handbrake warning light switch

[alecmartin19]

just wondering about the handbrake warning light switch thats fitted to the handbrake lever.

i'm led to believe that my handbrake lever is from an escort mk 2 but when i phoned ford to get a new switch, they told me that escort mk2's never had a warning switch on the handbrake.

Can anyone help me please!!

cheers!

Alec

[MattD]

Hi Alec

Can't remember properly, it was 5 yrs ago, that little job !

I think I made it work using a door courtesy light switch, mounted on a bracket off the handbrake mounting bolts.
Make sure its on the right side of the pivot, or the light will be ON, when the HB is OFF.

The dash warning light itself was one of my SVA failures at first visit. I had a seperate light each for the HB & the brake fluid level indicator (& test button).
Whilst they both worked properly, the examiner wasn't happy that I couldn't confirm the master cylinder was full every time I turned on the ignition. ie the bulb could have blown on the fluid level indicator circuit.
So I wired them both together, thus proving that both circuits are OK by having the handbrake light ON at ignition ON.

A small but important mod from Mr SVA, might just save your life too...

Rgds

Matt

[stylussprinter]

Alec , ssc used to supply them so try Tim when he's back from his break with the family. It's a tiny switch that can be mounted forward of the lower part of the handbrake , in my case glued to the alloy with sikaflex then the handbrake in the off position will close it. It's about 5mm thick and 15mm x 25mm in black plastic. I've got a photo but can't send it as when the job was done I was not the owner of a digi camera !

Rob.

[alecmartin19]

thankyou both for your replies.

I have managed to now locate a renault switch from premier wiring which is very easy to mount so hopefully that will be ok.

As for the sva test, i only have one warning light for the handbrake and fluid level so this should be ok for sva. I am a bit worried about the master cylinders though as you can't actually see the fluid in them as they are solid. Is this a problem?

[stylussprinter]

thankyou both for your replies.

I have managed to now locate a renault switch from premier wiring which is very easy to mount so hopefully that will be ok.

As for the sva test, i only have one warning light for the handbrake and fluid level so this should be ok for sva. I am a bit worried about the master cylinders though as you can't actually see the fluid in them as they are solid. Is this a problem?

Not when I built mine , that is to say not mentioned in the '' bible '' . Tim only SVA'd the RT Demo car last year so he would know . He'll be back off break next week .