Handbrake Warning Light and Alarm

tex · 07-03-2009, 03:30 PM

Driving to work today in torrential rain the car suddenly showed a warning that the handbrake was applied. As I was doing exactly 70mph (honest) at the time and had been for the previous 10 miles I was pretty sure it wasn't! Quick look suggests there is no problem with the handbrake / rear brakes but I will have a closer look tomorrow.

My current view is that the rain has got in to a sensor or something but despite driving home in the dry it's not stopped and the alarm is really getting on my tits.

Anyone else ever had this probelm, or got any suggestions of what may be causing it?

Ta.

doughboy · 07-06-2009, 03:58 AM

Is the lever RIGHT down? Have you pressed the button and pulled it up and down a few times to make sure its not a sticky switch?

It only has to be fractionally up to bring on the warning light, the brakes would have no effect at that stage of course so you wouldn't feel anything.

SoCalTech · 07-06-2009, 09:40 AM

Is the light in yellow or red?

tex · 07-06-2009, 01:27 PM

Yes, I've checked it quite throughly and played around - no obvious probelms.

The warning is red.

Dr Dave · 07-06-2009, 02:56 PM

Not a low brake fluid warning is it?

Otherwise it's got to be a faulty/broken handbrake lever switch.

Under warranty?

tex · 07-07-2009, 02:52 PM

Nope levels OK. Must be the switch as you suggest. It's in the stealers on Friday so we'll see... it is thankfully under warranty.

Thanks

SoCalTech · 07-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Handbrake switch would not cause a red warning. Might be a broken brake pad wear sensor.

xenon · 07-08-2009, 01:40 AM

On the UK models it does - if you apply the handbrake when driving you get a bong and a red (!) on the dash. It does say "PARK" under it though so it's pretty obvious what it is.

The Denver Shop · 07-16-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex

Driving to work today in torrential rain the car suddenly showed a warning that the handbrake was applied. As I was doing exactly 70mph (honest) at the time and had been for the previous 10 miles I was pretty sure it wasn't! Quick look suggests there is no problem with the handbrake / rear brakes but I will have a closer look tomorrow.

My current view is that the rain has got in to a sensor or something but despite driving home in the dry it's not stopped and the alarm is really getting on my tits.

Anyone else ever had this probelm, or got any suggestions of what may be causing it?

Ta.

I'm having the same exact issue at the moment....The warning comes and goes...calling the dealer today and setting up an appointment.

Dr Dave · 07-16-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex

Nope levels OK. Must be the switch as you suggest. It's in the stealers on Friday so we'll see... it is thankfully under warranty.

Thanks

How did you get on Tex?

ShereKhan · 07-17-2009, 01:31 PM

What about your pads? Have you had them changed or are they due soon?

Mine did this after a stint at airport car parks. The front pads had failed so the handbrake lamp and warning kept coming on.

On some Italian cars I've had the handbrake lamp indicating low brake fluid or poor quality fluid.

tex · 07-19-2009, 12:08 PM

I had one of those classic garage moments. Ddn't use the car much in the week prior to taking it in, then on the way in the warning / alarm only went off once. The steeler spent 1.5 hours prodding an poking, to not find anything wrong. No error codes stored and nothing wrong with pads etc. At least I got a free wash!

My conclusion is that it is a switch problem so the car genuinely thinks the handbrake is on but this is obviously not an error. There still is a problem as it comes up with a warning for the first minute or so in the morning.

I've given up worrying as I'm more interested in the SSTT I have just fitted which makes the car quite a bit more interesting to drive!

07-03-2009, 03:30 PM	#1
tex Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Handbrake Warning Light and Alarm Driving to work today in torrential rain the car suddenly showed a warning that the handbrake was applied. As I was doing exactly 70mph (honest) at the time and had been for the previous 10 miles I was pretty sure it wasn't! Quick look suggests there is no problem with the handbrake / rear brakes but I will have a closer look tomorrow. My current view is that the rain has got in to a sensor or something but despite driving home in the dry it's not stopped and the alarm is really getting on my tits. Anyone else ever had this probelm, or got any suggestions of what may be causing it? Ta.
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07-06-2009, 03:58 AM	#2
doughboy Major General 1546 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Is the lever RIGHT down? Have you pressed the button and pulled it up and down a few times to make sure its not a sticky switch? It only has to be fractionally up to bring on the warning light, the brakes would have no effect at that stage of course so you wouldn't feel anything.
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07-06-2009, 09:40 AM	#3
SoCalTech Captain 24 Rep 648 Posts Drives: Not a BMW yet... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, Ca iTrader: (0)	Is the light in yellow or red?
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07-06-2009, 01:27 PM	#4
tex Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Yes, I've checked it quite throughly and played around - no obvious probelms. The warning is red.
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07-06-2009, 02:56 PM	#5
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 112 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	Not a low brake fluid warning is it? Otherwise it's got to be a faulty/broken handbrake lever switch. Under warranty? __________________
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07-07-2009, 02:52 PM	#6
tex Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Nope levels OK. Must be the switch as you suggest. It's in the stealers on Friday so we'll see... it is thankfully under warranty. Thanks
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07-07-2009, 08:52 PM	#7
SoCalTech Captain 24 Rep 648 Posts Drives: Not a BMW yet... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, Ca iTrader: (0)	Handbrake switch would not cause a red warning. Might be a broken brake pad wear sensor.
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07-08-2009, 01:40 AM	#8
xenon Major General 1422 Rep 8,114 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	On the UK models it does - if you apply the handbrake when driving you get a bong and a red (!) on the dash. It does say "PARK" under it though so it's pretty obvious what it is. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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07-17-2009, 01:31 PM	#11
ShereKhan Major 97 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: BMW G20 330e M Sport MY20 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 330e [0.00]	What about your pads? Have you had them changed or are they due soon? Mine did this after a stint at airport car parks. The front pads had failed so the handbrake lamp and warning kept coming on. On some Italian cars I've had the handbrake lamp indicating low brake fluid or poor quality fluid. __________________ 20 BMW G20 330e M Sport Portimão Blue/Cognac, Driver Pro, Tech,M+ lumbar, storage packs Long gone -15 Peugeot 308 2.0HDi GT AUTO Magnetic Blue, 10 BMW F10 520D SE Xirallic Imperial blue/Cinnamon Brown, 06 E90 320si - Le Mans Blue - Totally standard specification (Scrapped RIP 12/08/2010), 00 Peugeot 306 2.0 SE Cabriolet, 94 Rover 214 SEi, 91 Fiat Uno 60S Mk2
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07-19-2009, 12:08 PM	#12
tex Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I had one of those classic garage moments. Ddn't use the car much in the week prior to taking it in, then on the way in the warning / alarm only went off once. The steeler spent 1.5 hours prodding an poking, to not find anything wrong. No error codes stored and nothing wrong with pads etc. At least I got a free wash! My conclusion is that it is a switch problem so the car genuinely thinks the handbrake is on but this is obviously not an error. There still is a problem as it comes up with a warning for the first minute or so in the morning. I've given up worrying as I'm more interested in the SSTT I have just fitted which makes the car quite a bit more interesting to drive!
	Appreciate 0 Quote