FAULT - Hand brake light flashing on whilst driving

This is a fault diagnosis blog entry for my IVECO Daily Mk3 35S12 2.3 XLWB.
I present them in a set way so that f you have the same symptom you can find my fix for that problem. 
It is formatted in three sections Fault Symptom, Fault Invest & Fault Fix. This will give you the freedom to read through or pick out the info you need more easily.
Remember: there is no one one answer to each problem (well not often) so although this might have fixed my problem, that isn't to say it will fix yours. Also I am no subject matter expert so I may not know a system to the highest detail. 

Fault Sypmptom

Whilst driving the van the hand brake light will flicker on after a while. Pushing the handbrake handle brake down will turn the light off for it to come back on again a short while later. 

Fault Invest

Not much going on here. My fist suspicion was the hand brake micro switch.
I checked it out for adjustment and condition. I found the switch full of horse hair and the arm bend down stopping the switch from being actuated.

Fault Fix

The switch was removed by undoing the screw and letting the little nut drop off and roll under a seat.
Before I got too busy I had to see if this thing was recoverable or not so grabbed some pliers and bent the switch's actuating arm back to its correct shape. It's worth noting here that it is easy to over rotate the switch arm here rather than bend it and it is a dick to get back past its stop without breaking it so try and avoid that.

I could now, safe in the knowledge that the switch was the correct shape again, pick out as much equestrian grot from the switch as i could before flushing it out with electrical contact cleaner.

The switch was now looking a bit healthier and a quick test showed it was operating nicely.
I applied a bit of electrical contact protective compound to do, quite literally, what it says on the tin and lubricate the spring a bit.
The switch was then refitted, nut retrieved and everything was tightened back in place. 
The handbrake warning light now only comes on with the handbrake applied and the van is about a gram lighter thanks to grot removal.
Success!


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