Apologies for another dumb question!

Just about got my car ready for MOT and now the handbrake warning light won't go out. Electrics are far from my strong point.

Obviously I have the level sensor on the m/c too. Even with my extremely limited knowledge surely one of the 3 wires(earth on mc, other wire on mc and one on handbrake) must have power but with the handbrake up or down there is nothing? I have continuity between chassis and handbrake up and down.

I have an etb digidash and it was working beforehand. The wiring diagram for the dash says to connect the handbrake to the brown wire which was working last summer.. My head is a bit fried I must say.

I don't mind at all doing away with the wiring for the mc sensor so do I just bypass the lot and run a wire from the digidash to the handbrake switch?

Help!

Does the switch and light work on the M/C?

If you take the cap of the M/C and so the float switch drops does the light come on?

quote:

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Originally posted by tims31
Does the switch and light work on the M/C?

If you take the cap of the M/C and so the float switch drops does the light come on?

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You won't see power at any of those wires,as they switch the negative side of the lamp on.

So your warning light has an ignition live going to one side,then the wire from switches going to the other.

When either one of the switches is operated this makes the negative side and switches on the light.

So to test the switch you need to put your positive probe on your multi meter to a live(battery or ign),then the negative onto the wire from the switch,operate the switch and your multi meter should then show you a reading

Easy to fault find. Disconnect the cables from both switches. Handbrake and m/c. This will put light out, if not there's a wiring fault.

Connect the handbrake switch, does light come on? If it does and handbrake is down the switch is faulty.

Now try the same with the m/c. This will tell you which one is faulty. It's most likely to be the handbrake as those switches are pretty fragile

switched negative as positive is always connected to the light but the switches earth it

[Edited on 9/5/16 by Ben_Copeland]

Massive thanks for the help. Having just unplugged everything, the light stays on. I did test the mc switch too, upside down(full) broken circuit, right way up(empty) closed circuit.

Looks like the dash is coming out tomorrow then.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Glad you made progress

Just an update. Sorted this today. Turns out wire doesn't work as a washer

I squished it when I put the steering column back in. Oops!

All sorted now though. Cut out my cock up, join the wire back together with sellotape(I didn't really, don't worry) and jobs a good 'un. MOT next week now with any luck.

Lol!

Nice easy fix atleast

quote:

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Originally posted by CosKev3
Lol!

Nice easy fix atleast

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Yeah we all make cock ups I'm sure!!

Just a lot of people fail to own up to them.........