Handbrake warning and brake warning issue

[MonkeyHanger]

Hello people, my first post so be gentle with me. I have had my A3 1.9 tdi e sport for around 8 months, fault free. It 09 plate and has suddenly developed a rather annoying fault. On the dashboard there is a red brake warning light (marked in the pic below) that normally goes out when you take off the handbrake, but it now does not go out, and as I start to drive i get a message on the clocks saying "warning hand brake applied" along with a constant tone. At the same time this started happening, my auto door lock is also randomly unlocking and locking the doors while driving, and unlocking them when I stop.

Things I have checked. Two different mechanics whom I know well have plugged into it and the only fault code is an intermittent fault 00470 Databus for comfort system; open circuit. They both say the same thing, that this is something often picked up in healthy cars being intermittent.

I have spent an hour taking out the centre console to check the handbrake switch and checked their is voltage to the switch and back to earth.

I have checked out the brake fluid reservoir levels, level sensor and again power to and earth from it.

Brake pads have well over 50 - 60% on them (visual check).

Wiring in between the doors and a-posts, all good with no signs of ware or breakage.

The car has no other symptoms and showed no signed of anything being wrong up until a few days ago when the above mentioned started happening.  

Any help with ideas of what else I can check myself before I take it to a specialist would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance.

[Adbro]

Hi Les,

 Welcome. Sorry to here about your problem, could be a few things so try these if you havnt already.

Might be the ABS pump sensor. It's a common fault though a repair kit is available if it's this.  Could be a weak battery. Or try disconnecting the brake fluid sensor. 

Hope this helps 

[MonkeyHanger]

Thanks for the reply Adbro, I have since had more symptoms, but found the problem. For anyone who has the following issues with their a3, dashboard and clocks lights like a disco, clocks going off all together, handbrake light either on when it should not be or flickering on and off randomly, accompanied by, doors locking and unlocking, loss of, indicators, wipers, main beam switching, electric mirrors and the heat controls lighting going bright, and aircon occasionally turning on or off itself (a lot i know), get your car plugged in to a fault reader. If it shows 00470 comfort control wire...etc, or something similar you need to check the following.

Water/washer fluid in your boot or spare wheel well, if not, still remove the inner o/s side panel in the boot and look for signs of moister or washer fluid around the comfort control module that is bolted into the rear quarter of your car, just behind the rear wheel inner arch. 

In my case what has happened is above the rear wheel behind the lower part of the head cloth, the rear washer pipe has a connector which has split. Everytime it is used it sprayed fluid all over which in turn ran down onto the module and its multi plugs. I was really luck as all that was needed was to clean the multi plug conectors with switch leaner after drying the area out obviously. 

I hope this may help out others with similar or same problems. I have notifications set so will reply to anyone who may have any questions. One happy A3 owner again.  :)

[cliffcoggin]

Congratulations Les. I have heard that A3s were prone to rear wash leaks, but did not realise there were consequences other than a wet boot.

[niedzial1983]

Is it electric hand brake ?

[MonkeyHanger]

sorry ive not been here for a while, it's a normal mechanical handbrake.