57 replies to this topic

[stuart bowes]

Am doing my loom again to modify and add various things that occurred to me and/ or things I've read in passing

One thing I'm wondering about is this brake test switch thing.. is it really so likely to fail that you need to regularly check

Do people actually keep this or is it commonplace to just ditch that switch and just do what you'd normally do with an old car i.e check your fluids on a regular basis

(Or have I somehow misunderstood the purpose of the switch)

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 May 2023 - 07:34 PM.

[Spider]

I'm pretty sure it's required for MOT.

[nicklouse]

It is required. It is part of the warning lights that must light up and then turn off.

 

but in this case it is a manual operation. The light must come on when tested. This is so that when you are low on brake fluid you get a warning. If you can’t test the bulb…….

[stuart bowes]

It just seems a bit odd that it's set up for you to have to remember to check

Surely if/when fluid gets low the light comes up by itself, I thought the button was only a manual way of checking that the light works? But that's still a mot pass requirement??

Well I guess I'll leave it then even though I've never had any other car that needed it

You could say the same of any other warning lamp in any car..

Was this a common thing in older cars then or something

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 May 2023 - 08:21 PM.

[viz139]

Before electronic displays most cars used the handbrake light as the fluid warning light also. I have moved the switch to the handbrake on my Mini  and as I had fitted an MPi dashboard I used the SRS light as my warning light. I had to change the power feed over to the ignition circuit otherwise the light would have stayed on when the car was parked.

[roblightbody]

The switch just checks the bulb works.

The button on top of the brake fluid reservoir should, when pushed down, cause the light on the switch to illuminate - that's the proper test.

Why would you not want this?

[stuart bowes]

It's not so much that I don't want it as such, more just trying to trim down to essentials for tidier wiring and less switches

I now see the point really I guess is that in modern cars when you first turn on you get a lamp test and the mini doesn't do that, so it's a manual one.. OK fair enough

In all honesty though right.. hand on heart how often do people actually push their button and check it. Because I'm pretty sure I'll press it once to check it works then never do it ever again. (Although like i say I check my fluids the usual way on a regular basis)

I like the idea of using the handbrake though that's pretty ingenious but far as i can tell I don't have a handbrake switch. That's got me wondering what else I could do with a relay or something to trigger the light on ignition 1 but turn it off again on starter

But to be honest I'll probably just leave it standard I suppose

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 May 2023 - 11:47 PM.

[Steve220]

Its now my rolling antilag button 😆 it still lights when you push it for the MOT

[mbolt998]

I'm pretty sure it's required for MOT.

 

When I used to daily mine in the 90s that light never worked. Never failed an MOT (for that anyway :) I don't even have the switch any more. For some reason I put a fog light switch in there instead. Never had fog lights and can't remember why I did that. I'm now tempted to reinstall the proper button even though I don't need MOTs any more.

[stuart bowes]

that's a good point actually what is it, 5 more years and no MOT for this car anyway ? something like that

[stuart bowes]

how many positions are there, I can't remember

 

if there's 2+start I could just use an NC relay on pos2 and a NO on pos1, and sorted.   

 

bit over the top though really I suppose and I still haven't got rid of that bit of cable from the engine bay so only solves half of what I was thinking about 

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 May 2023 - 08:43 AM.

[Spider]

 

I'm pretty sure it's required for MOT.

 

When I used to daily mine in the 90s that light never worked. Never failed an MOT (for that anyway :) I don't even have the switch any more. For some reason I put a fog light switch in there instead. Never had fog lights and can't remember why I did that. I'm now tempted to reinstall the proper button even though I don't need MOTs any more.

 

 

I'm not up to speed on your local rules and regulations, however in regards to this and a lamp test, we do have a similar rule here, however, for us there needs to be an 'automatic' test for the lamp. The accepted method for that was to put a diode in the circuit from the Oil Pressure Switch so on start up, when the Oil Lamp comes on (initially), the Brake Fail also comes on. This is part of our ADRs and should be checked when we have our annual Pink Slip Inspection, which is similar to your MOT. Having said that, I've never had a station check that lamp ever, even for 'fresh' registration.

Potentially though, if it is a requirement under your rules, where not having it can come unstuck is if an Insurance Claim was made and the Insurance Company's Assessor went over your Mini with a does of salts (so to speak). Similar things have happened here, eg, the Yellow Tag Master Cylinders don't meet our local ADRs, and I know first hand of one claim (not mine !) that was knocked back because the owner had fitted one of these. Many of the Insurance Companies are driven from common sources, one being their Re-insurer (yes, Insurance Companies themselves are Insured) and a popular Re-insurer for us here is Lloyds of London, who I understand is also a popular one in the UK too.

[stuart bowes]

interesting, cheers.  and good point about insurers, those £$% will do anything to get out of paying up

 

don't suppose there's a link or sketch anywhere of how to wire that diode up is there? 

[Spider]

There's a complete diagram here;-

 

https://www.theminif...ring-schematic/

 

Sorry it's not a great drawing in respect of this detail. The diode is item 40, the switch on the master cylinder item 39 and the bulb is item 38.

 

If I get a chance in the next day or so, I'll draw it up much clearer.

[stuart bowes]

that's really useful as-is cheers

just for ease of reference for future readers



I guess my questions now then are which direction would the diode point (i'm guessing towards the pressure switch) and what amp rating should I be looking for. I'm guessing the only current draw on the circuit is the lamp in the dash?

I think I get how that briefly triggers warning light to test the lamp, but will it also light up if the fluid is actually low (i,e, the original purpose of the lamp) I assume 'yes' because it's still going via 39 ?

Sorry for the obvious questions but sometimes it's best just to ask instead of assume

this is all really appreciated thanks

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 May 2023 - 03:05 PM.