Brake warning light/brake problem

[gbbird]

I have noticed recently that my brakes sometimes go spongy and the pedal gradually loses pressure. For example, when stooped on a slighlt downhill gradient, one has to gradually keep pressing the pedal further and further until it reaches the metal, as the brakes seem to slowly loose their grip. I have to basically repump the pedal and it works again (for a while).

And, i have noticed that the handbrake/brake warning light is constantly on now, so i wonder if i have a fault in my braking system? I initially though the light was simply the handbrake not properly disengaging the light, but now, after reading my manual, it says it is not just a handbrake light but also a brake warning light, and that it will show if the brake fluid is low. I checked the brake fluid and it is fine. So, any other ideas what might be wrong, and are there any simple checks i could do?

g

[Julian64]

Unfortunately that sounds like the rubber seals in the master brake cylinder have gone.

Typical for a car who spends a lot of time not driven in a garage. Water collects above the oil in the piston barrel and rusts the barrel body.

When you start using the car the rubber seal dies a few times after scraping backward and forward on the rust.

Hopefully not too bad a job.

[gbbird]

Thanks Julian - will get it seen to

g