Breaking fault won't start

[hipwell]

Guys.

Bought a mk3 1.4 a few days ago as a temporary car for the wife and it's been fine

Today it decided it doesn't want to start. The error that comes on it's breaking fault.

It doesn't even attempt to turn over it just come up on the dash saying breaking fault beep beep and that's it.

I did notice the disks seem to be warped as there's a slight judder on breaking but I wouldn't have thought this would cause it to tell the car not to start.

Where do I start? The car has been faultless other than this for the last 3 days.

 

[hipwell]

Checked break fluid levels and gave the connectors to the fluid resivoor a clean but still dead.

 

[DrR]

I assume breaking means braking?

If so google "clio braking fault" suggests low brake fluid and low brake pads.

 

[hipwell]

Yeh breaking means braking lol.

Fluid is fine and pads have tonnes of meat on them.

 

[DrR]

That's my helpfulness gone then, the things that came up did suggest making sure brake fluid was right on max.

 

[imprezaworks]

Do not having brake lights stop these from running, like the switch gone down?

 

[hipwell]

Really. I can't believe that'd cause the engine to not even attempt to start.

I'll unplug the switch and see if it starts

 

[hipwell]

Sorted. Cleaned the earths and connectors to the rear lights and the braking fault went off but still wouldn't start.

Jump leads on and it fired up.

Could it be that the poor earth had caused the battery to drain?

 

[imprezaworks]

If it goes with leads then more then likely. Give it a decent run and check the battery if possible.

 

[hipwell]

Yeh will do.

Alternator was charging at 14.4v so hopefully I can rule that out.

Strange that cleaning the connectors to the rear lights solved the brake fault light.

 

[imprezaworks]

Had it on vauxhalls in work. Safety thing on modern cars, makes sense really.

Nothing worse than behind someone with no brake lights.

 

[hipwell]

Yeh suppose so. A bit of an idea where to start looking would be helpful though lol.