Hi all - today on my mk1 Octavia all was fine then after I set off at traffic lights the red brake warning light / handbrake light illuminated & there is a beep beep beep continuously.

I checked the fluid level and its full, pads & discs are fine on front. It has drums & shoes on back but I think these are OK as handbrake works fine and locks on without pulling handbrake too high.

Any suggestions ???? The noise is annoying and I am hoping it's a simple fix.

Thanks in advance......

Level sensor in the cap faulty?, fault in the pad sensor loom?.

This warning lamp and beep-beep-beep is to tell you that your handbrake is still on, it's got nothing to do with fluid levels or pads and discs.

 

IF the fluid level is low you get the lamp but no beeping.

 

If you've let the handbrake off and you're getting this warning, then it will be the switch on the handbrake faulty. I'm not 100%, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to clarify, but I THINK that the switch is on the handbrake lever mechanism itself. You'll have to remove the interior trim around the handbrake lever and find the switch and have a fiddle (oo-er)...

 

I would imagine that if you can't get a new switch quickly, a hack might be to either disconnect the switch, or if you do that and it keeps beeping, then connect the two wires together. One of these will fool the car into thinking that the switch is off, so you can at least drive it until you get a new switch.

Yep, switch is under the lever.

taking ou the centre console isnt that bad, a couple torx and/or philips screw under the ash trays and side of footwell. remove the hand brake lever cover (theres a clip on the underside to pull out and pull up) Then lift up and pop out the cig lighter.

Thanks for the advice gents, it was the switch - it had come loose and is now working again.

Thanks

Sweet! :clap: