Handbrake Light Off when On nd On when Off

Hello again,
Lots of threads about the Handbrake Light but none for my problem that I can find.
I had the center console apart to troubleshoot a Gearbox Problem (2000 TD5 Automatic) and had to unplug the handbrake switch. When I put it back back together I forgot about plugging back in the handbrake switch and the warning light was on constantly for a week I've just plugged the wire back in but now the warning light is on when the handbrake is off an the warning light is off when the handbrake is on...!!! Just the opposite of what it should be and I am stymied as what to do. Anyhelp greatly appreciated

This is probably too obvious, but could you have got the plug in 180 degrees out?
Posted this without even knowing what the plug looks like, how many wires it has on it or anything! Normally they are designed for this to be impossible but one never knows!
Brake fluid up to the line?
Have a look at this which seems to contradict me but may be of some use!
https://landroverforums.com/forum/discovery-ii-18/parking-brake-light-always-20312/
Best of luck!

Is your brake fluid level ok as that is also in the circuit?

Interceptorxj said:

Is your brake fluid level ok as that is also in the circuit?

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As in post #2!!!


Hee, hee, hee!

That's a really strange one, everything else is working OK? cos both the brake fluid and handbrake switches are N/O and closing to earth to bring on the warning so with both unplugged the light should be off and if let's say the brake fluid is low and the warning on for that reason there is no explanartion why it goes out when the handbrake switches the earth too At this point the only explanation i can find is that something might have happened within the IP's electronic circuit as to misinterpret the inputs. Unplug the brake fluid cap's connector and see what happens. Anybody who understands a diagram can see how odd this is.


the

sierrafery said:

That's a really strange one, everything else is working OK? cos both the brake fluid and handbrake switches are N/O and closing to earth to bring on the warning so with both unplugged the light should be off and if let's say the brake fluid is low and the warning on for that reason there is no explanartion why it goes out when the handbrake switches the earth too At this point the only explanation i can find is that something might have happened within the IP's electronic circuit as to misinterpret the inputs. Unplug the brake fluid cap's connector and see what happens. Anybody who understands a diagram can see how odd this is.


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Totally agree, and you know how cr@p I can be at electronics.
Easy enough to test the switch with a meter but don't think that's the problem.
Looking forward to hearing what is causing it!

The problem is that the warning was on while the handbrake switch was not connected and the oddity is that it goes out when the handbrake is operated, that switch is closed to earth or open circuit it can't act as to extinguish te warning lamp if it's on for other reason watsoever as the warning lamp goes out only if it gets voltage on that earth path and the only way to get voltage is from the SLABS ECU or IP's internal warning lamp self test circuit

Well well, who feels a right Charlie. After NanoComming etc etc the light was still operating the opposite way which it should. I decided to see if I had plugged in the wire the wrong way. So off with the center console etc and after quite some time playing with the switch and connector I found the answer.
When the connector was unplugged the 'male' spade connector came with it...!!! So I had a male spade connector to plug into the switch and of course this did not look like any pictures of the switch that I found on the internet. That was problem number 1. Problem number 2 is my eyes...!!! I plugged the spade connector into the wrong hole/slot. So when I realised the spade connector should be part of the switch I then managed to see the small slot into which it fitted. Good grief.....now everything works as it should. Thanks again to evryone for their help, much appreciated and for me once again 'you never know what's around the corner'...!!!

I'm glad you sorted it but problem nr 1 in this case is that you described something wrong in your first post cos you said you didnt plug back the switch and the light was on that way which is impossible as long as the brake fluid was not low or other problem present.

jalmassi said:

Well well, who feels a right Charlie. After NanoComming etc etc the light was still operating the opposite way which it should. I decided to see if I had plugged in the wire the wrong way. So off with the center console etc and after quite some time playing with the switch and connector I found the answer.
When the connector was unplugged the 'male' spade connector came with it...!!! So I had a male spade connector to plug into the switch and of course this did not look like any pictures of the switch that I found on the internet. That was problem number 1. Problem number 2 is my eyes...!!! I plugged the spade connector into the wrong hole/slot. So when I realised the spade connector should be part of the switch I then managed to see the small slot into which it fitted. Good grief.....now everything works as it should. Thanks again to evryone for their help, much appreciated and for me once again 'you never know what's around the corner'...!!!

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So glad you fixed it and I am now sitting here with a nice smug feeling, (Well actually smug is not the right word) but it is nice to see that this was what I mentioned or very similar in post #2!
Nothing like an old skool solution to a problem!
Not all problems on a Disco 2 are electronic, although it has to be said a lot seem to be!

Stanleysteamer said:

Nothing like an old skool solution to a problem!

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Yes, if the problem is so simple as it was in reality, try next time when you work in that area to let the handbrake unplugged and see if the warning stays on or not... and if it does with the connector unplugged tell me the old school fix for that

sierrafery said:

Yes, if the problem is so simple as it was in reality, try next time when you work in that area to let the handbrake unplugged and see if the warning stays on or not... and if it does with the connector unplugged tell me the old school fix for that

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Sierra mate, no criticism of you! Your advice, as always, was absolutely correct based on what we were told.
As i made clear in my posts, i had no idea of the wiring or the shape of the plug, or even whether there were two wires or one. The answer just seemed to me to be so simple. And on many cars back to the 1980s my reply stood a fair chance of being correct. I still do not understand what the OP did with the switch to make it work 180 degrees out from what it should have done, but as I said the solution was a mechanical one, wrong connections rather than an electronic one. Which was all I meant really.
We are not in competition with one another! Your electronics knowledge is a million miles ahead of what mine will ever be, so I will never criticise you over it.
But just once in a while, a very rare while, the answer is old skool, like the P clip and the chafing of the wires inside the insulation on top of the gear/tranny box.
I think it is just a question of approach. you tend to look for an electronic solution whereas i explore from the opposite direction. Between us, we get there!
And as for the float switch in the brake fluid, who knows? Maybe we only have half the story and the light might may come back on again!.
Keep on truckin, bro!