Flashing hand brake warning light, why?

[caproader]

Guys,
The hand brake warning light is flashing in my 1973.5 Targa. It flashes when the hand brake handle is completely down when I am driving and also flashes when the engine is off (handle still down) with the ignition key in position 2. The brightness of the flashing when the handle is down is roughly 70% of the intensity compared to when I pull the handle up. Handle up or handle completely down, the rate of flash is the same

So far, I have:

removed the right seat and having loosened the adjustment screw, moved the slide switch all the way up and all the way down (No change)
removed the three hand brake handle mounting bolts but can not find any loose wires.

Possible contributing factor: Last winter I replaced the plastic piece that connects to hand throttle to the throttle cable. Could I have messed something up during reassembly

Any ideas on what to do next, short of a piece of black electrical tape on the instrument?

Thanks,

Caproader, member #322
73.5 Targa
69 912
73S Sportomatic now safely in the hands of Johannes356

[bob joyce]

it is a prety simple switch in the hand break.
with only one wire going into it
maybe the switch is cracked and allowing the unit to ground

[davep]

It is also tied to the switch on the master cylinder; warning of impending brake failure. Check your fluid levels, then try resetting the switch to see if that cures the problem.

[911quest]

John,

Check to make sure the contact strip on the handle isn’t the issue. I have seen them get bent and mangled.

Tony

[caproader]

Guys,

Thanks for the help. Brake fluid is at the appropriate level and given my fumbling last winter to install the hand throttle plastic connector, I am inclined to pursue Tony's advice. Tony, In order to inspect the contact strip, how do I get sufficient inspection room to do the inspection? Do I need to remove the hand throttle and heater levers from the hand brake assembly without detaching the hand brak cables?

John

[911quest]

John,

If you look at the top of the handle you can see the head of the rivets that hold the contact strip to top of the handle. You might be able to pull up the handle and get a view.

Tony

[Scott A]

Just my 2 cents, I wouldn’t be surprised if the flashing comes from a faulty relay behind the gauges.
Is hard to find the correct relay, most the suppliers sell are just not the right one.

[rexav8r]

John, I’ll see you tomorrow, but have to ask the stupid question first…
You said it’s “flashing”…. Did someone accidentally push the HAZARD lights switch ?

Richard

[HarryD]

Guys,

Thanks for the help. Brake fluid is at the appropriate level and given my fumbling last winter to install the hand throttle plastic connector, I am inclined to pursue Tony's advice. Tony, In order to inspect the contact strip, how do I get sufficient inspection room to do the inspection? Do I need to remove the hand throttle and heater levers from the hand brake assembly without detaching the hand brak cables?

John

Before you go through these heroics.

I had this issue as well. Turned out to be a failed MC Switch.

To test, put the connector off of the MC Switch. If the problem goes away when the hand brake handle is down, and flashes when the handle is up, you found your culprit. Replace switch on MC.

[caproader]

Harry,

I think that you might be correct. I pulled the switch completely out of the hand brake assemble; Light still flashes. Then I detached both wires from the switch: Light still flashes. Looks like it might be time to reassemble the top and go to the Master Cylinder.

John