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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
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OP
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15 |
The Plus 8 has a hand-brake warning light, like most "modern" cars. In recent weeks the light wouldn’t always go off when the hand brake was released, occasionally it would come on when driving. The parking brake callipers were not getting hot, so I was reasonably sure the brake wasn’t actually on. So I thought the switch that senses hand brake lever position must be faulty. Or a loose wire, perhaps. As this is a Morgan I assumed that the switch would be simple, probably under the lever. So I removed the leather gaiter, just 6 screws held it in place to take a look. This is what I found:  Careful inspection showed that the broken zip tie was the cause of the problem. It is essential for the switch to function as it acts as a pressure pad on top of the plunger. Without the thickness of the zip tie the plunger cannot be depressed enough to turn off the warning light!! I considered fixing a pad on top of the plunger, but in the end felt that following the lead set by MMC I’d simply replace the zip tie. With the cover removed I noticed a line of black dirt all around the edge where the metal trim fits, as shown:  So with leather cleaner I removed the dirt and then applied leather conditioner before putting it all back together. The handbrake warning light now functions as intended! So, if you have an Aero with a conventional handbrake and the warning light isn't working as it should the problem may well be a broken zip tie!
Peter,
66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S
No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,433 Likes: 17
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,433 Likes: 17 |
Ingenious design and problem solving by MMC !
1969 4/4
1995 plus 8
1996 Plus 4 4seater
2002 Aero S1
2013 M3W
2014 Plus 8
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,659 Likes: 10
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,659 Likes: 10 |
Ingenious design and problem solving by MMC ! Not sure i can agree there, more the sort of fix you might expect on a home built kit car. Definitely not acceptable in my opinion.
Last edited by deano; 27/08/16 08:58 PM.
Martin (Deano)
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,210
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,210 |
Is there an official part number for that item and matching price? £49+ VAT Sir, oh and of course labour... 
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,814
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,814 |
Ingenious design and problem solving by MMC ! Not sure i can agree there, more the sort of fix you might expect on a home built kit car. Definitely not acceprable in my opinion. I'm with you here, Deano, not worthy of a car of this class.
Gerry
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
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OP
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15 |
Ingenious design and problem solving by MMC ! Not sure i can agree there, more the sort of fix you might expect on a home built kit car. Definitely not acceptable in my opinion. The phrase "value engineering" springs to mind...
Peter,
66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S
No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,767 Likes: 21
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,767 Likes: 21 |
here's a thought for the Morgan 'engineers', fit a switch with a longer plunger......  Peter, plenty of 'courtesy light' type switches available which have an extra long plunger and you can trim to the desired length... James
Aero8 , Series 1 - Boston Green
RR Evoque P300E Autobiography
Smart Brabus Convertible
Monkey Z125
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14,976 Likes: 2
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14,976 Likes: 2 |
On my "classic" the back of the handbrake switch was been packed with a thick washer to adjust the height of the switch protruding.
Richard
1976 4/4 4 Seater
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 199
L - Learner Plates On
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L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 199 |
The problem with MMC , it's the base is really old and they don't want a make over , so they have to change the handbrake they source a new one , need light they source a switch and after they think how they will match , they don't order special part they took existing part, so they find "artistic" way to made them match , but is not the more reliable
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
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OP
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15 |
I've been thinking about fixing a metal plate to the underside of the handbrake lever so that better pushes down the switch plunger. An oblong bit alloy, epoxy and a file plus 2 zip-ties should do the job...... but I might wait till the new zip tie fails...!
The zip-tie also is needed to hold the leather gaiter to the polished hand brake grip. Close inspection showed that the zip-tie seems also to bridge the gap between the two sides of the hand brake lever, which is a "U" section pressed metal part with the ratchet in the "U".
Actually, as the car is an Automatic I rarely bother to apply the hand brake....with the transmission in "P" the engine acts as a big parking brake!
Peter,
66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S
No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
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