Freelander 1 Handbrake warning light

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Dribbler

Dribbler

Member
Posts
92
Location
Kilmaurs near Kilmarnock
IMG_2010.JPG
Got a F1 v6-got a problem with the "handbrake and brake system" light staying on. I've changed the microswitch under the handbrake but makes no difference. I've topped up the brake reservoir again no change. I've disconnected the wires to the reservoir and shorted them across but makes no difference. Any one got any ideas what to check next or what the problem could be?
 
I had a similar problem where there was too much fluid in the reservoir and it pushed the float down when driving thus turned the warning light on
 
Does it turn off if you lift up the float yourself? Failing that you could try removing the connector and bridging it with a paper clip that might tell you if the float switch working or not and then take it from there
 
I've tried bridging the electrics at the reservoir but that didn't work.
There's a gauze strainer in the top of the reservoir and it does not seem to want to come out so I cant get to the float.☹️☹️
 
Have you had a look in the Rave manual

From Rave....

The handbrake/low brake fluid warning lamp receives a constant battery feed from fuse 14 of the passenger compartment fuse box (C0589) on a P wire. Illumination of the lamp is controlled by the handbrake switch (C0091) on a BW wire. When the handbrake is applied, the switch contacts close and an earth path is created, illuminating the lamp. Illumination of the lamp is also controlled by the ABS ECU (C0500 on 01MY vehicles, C0501 on 02MY vehicles) via the CAN BUS on YN (Low) and YB (High) wires. If the warning lamp is illuminated while the handbrake is released, urgent attention is required to the braking system.

The ABS ECU (C0501) provides a feed to the brake fluid level switch (C0026) on a BW wire. The switch is closed when the correct amount of brake fluid is present in the brake fluid reservoir. The switch (C0026) is earthed on a B wire. If the brake fluid level drops below the recommended level, the switch contacts open. When the ABS ECU registers the switch opening, it informs the instrument pack to illuminate the brake fluid warning lamp via the CAN-BUS.

So the Handbrake is a traditional wired circuit with the hand brake switch closing an earth for the lamp. However, the Brake Fluid Low is computer controlled via message from the ABS ECU to the Instrument Pack (ECU) which presumably provides an alternate earth path when it gets the message.

Going by this, disconnecting the hand brake switch would therefore disable the lamp and it "should" never illuminate due to the hand brake. Similarly, shorting the brake fluid switch with a wire between the loom contacts should disable the lamp for the fluid and it never illuminate.

As the handbrake illumination is 'traditional', I don't think it will throw any diagnostic codes unless the instrument pack monitors the earth. I can't find the table of Amigo lamps (I hate the way Rave is organised!) - there is a table showing the brake failure lamp, and there may be reasons not described here. They though would throw codes though because they are reasons thrown by the ABS ECU.

Unless there are other reasons thrown by the ABS ECU, as you have checked the hand brake and brake fluid switches, this is looking like a wiring fault in the loom or possibly the instrument pack which is a reasonably common fault.
 
GrumpyGel said:
Have you had a look in the Rave manual

From Rave....

The handbrake/low brake fluid warning lamp receives a constant battery feed from fuse 14 of the passenger compartment fuse box (C0589) on a P wire. Illumination of the lamp is controlled by the handbrake switch (C0091) on a BW wire. When the handbrake is applied, the switch contacts close and an earth path is created, illuminating the lamp. Illumination of the lamp is also controlled by the ABS ECU (C0500 on 01MY vehicles, C0501 on 02MY vehicles) via the CAN BUS on YN (Low) and YB (High) wires. If the warning lamp is illuminated while the handbrake is released, urgent attention is required to the braking system.

The ABS ECU (C0501) provides a feed to the brake fluid level switch (C0026) on a BW wire. The switch is closed when the correct amount of brake fluid is present in the brake fluid reservoir. The switch (C0026) is earthed on a B wire. If the brake fluid level drops below the recommended level, the switch contacts open. When the ABS ECU registers the switch opening, it informs the instrument pack to illuminate the brake fluid warning lamp via the CAN-BUS.

So the Handbrake is a traditional wired circuit with the hand brake switch closing an earth for the lamp. However, the Brake Fluid Low is computer controlled via message from the ABS ECU to the Instrument Pack (ECU) which presumably provides an alternate earth path when it gets the message.

Going by this, disconnecting the hand brake switch would therefore disable the lamp and it "should" never illuminate due to the hand brake. Similarly, shorting the brake fluid switch with a wire between the loom contacts should disable the lamp for the fluid and it never illuminate.

As the handbrake illumination is 'traditional', I don't think it will throw any diagnostic codes unless the instrument pack monitors the earth. I can't find the table of Amigo lamps (I hate the way Rave is organised!) - there is a table showing the brake failure lamp, and there may be reasons not described here. They though would throw codes though because they are reasons thrown by the ABS ECU.

Unless there are other reasons thrown by the ABS ECU, as you have checked the hand brake and brake fluid switches, this is looking like a wiring fault in the loom or possibly the instrument pack which is a reasonably common fault.
Click to expand...
Your patients will always out strip my short temper grumpy lol
 
GrumpyGel said:
Have you had a look in the Rave manual

From Rave....

