I have a 2001 1.8 ford focus which is suffering from the hand brake light coming on intermittently?

Question

Is this because the brakes are worn or caused by another problem such a switch etc

Answer 1

If you mean the one on the dash it is due to the pads being worn OR the brake fluid level is low - both dangerous and that is why it is a red light..

There is a slight chance of a faulty handbrake switch.

Answer 2

I'm assuming you're meaning the brake warning light, the red one with the ! inside a circle which also comes on when the handbrake is on..



Worn brake pads or discs are not going to make it come on, as that age of focus doesn't have wear indicators.



The most likely problem is that the brake fluid is low. Check the reservoir (it is a clear/white reservoir near the back of the engine bay with wires coming from the cap and a symbol that looks like (O) and if the fluid is low, top it up. If the brake fluid keeps going down, you have a leak, get it down to a garage and get it fixed.

Answer 3

there are two warning light (s) possibilities. 1= handbrake on and 2= brake pads badly worn ( not fitted on all models)



assuming you have checked brake pads? it will be handbrake light illuminating. this is activated by handbrake and is known to occasionally play up on some cars.

you will need to check out the handbrake itself isn't loose and bouncing up and down etc when driving. the switch mechanism can be found by having a peek at a workshop manual (try library first!) it isn't a hard job to reset or replace the switch if it is found faulty and not expensive.

if you cannot easily trace fault you will need a garage to have a look but sadly they often are not cheap.

Answer 4

Some cars have a wear indicator wire embedded in the pads. As the pads wear the wire touches the disc and lights up the warning lamp, often intermittently. So check the pads thickness. Occasionally the wire can chafe against metalwork and send a false signal.