springs are missing, as per the competitor.

[FELIX_5]

phil_cardiff said:

Grrr. It's frustrating when you buy genuine pads from a more expensive competitor as they advertise that the pads "come with a full fitting kit including springs backing plates and clips" only to find on delivery that the springs are missing, as per the competitor.

If they're genuine Mazda pads they should come with the springs???

[bluetone]

phil_cardiff said:

Topped up the fluid to extinguish the light.

Now what is causing the loss of fluid? Am I correct in thinking that it's either:

1. A leak in the system?

2. Worn pads?

Judging by the amount of brake dust on my front wheels I think it could be the latter.

Could be either; check your reservoir fluid level weekly - if it is noticeably going down then you likely have a leaky caliper or master/slave cylinder. Inspect/feel for fluid on the undersides of these components to confirm.

[phil_cardiff]

According to a certain well known MX-5 parts supplier Mazda don't deem the springs necessary any more. Hence me buying pads with springs for more money from a competitor.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Give MX5 Heaven or Autolink a call - the springs should cost next to nothing.

[phil_cardiff]

I'm not paing extra for them as they were advertised as coming with the pads and they sell them for £1 each seperately.

[Firefox1]

Phil,
It could be the cable at the caliper end chaffing on the wheel, have a look at the front end and see if it's worn through.

[FELIX_5]

That's odd, I bought some genuine pads from a well known supplier online and it came with the springs, and that was only September.......?

[phil_cardiff]

bluetone said:

When mine was approx half-full, at first the light would come on when cornerning (fluid sloshing around and giving a low reading) and then stayed on. I topped-up the reservoir and sorted the leaking caliper = job done.

How did you sort the leaking caliper out? My nearside front is leaking, the caliper is only 10 months old so I'm pretty peeved. Back to the garage who supplied it we go.

[bluetone]

phil_cardiff said:

How did you sort the leaking caliper out? My nearside front is leaking, the caliper is only 10 months old so I'm pretty peeved. Back to the garage who supplied it we go.

I replaced it with a reconditioned item from 'a well-known supplier of mx5 parts'.
I couldn't frankly be arsed with trying to service it - you can get kits of new seals etc. As mine is a daily driver I need to ensure any jobs like this are easily do-able on a weekend and the surest way was replacement; it's pretty straight-forward.

The garage should def' fix that for nowt...

Edited by bluetone on Tuesday 12th January 15:12

[phil_cardiff]

Took it back today. At first they couldn't find the leak. Then they took the wheel off and reckoned it was the washers on the brake pipe which they replaced free of charge. Hopefully that's fixed it but I'm not holding my breath.