Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Immobiliser & other warning lamps

I'm currently experiencing a couple of problems with warning lamps on my 2015 Plus 4 GDI!
Firstly the brake warning light flickers intermittently. This first happened last year after the car was out of the garage, but with a long bonnet cover fitted, when it rained overnight.Thought it might be ingress of water, but, even after all this time, the problem persists!
Checked the reservoir level, connectors, sensor, all OK. When operating the handbrake, light glows as it should. Had dashboard out & there did appear to be traces of corrosion on the 'prongs' of the connectors on the connector on the PCB; these were carefully cleaned, but the problem is still there. It would appear that the PCB may have to be replaced, (assuming one can be sourced)! Has anyone had a similar problem & found that replacing the PCB was the solution?
At the same time, mysteriously, the flashing red immobiliser lamp has 'disappeared'!; however, it's been replaced by a flashing orange lamp with a padlock on it when the key isn't in! I'm convinced this orange lamp, (on the far right of the row of lamps above the switches) has never flashed before!
Could anyone help please?

Try filling the reservoir to almost the top the light flashes on the clubsport while racing if its not almost brimed.

The orange light I think is linked to the immobiliser. This is on and off on the clubsport due to using the power isolator. It can be switched off at the ecu but I have a piece of tape over mine

As you probably know the brake fluid level and handbrake warning are on the same circuit. Note there are two sets of brake fluid (and washer) sub looms to accommodate left and right hand drive cars. Black/white wires, all parallel to a single feed to a nine way connector (only 8 pins used) connecting to drivers LED display.

Conclusion is that if handbrake warning works ok then there is some short to ground on the brake fluid looms either the active one or duplicate, or the m/cylinder float switch contacts are failing. Remove cap and check for latter. As suggested above it could simply be your fluid level is marginal though.

If you top it up and it keeps happening then I would also suspect leaking rear cylinders

Peter, sorry I’m no electrickery expert or familiar with the GDI however if I had one with your symptoms the first thing I might do would be to ‘make and break’ the BCU connectors a few times to attempt to clean the pins. My Duratec has a MFU which is the for runner to the BCU and I have done this successfully before with my MFU to correct a random instrument fault. Connectors are often the weak link in an electrical system. On the Duratec these connectors also pass the warning light signals to the dash pcb. The current is very low so the pins are susceptible to high contact resistance particularly if there is any damp present. Water does get into this area on the Duratec via the heater drain holes however this may have been improved on the GDI. On the Duratec I get away with ‘hot’ breaking the connectors but to be cautious I would probably disconnect the battery first on the GDI as I suspect there will still be CAN activity with the ignition off, should you decide to do this...

Just a suggestion, good luck!

HI,

I think the Orange Padlock flashing is normal. Mine does it until the key is inserted (when it goes out) then I can turn the key and start the car.

Never seen a Red Immobiliser lamp, maybe mine doesn't have one.

Regards

The cap with the sensor for the brakefluid reservoir is a usual problem at British Cars.

It‘s also fitted at old Minis. For a test undo one of both wires. The light must switch off. If you put the wires together ist must switch on.

You can buy a new cap cheap at Mini Spares.

Greets and Good luck

René

Thank you for all the replies & suggestions. Couple of results; firstly despite my concern the brake warning light would flash when the tester drove the car onto the ramp, it passed the MoT on Tuesday! Secondly, the factory have a replacement PCB in stock & so this will be fitted on Monday to at least eliminate that as a possible cause.
The mystery of the 'missing' red LED immobiliser lamp, replaced by the orange flashing padlock lamp remains. A look at 16 fellow AngleMog members cars dashboards at a Wings & Wheels event at Stow Maries WW1 airfield gathering on Sunday failed to find another car with the same design dash to compare with!

Try disconnecting the fluid level cap connectors completely Peter ensuring they don't short together, then test drive to see if fault persists. This should prove if level sensor cap is faulty.

Doubt a new PCB will fix this particular fault given handbrake warning works ok.

And it is a very expensive route.