Explanation of brake pad wear warning light (and MOT)
Can anyone explain exactly how the brake pad wear system works on an FL D2?
Mine came on part way home from The Meet, but went off after an overnight park up at home. Then came on somewhat later. Visually all pads look OK with a fair bit (several mm) left though the front discs are badly scored and will need replacing.
It seems to stay on once on but isn't on after an ignition cycle, presumably a "lock" somewhere that resets after an ignition off.
Nothing showing on VCDS so I'm guessing this is simple circuits/relays or similar.
After hearing various tales about dodgy wiring near the brakes or (worse) deeper in the car I decided to test it yesterday as I had a couple of 40-mile journeys to make.
It stayed off through many miles of driving as long as I only braked gently and used the gears/engine to slow down most of the time. Corners, bumps and other movements had no effect, ONLY applying the brakes reasonably firmly.
So how exactly does it work - e.g. wires embedded in the pad that are shorted by the disc?
And is this an MOT fail or just advisory - assuming the brakes otherwise work OK. Mine is due fairly soon I think.
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2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions and extended leather. Ski hatch retrofit. Aftermarket reversing camera. DVB-T and XCarlink now removed as redundant.
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation".  (Even rarer than a D2 S8!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one! 
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. Agate Grey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, Tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course.  (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon. Added Auto-dim mirror, Leather seats, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!
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