Rear brakes

[S47]

Recently the wife's 2002 beetle passed MOT but had an advisory - 'rear pads near minimum thickness'.
A month or so after MOT yellow brake warning light came on, on checking the handbook it says its coz the rear pads need changing OK fair enough - Well today I changed pads fully expecting the warning light to go out - NOPE it's still on!
Any Ideas how to get the light off - do I need to reset the system somehow, similar to the service warning indicator ??
TA

[t400ble]

Is there a wear pad sensor on the rear?

If so, did you change it?

[shtu]

Look at the front brakes.

[Dodsy]

shtu said:

Look at the front brakes.

This. Im not familiar with the Beetle but check your manual, you are likely to find only the fronts have wear indicators as they wear out much more quickly than the rears. I've only ever had front wear indicators on my cars. When you replaced the rears did the pads have wires that needed to be attached to the pads - if not then they probably dont have wear indicators.

If the rears do have indicators, did the old pads have wires attached but not the news ones - that would indicate you've got the wrong pads.

ETA also check your brake fluid level while you are at it.

[S47]

Couldn't see a sensor of any sort on rear.
Fronts have the audible 'squeaky' type of indicator, the front pads were changed B4 the MOT so they are OK,
Fluid level is also maxed - so its not that either - I'm baffled????
The new rear pads were identical to those removed - no wires on either?

Edited by S47 on Wednesday 26th October 14:17

[SuperchargedVR6]

Do the brake lights work? It might not be related to your situation, but I know from experience on the MK4 Golf platform that a bad pedal switch can cause the warning light to come on.

If everything looks good, you'll need to scan it with VAG-COM/VCDS to check for fault codes. Some codes need clearing manually in order to shut the warning up. If you don't have access to the above diagnostics, leaving the battery disconnected for 5-10 mins should achieve the same result.

[catso]

My experience of brake wear sensors is that they are only usually fitted to one of the front brakes only.

My A3 had it on the left side front IIRC and so 'assumes' that both sides wear evenly.

[S47]

SuoerchargedVR6
Don't have access to the vag codes you mention, However Disconnecting battery - maybe that'll work, if no one else can suggest a remedy I'll try the battey disconect
>
Rear brake lights work OK, so it ain't that.

[shtu]

Stop and think what you are saying,

"My brake pad wear light is on."

"I've only looked at the rear brakes."

"I didn't even find a wear sensor."

"Maybe disconnecting the battery will help."

This is simple. Check ALL the brake pads for wear - wheels off and a proper look at inner and outer pads. Someone else mentioned checking brake fluid - good idea.


Or, you could change your brand of screenwash, fit a new air freshener, and hope for the best. Your choice.

[jonwm]

As said above, my 2004 Leon had them fitted to front near side only, when i changed them the new ones didn't have sensors fitted (they were brembo's) so had to cut them off the old brake pads and stick the wires together, rears certainly did not hot have them

[Dodsy]

If youve had new pads all round its possible that the sensor cable on the front brakes wasnt fitted properly and has come off. Easy to check and you'll probably find you just need to push the connector back on.

[S47]

Thanks guys problem is NOT with fronts as I mentioned in my 1st post.
Battery disconnect didn't work either
I sense a bulb removal imminent

[shtu]

You mentioned that they had been worked on. That makes them prime suspect.

Let's go through that thought process again,

"Wife's car."

"Brake fault warning on."

"Take the bulb out."


I'm assuming she's got plenty life insurance, and you don't especially like her?

Seriously, get it sorted properly. Most likely is the pads have failed, been poorly installed, are missing the wear sensor, or been fitted by a chimp-fisted goon.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Is it this warning light?



If so, it might be one of those lights that can only be switched off with VAG-COM.

MK4s and MK5s were known for throwing this light erroneously, and many people turned it off with VAG-COM, or bridged the sensor wires together.

[S47]

SuperchargedVR6
Yep thats the yellow symbol on the display. Brakes work perfectly OK, so I know there's nowt wrong with them.
Bloody stupid German elctrics - oh for reliable Japanese electrics!!
Any easy way to reset, or is bulb removal the only option??
Please don't suggest taking it to a VW Scalper[dealer] - that ain't gonna happen

[SuperchargedVR6]

I wouldn't go down the bulb removal route. Those instrument clusters are notoriously fickle!

You just need someone with VAG-COM to turn the feature off, or as I say, cut the plug off the wear sensor and join the two wires together. I believe on the MK4/5 platform, the wear sensor is on the front passenger side.

[anonymous-user]

S47 said:

Thanks guys problem is NOT with fronts as I mentioned in my 1st post.
Battery disconnect didn't work either
I sense a bulb removal imminent

You don't need to remove a bulb, if you really don't want to use the wear sensors for what they are for then cut them off and cross the wires together, the light will never illuminate again.

[S47]

OK U win - I'll try cutting and joining the sensor wires as suggested, many thanks

[SuperchargedVR6]

Do it. Most people are capable of looking at their brake pads through the wheel spokes occasionally. Wear sensor lights are for lazy or absent minded folk