Silly mistake with the handbrake

[CtrMint]

Hi,

Sometimes I end up learning the hard way!
I've just been through an interesting practical lesson, which I thought I'd share just in case any novices like me make a similar simple mistake.

During my diff replacement project, I replaced the handbrake cable, and to make life easier I removed the handbrake lever.   At the same time, I decided to refit the lever using the front bolt hole closest to the lever handle, to make the lever sit lower in the tunnel.  I originally built the car using the other front bolt hole and hence my lever sat higher.  No major challenge.  

When I reseated the lever in the tunnel I noticed the small cable permanently installed on the lever was at risk of being trapped given the lower position.  I believe that's the ground.  I disconnected the cable and rerouted it.  Unfortunately, I accidentally connected the cable to one of the two side terminals on the micro-switch, and not the small and correct terminal underneath.  Silly me. 

I didn't check the hand brake light because there was no brake fluid in the system due the diff process, so the warning light was permanently on.  Having put the tunnel cover, and passenger seat back in, tightened the handbrake and dropped the car off the stands, only now did I check the handbrake which of course didn't work.

I had to put the car back on stands, slacken the handbrake, remove the passenger seat and then tunnel cover to just get to the handbrake micro-switch.

There was a lot of head-scratching as I could only see the two micros-switch terminals on the side. I couldn't see the small terminal hidden underneath.  I didn't appreciate it was even there.   I went through all the logical diagnostics I could think.  It was only by accident that I spotted the hidden terminal underneath when looking at a replacement part on the CC website parts image.  From the image it was clear I'd wired the earth incorrectly.

Talk about a silly mistake.  Lesson learned.

[Terry Field]

Very satisfying when you finally work it through and sort it though, isn't it?

[krisfl]

Thanks for sharing. Sure it will help someone!

I'm sure you're not the first and won't be the last person to do similar! I've done some daft stuff in my time too!