Brake fluid problem for mechanic help

alggomas

I’ve had brake fluid changed in Agila 1.2 auto 63 plate. I questioned the mechanic because my hand brake light on dash board flashing.

his response: your car flashing brake light only when you move from your car from the parking on the front of.your house is flashing becouse is park down hill and the brake fluid sensor think is empty
I am 76 and disabled and know nothing about this type of service but it does not sound right to me as I have parked on my drive and hills with no flashing brake light on my dashboard.
help only with the mechanics response please.

Baldytyke88

alggomas said:

I’ve had brake fluid changed in Agila 1.2 auto 63 plate. I questioned the mechanic because my hand brake light on dash board flashing.

his response: your car flashing brake light only when you move from your car from the parking on the front of.your house is flashing becouse is park down hill and the brake fluid sensor think is empty
I am 76 and disabled and know nothing about this type of service but it does not sound right to me as I have parked on my drive and hills with no flashing brake light on my dashboard.
help only with the mechanics response please.

A flashing handbrake light could indicate a few issues. The most common reasons are low brake fluid, a faulty sensor, or an issue with the handbrake mechanism itself.

It does sound like it needs further investigation.

paul_c123

Step #1, you need to check the level of your brake fluid.

Mildly_Miffed

paul_c123 said:

Step #1, you need to check the level of your brake fluid.

^ THIS

It's really, really easy. It tells you how to do it in your owner's handbook.

With the car parked on flat and level ground, open the bonnet.
Identify the brake fluid reservoir.

Is the fluid level around the MAX line, ideally, or is it below MIN?

Here's a quickly googled image of an Agila engine bay, with the brake fluid reservoir highlighted in red

Goudy

Inside the cap of the brake fluid reservoir (which Mildly Miffed has circled) is a fluid level sensor.
It's a float and if the level drops, so does the float which then lights up the handbrake/brake fluid warning light on the dashboard. (this warning light is shared between the handbrake and brake fluid level)

If it's a little low and you park on a hill or brake/accelerate or go around a sharp corner, the fluid sloshes around in the reservoir and can cause the light on the dash to come on intermittently.

If it's really low the light will stay on all the time.

As mentioned, the reservoir is usually marked MIN and MAX.
First thing to do is check the level on flat ground and as you park on a hill, top it up to the MAX mark.

I presume when they have replaced the brake fluid they've not topped it off properly.

Keep an eye of the level for a few days, again check it on the flat.

mikrt

You'd like to think that the mechanic, who carried out the work, would just have said to pop down and we'll top up the brake fluid for you.