JimAttrill Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 After fixing a customer's hand brake light switch, I discovered the following, which seems to be common to all Defenders: When you put on the handbrake, you get TWO warning lights illuminated. One looks like a set of brake shoes in a drum with a P in it and the other has an exclamation mark and the words 'BRAKE' underneath. Now the P obviously stands for P(ark)ing brake and the ! one is really for the low brake fluid sensor. Why LR chose to light both up with the handbrake on is a bit of a puzzle. The wiring diagram shows two separate circuits. Maybe someone made the looms wrongly and it has never been fixed, or is there a reason for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dew110CSW Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Neither of mine work, theres also one that just says "PARK BRAKE" that never illuminates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 I haven't a clue Jim but that's how mine worked. Two lights on when the parking brake wire got caught in the ratchet teeth. Now neither work for some reason........ I know when my handbrqake is on. The vehicle doesn't move and I stall it mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted July 28, 2007 Author Share Posted July 28, 2007 I take it that the functioning of these lights is not part of the MOT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 the P in the drum brake icon is the standard park brake on warning, the exclamation mark with brake under it is the icon is for the brake pressure differential actuator it should come on as a bulb check then go out after a few seconds when you start the engine, & only come on when driving to inform of brake or fluid failure,it shouldn't be on when the engine isn't running. the Park Brake wording is for the Australian market according to the handbook. could be a stuck PDWA switch down on the engine side of the drivers footwell, the connectors at the dash end can't be fitted wrong as they will only go one way onto the back of the warning light panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 My 90 with a late 300 bulkhead does the same, i get 3 lights on when i apply the handbrake, it's a "test" so that you can see that the low fluid warning light is working... seeing as the brakes are slightly improtant i suppose they (LR) reckon we should know about it! its similar to the old series 3's that had the square "push to test" switch on the "new style" center console bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted July 28, 2007 Author Share Posted July 28, 2007 Brake Pressure Differential Actuators went out with the dark ages, Western. My 1995 110 does not have one. But this may add to the confusion that LR suffered about the lights. ps. our local parts place sells a 'fake' BPDA that you can fit when your original one fails - they all do, apparently, sooner or later. I don't know what the fake does, maybe it tells the system that all is ok. rather like when we fit coil springs to an air-sprung Disco II, we have to convince the computer that all is ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 in that case then, it must be a low fluid level bulb check which should go out after the engine is started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 After fixing a customer's hand brake light switch, I discovered the following, which seems to be common to all Defenders: When you put on the handbrake, you get TWO warning lights illuminated. One looks like a set of brake shoes in a drum with a P in it and the other has an exclamation mark and the words 'BRAKE' underneath. Now the P obviously stands for P(ark)ing brake and the ! one is really for the low brake fluid sensor. Why LR chose to light both up with the handbrake on is a bit of a puzzle. The wiring diagram shows two separate circuits. Maybe someone made the looms wrongly and it has never been fixed, or is there a reason for this? Same on mine as well, (and diesel jim's) guess its a bulb check for the fluid sensor light... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 I reckon you are right, it's a bulb check. Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I take it that the functioning of these lights is not part of the MOT? No, not part of the UK MOT test, BUT if the vehicle is fitted with ABS [anti-lock] brakes then the dash warning light Must work in the correct sequence, otherwise the vehicle will/should fail the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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