Handbrake Warning Light

**StuRR80** · 22nd March 2009, 07:35 PM

Hi,

Trying to get this sorted too.

The Handbrake warning lamp has never worked so located it and have tested it. The switch woirks when I plug a power lead to one end of it. Thebalck & pink wire runs from the switch to the dash, which is fine but as I read the diagram, one end of the switch is earthed? and the blank & punk wore runs to the lamp. Wehere does the power come into it?

Cheers

Stu

**Red October** · 22nd March 2009, 10:54 PM

The power comes from the instrument cluster, through the bulb (the load) then to earth via the switch.

Cheers.

Pete.

**StuRR80** · 24th March 2009, 04:03 PM

Hi Pete,

I only seem to have two wires to the lamp. 1 x Black & pink which seems to run to the switch at the handbrake and 1 x black one, which I assume is earth? Then the other tab on the switch was earthed too, so that's where I"m getting consufed as to where the power comes into it. However when I put power to the tab on the switch which had been earthed, the light works.

**Jojo** · 24th March 2009, 09:27 PM

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but is this the same for the CDL-switch (i.e. power comes via the instrument panel)? Mine is not working and I cannot locate the fault (switch is working, though).

**Pierre** · 25th March 2009, 12:03 PM

When the handbrake is applied, the switch closes the pink/black to earth. SO, check there is 12V on the pink/black, check how the switch operates (it should close when the handbrake is applied and to confirm, check continuity across the switch with your multimeter), check that the body of the switch earths, and put the pink/black on the tag of the switch.

Bah...dah!

Pete

**Pierre** · 25th March 2009, 12:08 PM

Jojo, switch works, but CDL doesn't? No light shows, but CDL works? What car? Info will help.

Cheers

Pete

**StuRR80** · 25th March 2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Pierre

When the handbrake is applied, the switch closes the pink/black to earth. SO, check there is 12V on the pink/black, check how the switch operates (it should close when the handbrake is applied and to confirm, check continuity across the switch with your multimeter), check that the body of the switch earths, and put the pink/black on the tag of the switch.

Bah...dah!

Pete

Thanks Pete but where does the pink/black wire get the 12v from? As far as I can tell, it runs from the lamp through the loom to the switch. Perhaps there's a connector which has gone missing which had the 12v connected to it?

**Jock The Rock** · 25th March 2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jojo

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but is this the same for the CDL-switch (i.e. power comes via the instrument panel)? Mine is not working and I cannot locate the fault (switch is working, though).

I take it you have a Defender from your photo.

I had problems with some of the lights on my dash too. In the end I pulled the two screws out that hold the light panel in and checked the globes. A couple of mine were blown so might be worth checking that?

**Jojo** · 25th March 2009, 06:52 PM

Thanks for the replies, mates!
Sorry for not providing more info, the vehicle is a Disco (the Defender has its own probs

), the CDL works, but the light doesn't come on. Changed the bulb already, but will be happy to try with another one if your expertise highlights this item as the likely offender.
Thanks!

**Pierre** · 25th March 2009, 07:20 PM

The Pommie manual is inconclusive if the car is 1980. So I'll guess(!) that the feed for the lamp in the binnacle is probably from the multifunction unit in the back of the dash pod. I'd be satisfied if you picked up a 12V fused ignition feed, the same one that runs the gauges and the other warning lights.

Have you got a manual of any sort to check up against? Even a Haynes manual will give you some clues. And a pointy probe on the multimeter set on dc V.

I'm hesitant to go further because pictures of the interior on another thread look like a 2 door dash, but the colours you have given don't gel on the 1976> wiring info.

Take a punt, champ.

Cheers & HTH

Pete

Thread: Handbrake Warning Light

Thread Tools

Handbrake Warning Light

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions