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[thebeast]

Handbrake flashing intermittently when driving any ideas?

[Jimbob]

Low brake fluid.

[thebeast]

Yes brake pads need replacing but when do I replace them when sensor touches disc or when you can't stop!

[Jimbob]

Fluid, not pads.

The sensor is in the tank in the engine bay, when is a bit low you get the handbrake light intermittantly.

[Doctor Gollum]

Worn pads aren't the only reason the fluid is low...

If your car should have vented discs but has solid ones fitted with the original vented calipers, you might be one press of the pedal away from killing someone... Especially if the pads are low as the pistons will come out.

Best advice if unsure...

DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER INCH

[Nick W]

Yes brake pads need replacing but when do I replace them when sensor touches disc or when you can't stop!

pads are so cheap, you replace them as soon as you doubt their effectiveness. Doing so when the sensor touches the disc means you might not have to replace the disc as well. Braking systems are not an area where you can take shortcuts or just hope for the best.

[johnnydog]

Plus leaving the pads until the warning of low pads comes on means that you will have to replace the sensor as well. If you replace the pads before the warning light comes on, with care you can transfer the sensor from the old pads to the new if you need to save on the (relative inexpensive) cost.

[thebeast]

Thank you for your ideas 

[Doctor Gollum]

Plus leaving the pads until the warning of low pads comes on means that you will have to replace the sensor as well. If you replace the pads before the warning light comes on, with care you can transfer the sensor from the old pads to the new if you need to save on the (relative inexpensive) cost.

Ignoring the fact that the rear brakes don't have sensors on the Omega...

[johnnydog]

Yes brake pads need replacing but when do I replace them when sensor touches disc or when you can't stop!

pads are so cheap, you replace them as soon as you doubt their effectiveness. Doing so when the sensor touches the disc means you might not have to replace the disc as well. Braking systems are not an area where you can take shortcuts or just hope for the best.

Plus leaving the pads until the warning of low pads comes on means that you will have to replace the sensor as well. If you replace the pads before the warning light comes on, with care you can transfer the sensor from the old pads to the new if you need to save on the (relative inexpensive) cost.

Ignoring the fact that the rear brakes don't have sensors on the Omega...

Who mentioned anything about the rear brakes having brake pad wear sensors? Typical of the s/a comments that some certain OOFers (well, one in particular) see fit to post on this forum, which I thought was to help other owners rather than have desirory comments posted. As the OP referred to the pad wear sensors as did Nick W, then my comment seems quite logical - not as stupid as the comment about solid discs possibly being fitted instead of vented  I think the symptoms in that case would be a lot more than a flashing brake warning light 

[Doctor Gollum]

Handbrake flashing intermittently when driving any ideas?

And it wouldn't be the first Omega to have had solid discs fitted to vented calipers... When the pads get low, the pistons fall out.

Op, by his own admission, doesn't much seem to care one way or tother.

Without accurate information, 'topping up the brake fluid' is dangerous advice, hence my post.

Perhaps your opinion would be altered if he killed your wife or children when, not if, his brakes fail.

Badly worn pads are but one possible cause for the light illuminating... Fluid loss is the other.

[thebeast]

Having been a driver in excess of 29 years this is the 2nd omega I have owned the 1st one doing 330k and this one now on 170k this the 1st time I have seen this and hence I am asking and with regards to parts all are genuine having worked for the company that makes the car, like I did use the dealers on the 1st but always trainee ended up doing my car it was back and forth to the dealer hence I now only use experienced mechanics one is on here, now stop bickering like children 

[Doctor Gollum]

At little more detail about your car would help focus the advice

[thebeast]

Vauxhall omega 2002 cd 2.6v6 what more detail would you like doctor?

[VXL V6]

Vented rear discs on that model... Well should be