Yesterday the handbrake warning light on my 02 plate Fabia started to flash and produce three warning "beeps". This happened about three times in a ten mile journey but braking performance seemed fine and sod's law said the handbook was not in the car! When I arrived home (it only went through the flash beep sequence once on the way back) and checked the handbook, the combination of lights and three beeps is a warning of a problem with the braking system.(really?)

I checked the reservoir and the fluid level was very low. I topped it up and the brakes still seem fine with no warning lights or sounds. However, I am now wondering if that lack of fluid would have been sufficient to trigger the warning or is there some other problem lurking unseen?

I realise the fluid level will drop if the pads are getting worn or if there is a leaking cylinder somewhere so I was going to take the car to my regular mechanic to get him to check the braking system over and adjust the iffy handbrake at the same time, The thing is, should I use the car in the meantime?

Any advice welcome please!

Catman

Will just be low fluid warning

Look under and at the rear brakes, a rear brake cylinder may be weeping, if they have not been renewed since 2002 they could well be the culprits, was on mine.

DB.

I had to have both rear cylinders replaced due to leaks last year, 2003 car, never done before.

AFAIK my rear cylinders are origional ('99) as the 'specialist' who serviced it never mentions them on the paperwork and I have a lot of it, he also never bothered to do a BFC. On the basis that fluid is hydroscopic and it's been hitting -10c in some places I'd suggest that the two may be related and could cause a seal to pop, if you regularly check your fluid levels and noticed a sudden drop. If not it could be pad wear but surely you'd have topped up by now as it's that gradual?

I had the same thing happen in 2009, the only clue was when the snow melted you could see the change in the drive where it was parked. New pattern cylinders were cheap and for what it cost I replaced the shoe's and drums and painted them up black to keep the corrosion at bay.

The one thing I would stress if doing the job yourself is buy a proper brake spanner, it makes life a lot easier and reduces the chance of rounding off.

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I must confess I don't check the brake fluid as often as I should because I always seem to be short of time and the reservoir is so awkward to see properly. I can only just see the "max" mark on the side and so I topped up to just below it. I have yet to even see the "min" mark (assuming there is one)!

A few years ago I would have done the work myself but unfortunately I don't have a garage and I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to be grovelling around under the car on the drive. I'll book it into the mechanic and ask him to overhaul the braking system.

Thanks again.

Well it was a leaking o/s rear brake cylinder. Fluid contaminated brake shoes so they were replaced as well. Result! Lesson learned - include brake fluid reservoir when checking fluid levels!

Glad it worked out and was (hopefully) an inexpensive fix