HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Hello all! I was driving normally today until I had a sudden urge to put my foot down on a straight road. As I was driving in a 'spirited manner' the EML and EPS OFF lights (others may have triggered too) appeared on the dash and stayed on. When I stopped at a set of lights, I switched the car off and switched it back on and all the warning lights disappeared. What do you think was the cause of this? Also, sometimes when I drive fast in a straight line, my handbrake light triggers. When I touch the handbrake lever the light disappears. Is this something to do with the sensor or is the handbrake activating? Your help is very much appreciated. Kind regards, Hassan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 check ya brake fluid level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 check ya brake fluid level Thanks for your reply Mike Checked the brake fluids when I got home from work (engine was hot as I just drove it) The photos of the levels are below: Any input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Top the fluid up mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Top the fluid up mate Is that what caused the warning lights to trigger!? Is it dangerously low? What do I top it up with?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brke fluid. A trip to Halfords and topping upto the level will probs sort your issue if it doesn't let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacky Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Might be worth checking your pads, levels low for a reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brke fluid. A trip to Halfords and topping upto the level will probs sort your issue if it doesn't let us know. The weird thing is I weren't even using my brakes, I was driving 'quick' in a straight line when all the warning lights triggered. Would this also be related to my handbrake warning light? I will get some DOT 4 and top it up and see what happens. Do you recommend a certain manufacturer for the DOT 4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Might be worth checking your pads, levels low for a reason. My front pads and discs were changed a few weeks ago, my rears were also checked at the time. The rears will need changing soon but still have life left in them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacky Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brke fluid. A trip to Halfords and topping upto the level will probs sort your issue if it doesn't let us know. The weird thing is I weren't even using my brakes, I was driving 'quick' in a straight line when all the warning lights triggered. Would this also be related to my handbrake warning light? I will get some DOT 4 and top it up and see what happens. Do you recommend a certain manufacturer for the DOT 4? Its because when you put your foot down the fluid will move in the resevoir, because its low it will trigger the sensor. Doubt if your rears would cause it to be that low, should have been topped up when they done your discs and pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brke fluid. A trip to Halfords and topping upto the level will probs sort your issue if it doesn't let us know. The weird thing is I weren't even using my brakes, I was driving 'quick' in a straight line when all the warning lights triggered. Would this also be related to my handbrake warning light? I will get some DOT 4 and top it up and see what happens. Do you recommend a certain manufacturer for the DOT 4? Its because when you put your foot down the fluid will move in the resevoir, because its low it will trigger the sensor. Doubt if your rears would cause it to be that low, should have been topped up when they done your discs and pads. Hmm...is it dangerously low? At it's current level could I cause any damage to anything? How often does brake fluid typically need topping up? Is this also related to my handbrake light coming on also? When I top it up when the engine is cold, what level do I fill it up to? Many thanks for your help, I really appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 fill it up no higher than the label that says "MAX" its not dangerously low, its still above the line that says "MIN" as for the hand brake, could be the cable needs tightening, see if the fluid issue/fix cures it, if not then its going to be something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 fill it up no higher than the label that says "MAX" its not dangerously low, its still above the line that says "MIN" as for the hand brake, could be the cable needs tightening, see if the fluid issue/fix cures it, if not then its going to be something else. Thanks for your help Rich I'm guessing the brake fluid expands when the engine is warm right? If I fill it up to MAX when the engine is cold, wouldn't it cause the fluid level to exceed the MAX threshold when the engine is warm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just fill it to the Max mark, that's what it's there for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Just fill it to the Max mark, that's what it's there for. Thanks for your reply. Right I'll get some DOT 4 from work tomorrow and top it up. I hope that is the reason the lights triggered, I hope it's not a major issue or an electrical fault! If I carry out diagnostics on the car, would it bring up codes pointing towards 'low brake fluid level'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 That's what the handbrake warning light is for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I just got this from work. Is this the right brake fluid and the right quality? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brake fluid. DOT4 I'll give you one guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cragus Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Yup - that'll do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor austin Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 OMG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I just got this from work. Is this the right brake fluid and the right quality? your Z appears to have fallen over and shrunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HassanZ Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Just top up with DOT4 brake fluid. DOT4 I'll give you one guess. HAHA Cheeky sh*t Thanks for your help mate! Yup - that'll do. Thanks mate Let's hope I don't blow my car up by mistake I just got this from work. Is this the right brake fluid and the right quality? your Z appears to have fallen over and shrunk See my Z is special...wanna swap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djrm Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Hi everyone! Bringing this thread back for a second... I have the exact same problem with my Zed but looked in the manual and it says either DOT 3 or 4 and never to mix the 2. It also says that DOT 3 is filled at the factory. Should I take the advice of everyone in this thread and use 4? I don't want to cause any damage... Thanks Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Your car will mostly have dot4 in it. About 99.9% dot 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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