Thread: brake warning light - 300Tdi

Just add some more fluid, when you put your foot on the brake the fluid level drops (fluid pumped through to the brakes) and returns when you let the brakes off. Your fluid level must be just at the low warning level.


Martyn

You also could check your brake pads as on my disco the light would come on when i went round the corner to my drive found out that the brake pads were low replaced them and every thing was fine.

I've always found that float really sensitive to fluid height.

I topped it up right to the Max mark and noticed filling it under lights that there is sign of some moisture on the big round metal master cylinder looking thing behind the reservoir.

Also losing a small amount of coolant too, Don't know where from. It was a bit disconcerting to have the brake failure light and the coolant alarm go off coming to an intersection.

It's been awhile since anything's gone wrong so having the warning lights and alarms go off is reassuring. I was beginning to wonder if I had some kind of unlemon. I like to have something on the car to spend money on before a long camping trip, stops me worrying.

Hi James,

Agree with the others about the fluid level float being sensitive and lighting the warning light at a still fairly high level. The 'moisture' on the master cylinder (silver) or vacuum booster (black) may be a bit of leaking brake fluid that's attracted moisture from the air.

Wash it off, dry it well and see if it comes back in a short space of time. If it's brake fluid, the paint on the booster will start to peel off soon! If it appears again you might need a new/recon master cylinder.

Re. your coolant leak: have a look a the block behind the water pump and alternator. There's a gasket between the water pump housing and the block (the 'P' gasket) that commonly fails after many years service. If it's leaking, there may be signs of dried coolant down the block. Also look at the front of the pump for leaks from the pulley shaft seal. Oh yes, if you still have the original black plastic coolant reservoir, look for splits at the seam.

Ian

Thanks Ian

I'll do as you suggest. It was the vacuum booster that has the moisture on it. As for the slow drop in the coolant level, it could have been I cross threaded the expansion cap tank (which has been upgraded to the white version)

Anyway, thanks again.

J

Originally Posted by JamesH

Hi All

Ive got a brake warning light. It was flickering going round corners but the fluid level seems fine (up to the seam). Just drove it and this time it came on in a slow stop, it went on and off with the brakes.

Hi James

How did you get on with your brake light warning issue? I'm now experiencing the same on my 200tdi defender and am interested in how you resolved your problem. I'll take my wheels off today and check the pads, the brake fluid is fine, the wires at the top on the reservoir seem fine, so I'd be very interested to know what you did to your 300.

Regards

Martin

Hi

I followed the advice above and topped up the brake fluid reservoir (it wasn't significantly low, I topped to max) and the problem disappeared. I had it checked and I think they did something but it was minor. There were no problems found near the wheels.

When my light started flickering on on corners it stood to reason the level was down, having said that there could be a leak anywhere.

Good luck with it. Get it checked soon, though.