Handbrake warning light

[johnwilk]

My Chimaera 500 (T reg)handbrake light only works intermittently. In wet weather it''s fine, but now it won''t work at all. This suggests a poor contact somewhere. Does anybody know where it''s sited and how to access to clean connectors? Thanks, John

[aldawson]

John, As a TVR owner of just 2 days, can't help with any advice, but my 00W Chimaera 500 has exactly the same problem as yours. As nobody seems to haved replied to your query, if you have discovered the answer elsewhere, please let me know!

[bryanlister]

Hi gentlemen, I have no practical experience of this, but I will quote from Steve Heath's very good book - 'The TVR Griffith and Chimaera' (you need this book.). "Brake light warning light - this normally comes on when the handbrake is applied. This is done by a switch located under the handbrake lever inside the car fixed to the side of the transmission tunnel. The switch is reliable and rarely gives problems (!). If the light fails to come on when the handbrake lever is applied, check this switch and connections as well as the dashboard warning lights fuse." It therefore sounds like you need to remove the centre console for access. There are 2 screws below the pull out bit at the back of the console, and one scre either side at the front which are visible - only problem is the door release knob, I don't know how to shift this so you can pull the console off (if you find out - please let me know!).

[aldawson]

Thanks Bryan, I'll let you know if I find out!

[PaulG]

I don't know the age of your Chimaera but if it has the door release knob in the seperate well behind the handbrake then you can remove this with a tiny alan key. Take a look all round the knob it should be obvious where the key goes.

[xain]

This exact thing happened to my 97 500. The switch was replaced and everything is fine. I'd guess that you could clean the switch yourself rather than fork out for the dealer to just swap it. Mine only worked in wet cold conditions too! Wierd.