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MG MGF Technical - Handbrake Light

Ok a classic fault, mentioned hundreds of times in the archives.

Handbrake light coming on at the slightest touch.
So just need to loosen handbrake cable slightly then?

Anyone got a quick and simple guide to fixing this?

Looked up in Manual:

Handbrake warning switch: see removing handbrake lever.
Handbrake lever: see removing front console.
Front console: see restraints system.

Is this not something that could be done, just by removing the cubby box, or something similar?

Looking for quickest way in and out.

Will take a closer look later at what needs to be done.

(Not that i haven't been putting this job off for the best part of a year.)



paul weatherill

Paul

Workshop Manual: Brakes : Adjustment : Page 8 :
1. Raise rear of vehicle.
2. Remove front console storage bin.
3. Tighten adjuster nut 1 /2 turn and check caliper lever clearance.

Which manual have you got? It sounds more like the manual for a humvee than an F :-)
JohnP

LOL, cheers John.

Got the same manual, was just looking under repairs instead of adjustments.

thanks

paul weatherill

Before you do anything else. Refill the brakeoilbox too a higher level. This use too solve the problem.

/Magnus
magnus

heh, even simpler than that.

checked handbrake cables etc. handbrake is functioning ok.

solution:

1. remove handbrake gaiter. [grab rear of gaiter and pull]
2. locate plunger switch that controls light [light goes out when depressed]
3. use electrical tape on lever to ensure plunger is depressed when handbrake not enaged.
4. test operation


there ya go 5 minute job. sorted.

paul weatherill

nope that doesn't work, tape wont stay in place.


hmm back to square one.
paul weatherill

I glued on a small piece of rubber to the top of the switch just to extend the length of the pin by a few millimetres. Only took a few minutes and cured the problem staightaway.
M Rees

The problem i have got, is the spring in the switch seems to be strong enough to push the handbrake lever up.

Wonder if there's a way of stiffening things up, so when the handbrake is down it stays down.

paul weatherill

Paul, you seem to have the 'Grand Old Duke of York' version of the handbrake :-)
JohnP

>> The problem i have got, is the spring in the switch seems to be strong enough to push the handbrake lever up. <<

Same here, must have been a batch of them 'Yorkie' handbrakes. :-)

SF
Scarlet Fever

Me too - but it stoips my wife driving the car too much as she gets worried at the brake warning coming on all the time!
;-)
Jason H
Jason H

Bit early in the week for me to function correctly but ... silly question: is it the handbrake cable or is it just about out of pads and/or fluid? Do they use the same warning light? Had an Orion once and convinced myself that the flickering brake light was a loose cable until the brakes started making that 'metal pad on metal disk' noise.
JohnP

No 'pad wear' indictators on the *F* but it does have low fluid indicator.

Ted
Ted Newman

I guess that the low fluid indicator would also operate as pads became worn - pistons further out, fluid drops is resevoir, light comes on.

Danger if fluid added to turn light off without checking pads at the same time?

John
JohnP

Nope, you really notice if the pad become low, due to Rovers 'eeek is that noise comming from my car' system, which happens quite a way before you end up with no pad.

Will
Will Munns

The Garage have the car at the moment.
I was losing coolant after they replaced the radiator.
They've pressure tested it, no fault found.

Anyway, asked them to have a look at a few other things. (including the handbrake light)

They have come back and said that the rear calipers are seizing, and this is what is causing the brake light problems.
Oh well, will get MGF Centre to have a look next week.

Speedo fault, they say there isn't a fault.

Ho hum.


paul weatherill

£144.27 + VAT for a speedo cable.

That isn't even funny.
paul weatherill

Paul where did you get those prices from?? My mate got me two speedo sections and they were only £21:00 each and that was INCLUSIVE of VAT. I saw the invoices !!!........I only needed one so my repair cost me £21:00 in parts and a half dozen cans of beer as a thank you.
D Jamieson

I had the same problem with the handbrake & light coming on.
I developed a driving style that involved swatting the handbrake down after each speed bump.... drove me mad.
It got worse... and stayed on nearly all the time.

I got it checked after it started rolling down a hill with the hand brake on !

Seized caliper, had it replaced and no trouble since.
No light and doesn't rolldown hills when parked.
Grahame

Thanks for info Graeme.

The peeps at MGF Centre are looking at my brakes at the end of next week, will ask them to have a look.

Dave, speak to you on Friday about speedo cables ;-)

paul weatherill

This thread was discussed between 06/04/2003 and 08/04/2003

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