Is it an SVA requirement to label your warning lights? My dash may have as many as 7 lights on it, will they just trust me to remember what they all mean?

Pete

You will definitely have to have the brake warning symbol on one. I dont think the rest matter but stand to be corrected

Gordon

i think all the warning lights you legal have to have will need labelling - ie the headlight warnings, fog, brake etc. The alternator isnt a requirement.

labelling must be visable after dark.

The only light specifically mentioned in the SVA manual is the brake fluid warning light, and that has to be marked correctly with the brake symbol). Oh yes... it also mentions the rear fog warning light, but only says that it has to be easily visible from the driving position (nothing about labelling).

Any other lights are your own problem!

David

The brake warning symbol, is that the "!" exclamation symbol that usually appears on the handbrake warning light or something different?
If it is the same, is it necessary to have the handbrake light?

Whats the deal with the low brake fluid light test switch? Can you use the press switch on top of the fluid reservoir cap or do you have to have an illuminated switch on ther dash?
Appreciate any help on theses points guys.

Cheers,

Dave.

The only required brake-related light is the brake warning one, which has the symbol you describe (it actually represents brake shoes in a drum, with an exclamation mark in the middle!). The manual says that you must have some means of testing this, reachable by the driver.

Most people (and most real car makers) use a switch on the handbrake lever that operates when the lever is pulled up. This indicates when the handbrake is on, and tests the light as a useful by-product. There is no requirement to have a handbrake warning light, but it is a very useful (and easy) way of meeting the light-testing rule.

If you don't want to faff around with a handbrake switch you can use a simple push button on the dash - I don't think it has to be illuminated, but it may have to be labelled as the test switch (not sure about that one - would have to look it up).

The button on top of the brake fluid reservoir is just a convenient way of testing the wiring from the sensor - it's not a requirement, and wouldn't meet the 'reachable' part of the rules.

David

[Edited on 21/6/04 by David Jenkins]

Sorry David,I'm still a little confused here.

You said in an earlier post :

"The only light specifically mentioned in the SVA manual is the brake fluid warning light, and that has to be marked correctly with the brake symbol). "

This is obviously a different light to the Handbrake warning light, and as such does it have a different symbol?

I already have the handbrake light with the ! symbol wired up to a micro switch attached to the handbrake, so that's ok.

Could you clarify the point for me as I appear to be going through a real thicko period at the moment.

Many thanks

Dave

Umm... I'll try a different description

You must have one light, which is the brake warning light. This tells you if the brake fluid drops below a set level. You must have a method of testing this light, which can be a button on the dash. Alternatively, you can use a switch on the handbrake.

In the second method (the preferred one), pulling on the handbrake lights the light. This tells you that the handbrake is on, and that the warning light is OK.

So, when you're driving along, if the little light comes on then either your handbrake is on or you're running out of brake fluid!

The wiring circuit is simple - one bulb, 2 switches wired in parallel, either of which will light the bulb. One of the switches is on the handbrake, the other is on the brake fluid reservoir.

Clearer now?

David

DOH!!

Thanks David , you've managed to penetrate the great void which apparently used to house what few brain cells I ever had.

Cleared it up nicely thanks

All the best

Dave.

at a guess, unlabelled switches and lights may fall foul of the design and construction rules, as a general poor idea. Maybe worth a temporary label for the lest at least. How hard can it be?

Most lights conform to colour codes. Red ignition, orange oil, blue main beam and green for indicators. I think the hazard switch may need a triangle marking on it, most have.

quote:

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Originally posted by Peteff
Most lights conform to colour codes. Red ignition, orange oil, blue main beam and green for indicators. I think the hazard switch may need a triangle marking on it, most have.

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Try getting into a tvr, there are loads of unmarked switches in there

That's just from observation while trawling through scrapyards and years of driving different cars. I understand you can have an audible warning for indicators instead of lights if you want.

This is a bit worrying to me, I have seperate resevoirs for front and back on my brake system. The master cylinders have now provision for any sort of sensor to measure depth of fluid on them. Im thinking I could get some caps from a scrappy and screw them on in place of the old fasioned ones I currently have, anyone done this ?

James

Jeffers,

I see nothing wrong in your idea, if you can find two caps to match, just consider a couple of points.

1) You need to find caps there the length of the sensor corresponds to the minium mark on your bottles of the light will not show at the correct time.

2) Make sure you wire the caps in parallel so that the light will show if either sensor reads low.

Regards

Simon

quote:

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Make sure you wire the caps in parallel so that the light will show if either sensor reads low

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Mangogrooveworkshop,

To be honist now I think about it, no I'm not sure

Depends on the way the sensor works, if it's a make-on-low switch then it would need to be paralell, if it's a brake-on-low switch then it would need to be serial.

Thinking about it further, brake-on-low makes more sence (and therefore serial) as the light would come on, not just at low fluid, but a break in the wire too.

Ok, I admit it, should have thought about that one a little more. I have a purchased wiring loom so didnt really have to think about that much.

Anyone know of any sensor type things that can be retro fitted to old style girling master cylinders (as fitted to my car already), i.e. drill a hole at the min level mark and screw them in then wire them up to dash warning light ? ? ? sure they must be available but its just finding the company that makes/sells them.

Anyone ? ?

James

Why don't you fit an in-line pressure failure sensor? This is a fully legit alternative to a fluid level sensor.

Not sure how they're wired up, but I know a few people on this forum have fitted them - perhaps someone can help?

David

Sounds like a good idea/alternative, be grateful for more info, will go search now...

James,
do a search on the forum. I remember a topic in which someone mentioned caps with level sensors which are a direct replacement of your caps. I just can't remember from which car they were.......

MK 4 Escort I believe.

About £7 each from Ford.

Ford Part no 6174635 fits wilwood master cylinders. Vehicle wiring products do the connectors to fit (junior timer housings)