handbrake light stuck on.. solved!

doogle · Postby **doogle** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:19 am

hey everybody. i noticed my handbrake light comes on when i drive quick around corners. it would stay on for a few seconds. it got worse, staying on longer and longer til the point where its been on for the last 2 days. came off tonight when i was driving home, before i eased the car literally around the next corner and its back on :evil:

fastfreddygassit told me it might be some wires leaning on eachother round the corner, but im not sure where to start looking for this and which wires to look for. (i have an NA)

has anybody else come across this?
cheers

SuperMazdaKart · Postby **SuperMazdaKart** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:36 am

take out the centre console & have a look at the wiring for anything sus?

323s have the same sympton when the brake fluid in the reservoir got low enough that when cornering the sensor in there wouldn't be submerged & then lit up the brake icon in the dash. easily fixed by slightly overfilling the reservoir. might be the same thing on the MX-5, it's been a while since i've had a 5.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:11 am

What SMK said. Check the brake fluid level in the resevoir, if thats OK then start looking for dodgy wiring.

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:57 pm

Garry wrote:What SMK said. Check the brake fluid level in the resevoir, if thats OK then start looking for dodgy wiring.

And if it's low, start looking for a leak.

Gazbo · Postby **Gazbo** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:42 pm

It's certainly caused by low brake fluid level in the reservoir.

The brake warning light serves two purposes, an indication that the hand-brake is set on, and a warning that there is a fault in the brake system.

doogle · Postby **doogle** » Fri May 01, 2009 1:44 am

thanks for the replies. from memory i think my fluid was reaching the low level, i will have a look and if so top it up on the weekend!

Postby **Okibi** » Fri May 01, 2009 5:33 pm

doogle wrote:thanks for the replies. from memory i think my fluid was reaching the low level, i will have a look and if so top it up on the weekend!

If you notice your brake fluid is anything other than at the full mark always top it up.

If you've lost ANY fluid chances are there's a leak, top it up and keep a VERY close eye on it. If there's a leak you don't want to be driving around and run out of fluid. :shock:

mr_rotary · Postby **mr_rotary** » Fri May 01, 2009 7:45 pm

Also check your rear calipers for leaks :wink:

doogle · Postby **doogle** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:49 pm

solved. it was the low level of brake fluid in the reservoir.
thanks to wun for helping me bleed the brakes and finding the leaky calliper too

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:05 pm

https://www.mx5centre.com.au/index.php? ... cts_id=145

There is a rear caliper seal kit it seems kinda cheap. I have never fixed up a caliper before but if you trust me with your life I'm happy to have a go

anyone know where I can get a rear seal kit and a new hex adjuster for NB8B???

mr_rotary · Postby **mr_rotary** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:18 pm

They don't sell then here seperately at Mazda last time I checked a few years ago.
Also be weary of your piston and that it's not too badly pitted that you need a new one!

MX-5 parts in the UK have these.
Rear Caliper Seal Kit:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/306

Hex Adjustor:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/309

I also found these on E-Bay for a good price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MX5-EUNOS-MIATA-REAR-BRAKE-CALIPERS-PAIR-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ120378575460QQihZ002QQcategoryZ52640QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122

Speedyblue · Postby **Speedyblue** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:15 pm

If your brake system doesn't have a leak, you shouldn't top up the fluid. As your brake pads wear, the pistons will come further out of the calipers and the fluid level will drop a little. When you put new pads in, you push the pistons back in and if you have just re-filled the system up, there will be more fluid than capacity

There is a reason why I know this

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:57 pm

Doogle I mentioned to you on Sunday I got my brake kit from the UK, this is the link

http://www.biggred.co.uk/

They are very easy to replace the seals in, compressed air helps to get the piston out. If your piston or bore is scored it may be cheaper to get a second hand caliper to repair.