Brake Pad Wear Warning on DIS

[Simon Wallwork]

Hi Folks

I put new Bosch pads in about a year ago, and all's been well.

I had an occasional hot brake, due to corroded calipers, but the car runs well now- I lubed the stainless skids with some WD40.

Nowadays though, the pad wear symbol is up on the DIS the whole time.

Today, I popped the front wheels off and checked the pads. Plenty left.

I popped the connections off and lubed up the area as it was a bit dry. Still the pad wear light is on!

I read Ians article on how to disable the warning, but can anyone suggest how to just restore it to normal operation?

Many thanks

Simon

[notorious]

In most cases electrical connector between car loom and brake pads wires gets corroded. Just open connector, wash with brake cleaner. Then clean the green/white oxide stuff and pry off connector a bit with a needle or smth to make better mechanical contact.

You can also order new electrical connectors from audi and change whole looms with connectors. Use Certoplast to wrap new looms.

I'd personally won't disable this beautiful feature.

[Simon Wallwork]

Thanks Notorious

I cleaned up the connections, where the brake pad wires join the loom.

They looked OK, no verdigris or grime. But I cleaned them up anyway.

Does anyone know at which point the warning is meant to come on? ie 7mm of pad left, for example?

[notorious]

I'd like to highlight importance of restoring tight contact. Cleaning is not enough. Just open connector housing and make female connectors tighter.

[Zip]

Does that light come on with low brake fluid as well...?

Worth checking....especially if your front calipers are binding.

That's what finally made me get my calipers refurbished.

Zip

[ainarssems]

No, brake fluid level have different red warning light not amber like for pads.

[Simon Wallwork]

Although the DIS 'Brake Pad' light was on when I set off to work today, when I drove home later, it stayed out most of the way home.

And after I switched off and back on, it remained out.

Must be a loose connection in the connector block.

The 'females' are in the lower part, ie the part attached to the pads. How can they be closed up to make them tighter?

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Simon Wallwork

The 'females' are in the lower part, ie the part attached to the pads. How can they be closed up to make them tighter?

With a needle-shaped object?

I had this issue and I don't remember what exactly I used and how the connector looked like. I fixed it this way.

[Norretal]

Good morning guys, I'm currently experiencing this problem (brake pad warning on DIS) though it's not as clear cut as it seemed at first. The pads have been fitted for around 7 months with no problems until recently, when the symbol appeared on the DIS. The pads aren't worn (about 3k miles done) and I've checked the wires underneath the outer sheath (all unmarked so don't look to have been broken or cut) and the connections show no oxidisation and seem secure, so I'm stumped. I don't want to disable the warning system (as shown in another thread by IT) so don't know what else I can look at now, any ideas?

If it's any help, the warning sometimes takes several miles to come on after moving away from standstill, or likewise it can be less than a mile. I'd have thought if it was a broken wire the warning would be on immediately after start up, am I wrong? The fact it's intermittent would seem to suggest a bad contact but they seem fine, I've opened up the female connections etc as suggested so I'm stuck for what to do next to be honest. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[Goran]

That is strange. maybe try a process of elimination. disconnect plug, light should come on.
Then short the connectors, light should go of. With connectors shorted, and assistant, shake the wire around and ask assistant to report if light flickers on.
That may tell you if the problem is on the car side, or perhaps inside the pad?