ND Loose Handbrake and intermittent lit handbrake warning light

Technical Area Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: 2017 ND 2.0 Sport Nav +
  2. I’m based near: Canterbury, Kent
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Loose handbrake and intermittent lit handbrake warning light

The handbrake on my ND seems quite loose compared to other cars I’ve owned. In the down / off position, it will move up with virtually no resistance, enough to illuminate the warning light, but without any actual slowing / dragging effect on the car that I can notice.

Sometimes, the light will illuminate with no real movement of the handbrake itself. In this case, pulling the handbrake up slightly and pushing it back down sometimes turns the light off. Sometimes - maybe a third of the time or so - this won’t work and the light will stay on for a while before turning itself off after a while.

Cruise control continues to work in all these cases, so the car isn’t detecting any real braking going on. The rear wheels don’t feel particularly warm after a drive so I don’t think the handbrake is actually engaging when it shouldn’t be. It certainly does engage and hold the car properly when I do pull the handle all the way up.

I suspect that addressing the looseness of the handle will probably fix the light issue, but I’m not 100% convinced. Is adjusting the tension something I can do at home? I’m not particularly mechanically minded, but willing to learn :slight_smile:

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If similar to the NC’s braking systems I’d be checking the brake fluid level first re the intermittent light showing. On the NC the handbrake warning light shows for a low fluid level.
After that’s checked maybe the switch could need attention, anything from adjustment to the connections. To access those is a simple matter of lifting the handbrake gaiter for an investigation, well on the NC it is.:+1:

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Thanks. Brake fluid looks fine - slap bang in the middle of min and max on the container. Overall brake performance seems fine - direct, not spongy, and very effective and braking with the foot brake, and holds well with the hand brake.

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I had the brake warning light come on all the time in my rf, fluid was nearly to the top, maybe just at 3/4.
Only went out when the brake fluid was changed and put to max on the 2nd service.

Cheap enough to fill up and if its full and still does it at least its ruled out

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Surprisingly it could be your problem, worth just a top up to the max mark.

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First call and maybe quick win for the warning light would be top up the fluid.

Not sure on the handbrake, mine seems ok,

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First job as everyone has said is to top up the master cylinder.
Second job have a look at the pads, if there are no leaks then it would indicate some pad wear.
Third job have a look here PARKING BRAKE LEVER ADJUSTMENT | 2016 ND Shop Manual (hexorcism.com)
:heart:

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Thanks all - I’ll try topping up tomorrow. Lots of friendly advice for the newbie - “likes” all round :slight_smile:

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As suggested, I topped up the brake fluid (up to the MAX line) and in the admittedly short amount of driving since, I’ve not seen the brake warning light once.

Obviously my next job is to keep a close eye on the level to see if it’s got a leak or not.

Thanks all! :slight_smile:

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Many tanks for the update.

It would be a good idea to check the thickness of all the brake pads just as a precaution. As the pads wear so the fluid level will fall.
:heart:

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