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OK, for anyone that has experienced this when their handbrake is NOT on and wonders why: here is what I have unearthed, with thanks to miata.net.

The light serves as an indicator that your handbrake is on (duh..) and that your fluid is getting low. Sounds simple.

Problem is the fluid in the reservoir will also drop as your pads wear and the calipers drop closer to the disc (nitrodann, feel free to jump in with editorial input if I have the explanation wrong...), so it in fact can be caused by one of four things:

1. your handbrake IS on
2. you have a dodgy light / electrical fault in the wiring

more significantly....
3. your brake fluid IS low (possibly leaking)
4. your pads are worn

Happened to me yesterday at Eastern Creek Nth Circuit, cause pad wear (blame - approach to turns 2 and 17) luckily not sufficient for any ill effects

I have this issue currently, I'll check the above mentioned for futher info!~ thanks

One other thing I should have mentioned - the root cause of 3 and 4 is the fluid going below the warning level. If it is in fact due to pad wear, but you top up fluid, when you put in new pads - which raises the calipers - the fluid may overflow.

Take off the handbrake cover and you will find a switch, this becomes too close to the handbrake if the lever needs adjusting or if the handbrake has been pulled a little toward the driver rather than straight up.

Its a very simple switch system, just take the cover off and have a look see. the switch components are completely exposed so you cant go wrong.

Dann

Will check that along with pads thanks Dann.

Doing some more 'research' (having another chat with mr google), seems like the warning light is a little pre-emptive.

Comes on even if your brake fluid is only at the minimum level in the reservoir, and in some cases before this point.

Nonetheless - if your light ever does come on, play it safe, check the cause immediately!

You have taught me something new.
My light is on and I thought it was the switch. Looked at the switch and found it was OK, so I put it down to a bad earth somewhere.
I noticed my brake fluid was low (as the pads are down). I will see how it goes with a top up.
Thanks!

A light not to be ignored! Topping up today myself.

Topped up and fixed! I've always wondered why there are wires running into the fluid reservoir.
Thanks.

Also, just be careful Bruce, if the low level is contributed to by pad wear when you replace pads the fluid may overflow.

it will not be due to worn pads. the difference in the res between new and old pads is about 3-4mm of height. if worn pads cause it, it means the car was already on the low mark or below it before the pads wore out.

no.3 will be 99.99% the cause of the handbrake light staying on. pretty common issue with cars. and well known if you have a little mechanical knowledge behind you.

"if you have a little mechanical knowledge" which in my case is not the case

What are most likely areas to leak from?

mazmad wrote:"if you have a little mechanical knowledge" which in my case is not the case

What are most likely areas to leak from?

The flexible hoses that connect to the caliper are a likely one (they flex, they're in the elements, they degrade)

The caliper itself, again 20 years old, the rubber seals and rings inside may have gone crap.

The master cylinder, as per calipers, old seals that could have gone bad.

I had braided lines fitted recently so hopefully not the lines, will check the others you mentioned.

Thanks!

mazmad wrote:I had braided lines fitted recently so hopefully not the lines, will check the others you mentioned.

Thanks!

Check them anyway, they might not be properly tightened etc and could leak at the connections