Citroen Saxo - handbrake light stays on even when handbrake is off!

ginvzt

It could be break fluid. I know it is not Saxo, but that what was with my Yaris. The handbrake light was staying on, and I asked to check it when I took it for service. However, I left garage and the same was happening!!! Called back in the garage specifically asking if they checked brake fluid, to wich htey answered yes, and that they took everything apart to check and cleaned brakes. Agreed that I can bring back the car on Saturday 10am. But they didn not open at all that day! Very upset took my car to another garage next week. Told the duy what it is, he took one look and said - yes, brake fluid low. Decided to find out why - checked the brakes and they were below legal minimum!!!!! Got it all sorted straight away and I am still with the same garage.

Sorry for the rant - I am still very upset with the first garage, as they did pout me in dager (they jsut tightened the hadbrake, to the point, that soon after it stopped working at all and had to make another trip to the garage!)

almillar

Some absolutely shocking advice here! Oldagetraveller's got it right though. That handbrake light we're talking about. The red one with a ring and a '!' - every car has one since they were standardised years ago.
It comes on when your hand brake is on. As above, usually just a little switch underneath the handle somewhere. This is 99% of the time why it is on.
But it's also a brake fluid warning light. This is in all your car manuals. it comes on when the brake fluid gets too low, which often means you have a leak in your system. If this is true, you could run out of brake fluid in a few months, or a few minutes, and your brake pedal will be useless.
Don't drive that Saxo till you know your brake fluid level. The brake fluid resevoir is under your bonnet, and is a small tank with min and max marked on it, and should contain black fluid. Let us know what happens...

ClaireLR

So I got home from work and checked the brake fluid - nearly empty (past minimum line). So straight to the garage, bought a bottle of brake fluid and in it went - from my reckoning it hasn't been filled up in the five years we've had the car turned on the ignition, release the handbrake - et voila! No more ! light!!! :j:T

Thanks to everyone for their help for this, knowing me I would have ended up taking it to a garage and getting ripped off (as has happened in the past). Thank you!!!