Low Brake Fluid warning when handbrake engaged.

[djheath]

Hello,

1999 1.8 406. V reg XU7JP4 engine.
I was sent to this site from the French Car Forums and have had my 406 for only a few months now. I am hoping you can solve a niggling little problem.

Whenever I pull on the handbrake I receive a "Low Brake Fluid" warning showing on the display on my 406. I don't have low fluid though - the brake fluid is full to the brim.

I have cleaned the master cylinder contacts on the switch but it still occurs every so often. Would the warning occur for any other reason, say fluid is old, other braking problems etc? I noticed the front brake pads are nearly down to the sensors and dont think the fluid or pads have been changed in two years. I will be doing this all shortly.

Is there anyway to fix it? The switch looks integral to the master cylinder reservoir so I don't think its an easy fix, and I am a little thrown as to why this happens only when the handbrake is pulled up. Disengaging the handbrake clears the error. It doesn't happen all the time either!

Thanks for the help.

[mbell666]

I believe you'll find there a switch on the handbrake leaver, thats whats causing the problem. common problem on the 406, i am sure someone will come a point you at a thread with all the info in it.

[TooT]

Common problem. Its the switch under the hand brake lever. Just lift up and down the lever a few times normally sorts it

[djheath]

Is that it?! Cool! I will get yanking!!

Thanks for the help.

[Welly]

Yes - just give it a really good work out

[teamster1975]

Yes - just give it a really good work out

Trust you Welly
Now where's that thread on man's favourite pasttime

[eoin27]

Before you start yanking the handbrake like theres no tomorrow be warned. I did this and although it cleared the error, i f**ked up my rear shoe and it came off in the drum. Maybe it isnt a problem if you got rear disk brakes

[djheath]

I've got drums on the rear.

The fault occurred last night as I parked up, so I got yanking. It didn't clear the fault so that night I practiced my technique at home (pffft kidding), and tried again this morning. Everytime I pull up the handbrake it still shows the fault and beeps at me.

I think I may have to take it apart and clean/replace the switch. Is it under the cup holder bit, to the rear of the hand brake? I assume it is, cos I took off the gear stick cover and ash tray and could only see wire and dust under there.

Thanks again all for your valuable help.

[steve_earwig]

At the risk of James or someone coming along and making me feel like I know damn all about cars, doesn't the handbrake switch/low brake fluid warning, work the handbrake like a looney apply to D8s? As he's getting a beep his car must be a D9, the handbrake and brake fluid circuits are seperate, bringing different warnings up on the display and only bring the same light up on the dashboard. (I tried on my D9, I pulled the handbrake on a bit while the car was moving and got the brake light in the dash, a beep and a "your handbrake's on you fool" warning in the display).

Unless it's because it's an early D9

Could this thread be of interest?

[djheath]

You will have to enlighten me as to the meanings of D8 and D9's - what does that mean?

I have a 1.8 16v petrol XU7JP4 engine - sagem module. Its a Mk II 406 1999 model - one of the first of the mark II I suspect.

If I pull the handbrake on and the "low fluid warning" doesn't show on the console, I still get a beep every 10 seconds or so and the normal dash light lights up, as expected to say the handbrake is on. But when it does show the low fluid warning, I get a beep everytime the warning comes on, as well as the "handbrake on" Beep so:
Pull up handbrake
Beep - low fluid warning shows.
Handbrake down
Warning disappears from console.
Pull up handbrake
Beep - low fluid warning shows.
Repeat.

I feel this thread is getting long and hope I am not wasting peoples time for such a trivial problem! But it would be nice to fix it, so thanks everyone for their ideas and comments.

[djheath]

Could this thread be of interest?

Geee that is interesting! I'm off out now to have a look, but I haven't had any of those other light symptons thank goodness.

[teamster1975]

You will have to enlighten me as to the meanings of D8 and D9's - what does that mean?

It's a French thing!
D8 is Mk1, D9 is Mk2
Why they have to name them that way is anyone's guess

[djheath]

I am sorry to bring this up again, but I still haven't sorted this problem. Its now got worse, as before it would happen every so often, now it happens every time I pull the handbrake on.

I have tried to get access to the area under the carpet in the footwell to see if any water is down there, as in the thread link posted above, but cant get in there. I removed the torx screws on the side trim, but can remove it. Is there a nack to it?

Secondly, how do you get access to the hand brake wireing? I want to check that, but cant see the screws holding the centre console in place?

I am being a bit lame aren't I in finding these things!

Any other ideas how I can sort the problem?

Thanks.

[DaiRees]

Hmmm, centre console out. Move the front seats right forward and open the back door, there's a screw either side of the centre console right at the back. Then you wanna get in the front and take the ashtray out (open the flap then push it right back and the ashtray will pop up). Then you pull out the surround around the ashtray and the gear gaiter, this will expose another couple of screws. Then you can lift the console out but remember to release the wires for the fag lighter and the switches next to the handbrake.

HTH

[mjb]

doesn't the handbrake switch/low brake fluid warning, work the handbrake like a looney apply to D8s?

I don't think there is a low brake fluid warning light on D8s...