The handbrake/low brake fluid warning lamp receives a constant battery feed from fuse 14 of the passenger compartment fuse box (C0589) on a P wire. Illumination of the lamp is controlled by the handbrake switch (C0091) on a BW wire. When the handbrake is applied, the switch contacts close and an earth path is created, illuminating the lamp. Illumination of the lamp is also controlled by the ABS ECU (C0500 on 01MY vehicles, C0501 on 02MY vehicles) via the CAN BUS on YN (Low) and YB (High) wires. If the warning lamp is illuminated while the handbrake is released, urgent attention is required to the braking system.

The ABS ECU (C0501) provides a feed to the brake fluid level switch (C0026) on a BW wire. The switch is closed when the correct amount of brake fluid is present in the brake fluid reservoir. The switch (C0026) is earthed on a B wire. If the brake fluid level drops below the recommended level, the switch contacts open. When the ABS ECU registers the switch opening, it informs the instrument pack to illuminate the brake fluid warning lamp via the CAN-BUS.

So the Handbrake is a traditional wired circuit with the hand brake switch closing an earth for the lamp. However, the Brake Fluid Low is computer controlled via message from the ABS ECU to the Instrument Pack (ECU) which presumably provides an alternate earth path when it gets the message.

Going by this, disconnecting the hand brake switch would therefore disable the lamp and it "should" never illuminate due to the hand brake. Similarly, shorting the brake fluid switch with a wire between the loom contacts should disable the lamp for the fluid and it never illuminate.

As the handbrake illumination is 'traditional', I don't think it will throw any diagnostic codes unless the instrument pack monitors the earth. I can't find the table of Amigo lamps (I hate the way Rave is organised!) - there is a table showing the brake failure lamp, and there may be reasons not described here. They though would throw codes though because they are reasons thrown by the ABS ECU.

Unless there are other reasons thrown by the ABS ECU, as you have checked the hand brake and brake fluid switches, this is looking like a wiring fault in the loom or possibly the instrument pack which is a reasonably common fault.
Click to expand...
Corrosion or loose connector, broken or shorted wire then?
 
GrumpyGel said:
Have you had a look in the Rave manual

From Rave....

The handbrake/low brake fluid warning lamp receives a constant battery feed from fuse 14 of the passenger compartment fuse box (C0589) on a P wire. Illumination of the lamp is controlled by the handbrake switch (C0091) on a BW wire. When the handbrake is applied, the switch contacts close and an earth path is created, illuminating the lamp. Illumination of the lamp is also controlled by the ABS ECU (C0500 on 01MY vehicles, C0501 on 02MY vehicles) via the CAN BUS on YN (Low) and YB (High) wires. If the warning lamp is illuminated while the handbrake is released, urgent attention is required to the braking system.

The ABS ECU (C0501) provides a feed to the brake fluid level switch (C0026) on a BW wire. The switch is closed when the correct amount of brake fluid is present in the brake fluid reservoir. The switch (C0026) is earthed on a B wire. If the brake fluid level drops below the recommended level, the switch contacts open. When the ABS ECU registers the switch opening, it informs the instrument pack to illuminate the brake fluid warning lamp via the CAN-BUS.

So the Handbrake is a traditional wired circuit with the hand brake switch closing an earth for the lamp. However, the Brake Fluid Low is computer controlled via message from the ABS ECU to the Instrument Pack (ECU) which presumably provides an alternate earth path when it gets the message.

Going by this, disconnecting the hand brake switch would therefore disable the lamp and it "should" never illuminate due to the hand brake. Similarly, shorting the brake fluid switch with a wire between the loom contacts should disable the lamp for the fluid and it never illuminate.

As the handbrake illumination is 'traditional', I don't think it will throw any diagnostic codes unless the instrument pack monitors the earth. I can't find the table of Amigo lamps (I hate the way Rave is organised!) - there is a table showing the brake failure lamp, and there may be reasons not described here. They though would throw codes though because they are reasons thrown by the ABS ECU.

Unless there are other reasons thrown by the ABS ECU, as you have checked the hand brake and brake fluid switches, this is looking like a wiring fault in the loom or possibly the instrument pack which is a reasonably common fault.
Click to expand...
Not looked at Rave-where do I find it?
And all the above is quite a bit to take in-my brain seems overwhelmed by it.
I've nothing diagnostic to check it with so is the answer to take it to my local garage and let them put their diagnostics tester and try and tell me where the problem is?
 
Info on downloading the Rave Workshop Manual...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rave-disk-maintenance-manual.260227/

I take mine along to the local LR indie who have a T4 system and they give me a print out of the codes. In this instance there may or may not be codes, so hopefully they won't charge you if there are no codes!

The codes will only tell you what has thrown them - for example Brake Fluid low - you then have to work out if it is the fluid level switch or the wiring to the switch. If there are no codes, then there is no issue with the brake fluid sensing and it will be related to the hand brake switch - but may be the wiring to the switch or the instrument pack itself. It may also come back with codes for something else that impacts the braking system.
 
On the TD4 I have to bang my handbrake down phisically with my hand to get the light to go off, it's a common sensor problem; I've stopped using my handbrake :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Bleeding brakes
Replies
8
Views
815
J_D
J_D
F
£300 Freelander project! ... my first ever Land Rover
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
pwood999
pwood999
Sulcalibur
Oil in coolant reservoir
Replies
4
Views
346
Nodge68
Nodge68
dag019
Handbrake warning light wiring
Replies
10
Views
2K
mystery
mystery
Neptune1922
Disco 2 No Brakes of almost no brakes.
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Neptune1922
Neptune1922
Back
Top