Handbrake light

[Robinb]

I noticed yesterday on the way back from the Heart of England run that the handbrake light kept flicking on usually over bumpy roads. Pushing the Handbrake down would make the light turn off but it still goes on & off. Any ideas for a quick fix?

[Chris Tideswell]

Lift the centre arm rest and remove the tray and you will see a nut attached to the brake cable, tighten this up by a few turns and it should remove the slack out of it.

However occasionally it’s due to one of the rear calliper failing so check for any binding and excess heat.

[Robinb]

Thanks Chris I'll give it a try later

[Adrian Clifford]

Robin, just to add, park the car on a level surface, chock the front wheels and lift the rears one at a time, let the handbrake off and turn the wheel to ensure nothing is binding. Adjust the cable, 12mm spanner if I remember correctly, and re-check the wheel again. Repeat the other side. Take the car for a run, warm up the brakes and re-check while warm, as Chris says it is probably cable adjustment but the rear calipers are prone to sticking. You should have one click on the handbrake, two when pulled firmly, re-check for the last time that both rears wheels will not turn with the handbrake applied.

I found out that one of my calipers was sticking last year when the car started to roll forward on the ferry as the ramp was deployed (and it was in gear too). Worth checking well in view of your forthcoming trip.

[Robinb]

Thanks for the input Adrian. I checked it all out this afternoon & it seems to be fine after taking up the slack on the cable

[Adrian Clifford]

Good news then.