Handbrake warning wire

[AndrewB]

I thought I would spend 'an hour' investigating the handbrake warning wire on my 1992 TL.
Whilst preparing the car for front floor replacement ( another story for another day ) I noticed that the handbrake warning wire ran diagonally from the handbrake, under the rubber flooring to the windscreen washer foot pump and then back up through the plastic panel underneath the steering wheel/ instruments.
So with new floor in I thought I must tidy this up and run it a shorter neater route.
Somehow, I managed to pull the spade connector loose from underneath the steering column and I now can't seem to find where it dropped out from. It doesn't wire directly into the warning light cluster as wiring diagram suggests( yes I have stripped the whole thing down in my 'hour' to have a look ) and all the other wires seem neat and tidy ( well, dusty ).
Does anybody know where this should go before I start ripping more things apart?
Of course, a previous owner might have 'dabbled' in the past and just reconnected the wire with spade connection, but I'm assuming there might be a block where it joins with the master cylinder wire, but I can't see it !!
Andrew

 

[JdeW]

There are 2 spade connectors, one on the handbrake and 1 intermediate spade connector under the dash.
This site can help locating how it runs originally https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/temoin-de-frein-du-tableau-de-bord-renault-4-depuis-1983

Handbrake detection (handbrake on floor)​

Checking the electrical harness:​

Disconnect the switch wire then make a shunt by earthing it to a bodywork part. The handbrake warning light should then come on.

If this is not the case, the wiring harness must be reviewed (contact corrosion problem, cut wire, disconnected connector, out of order bulb, etc.). Warning: remember to check the intermediate connector located towards the fuse box.

Removing and changing the handbrake switch:​

Remove the 2 screws holding the handbrake lever then remove the switch fixing screw.



Remove the switch. If necessary, unscrew the handbrake adjustment nut in order to have enough slack to remove the switch.

Renault switch reference:
77 00 652 153

 

[JdeW]

Additionally the brake light schematics are very basic as seen in the attached picture for all post 1987 R4 models.
Just follow the cabling in the red outlined frame.
No. 29 is the dashboard
No. 31 is the second connector on the dash.
No. 27 is the pressure drop indicator on the main brake cilinder
No. 64 is the hand brake lever.

 

[AndrewB]

Many, many thanks. The intermediate connector was tucked away behind the fuse box and that is what had come apart. Why the wire ran across and up by the steering column still strikes me as odd, but probably someone had rewired at some stage because the wire was red, changing to black at the intermediate connector. Thanks again.

 

[angel]

The first cars fitted with front disc brakes and new style instrument panel had a dash mounted handbrake lever fitted at the right of the steering column. Renault soon changed it to an ordinary handbrake lever, and probably they just added an extension to the existing warning lamp wire instead of redesigning the rear part of the wiring harness.