Please visit the Club's website https://www.dloc.org.uk/ to join. Visit https://www.dloc.org.uk/adhoc to DONATE towards the cost of the forum.
Please don't post someone's email address to avoid it being harvested by spambots and it's against GDPR regulations.
Always look at "ACTIVE TOPICS" to see all posts in date & time order as they are sometimes moved; or look at "Your Posts".
Please add Reg. nrs. when posting a photo or anything about a car as this will help searches. Don't add punctuation next to nr. as this negates search.
CHANGED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS since registering?, click your username and check your address in User Control Panel, Profile, Account Settings.
If you want help to register, use "contact us" at page bottom for help.

Brake Warning Light: V8-250

classiclife
Classic Wise Man
Classic Wise Man
Posts: 1601
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:55 am
Location: Ridgewood - East Sussex
Contact:

Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by classiclife »

Hello.

After having my car housed at a museum for a couple of months, it is now home. I should add that it was temporarily there due to no room "at the inn" and not for any other reason !!

One job that requiries investigating, is the brake warning light remains on at all times.

There is no issue with the mechanical side of the brakes and nor is the system leaking causing a drop in fluid; therefore I believe the problem is probably an electrical one. I have not yet tried to isolate the brake fluid reservoir electrics (the cap) to see if that proves / disproves the issue.

As such, have other owners experienced the issue as outlined above and if so what was the outcome ?? Any advice will certainly give me a head start.

Many thanks in advance.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Christopher Storey
Helpful Person
Helpful Person
Posts: 404
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 6:40 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by Christopher Storey »

This is a common problem, and it usually results from the float ( which is often cork ) becoming saturated , causing it to float lower in the fluid than it should , thus closing the contacts . I have replaced mine with used wine corks with some success

Phillmore
Wise Man
Wise Man
Posts: 847
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2016 1:25 pm
Location: Worcestershire Herefordshire border

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by Phillmore »

Sounds like a good reason to open a bottle! :D
Andy

1954 Conquest Mk1, 1956 Conquest Mk2, 1957 Conquest Century Mk2, 1955 Austin A90 Westminster

classiclife
Classic Wise Man
Classic Wise Man
Posts: 1601
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:55 am
Location: Ridgewood - East Sussex
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by classiclife »

Thanks Chris, very useful to know - much appreciated.

Andy - I could not agree more !!

Cheers.

Richard,
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Pinto
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2016 8:25 am
Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by Pinto »

Hi
The other thing to consider is the hand brake. It uses the same light to tell that the hand brake is on. Might be worth checking the switch on the hand brake.
Regards,
David Bruce.

classiclife
Classic Wise Man
Classic Wise Man
Posts: 1601
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:55 am
Location: Ridgewood - East Sussex
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by classiclife »

Thanks David,

I will certainly be looking at that.

Hopefully that can be ascertained quickly, by disconnecting the wires on the reservoir; if still on [light] then as you say that may well bring the h/brake in to play.

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

classiclife
Classic Wise Man
Classic Wise Man
Posts: 1601
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:55 am
Location: Ridgewood - East Sussex
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by classiclife »

Hello,

Just thought I would provide an update.

Having isolated the brake reservoir wires, the warning light extinguished but came on when the h/brake was applied - as per earlier suggestions; thanks again. In essence good news as I can now deal with the brake fluid float and address accordingly.

As an aside, another "little job" today was to replace the temperture control valve. What a job that was - needless to say 1x of the the screws was a very big issue !! Ended up having to drill and retap the thread - luckily it was the top screw, the bottom one eventually gave in after some non-nonsense persuassion.

I will let you know how I resolve the brake fluid float issue and perhaps what the best bottle of wine is to do the job :D !!

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Clive
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat May 12, 2018 2:09 am
Location: Phoenix, USA

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by Clive »

Richard,

I had to replace mine a few years back. I can't remember which one I went for, but I did have in hand both a real cork and a plastic cork. I think I had to slit it vertically to get it onto the wire.

Clive.

classiclife
Classic Wise Man
Classic Wise Man
Posts: 1601
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:55 am
Location: Ridgewood - East Sussex
Contact:

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by classiclife »

Thanks Clive, useful to know and appreciate the tip.

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Sydsmith
Extremely Wise Man
Extremely Wise Man
Posts: 1369
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2016 11:15 pm
Location: Aberystwyth Wales

Re: Brake Warning Light: V8-250

Post by Sydsmith »

FWIW, I would be inclined not to use a plastic "cork" as brake fluid attacks some plastics and it could contaminate the fluid. Similarly a natural cork would need to be of good quality to avoid any chance of it breaking up in use. Syd

Post Reply