406 HDi 2001 Front Brake Pads Wear Warning Light

Advice required. Recently had a full service done at an independent garage.
They said the brakes needed renewing all round. Had new discs and pads at
front and rear pads replaced. Ever since the warning light that tells you
the front pads are wearing keeps flashing intermeittently whilst braking.

Mechanic said 'They're new brakes and will need bedding in', didn't want
to seem like complete F-wit so didn't ask him what he meant. AS a result
I've been leaving larger stopping distances between cars/lights/junctions
etc. and using gearbox for more engine braking whilst being quite light on
the pedal.

Is it just the sensor playing up as the pads/discs are new or does the
sensor need some form of 'tweaking' after new brakes are fitted?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

Technically, as soon as the pads are replaced the light should go out. The
way it works is within the pad there are fine electrical fibres towards the
end of the pad and they 'complete the circuit' so to speak and make the
light come on on your dash.

Assuming he has changed the pads then I would guess that one of the wires
that goes into the pads is loose/become disconnected and is earthing out on
the caliper or a piece of metal. This is what happened to me.

I would be tempted to jack it up and have a look by taking the wheels off -
follow the wires that come out of the pad and join the car wiring. See if
the place where they come out of the pad is loose.

If you don't want to do it, go back to your mechanic, and b*llock him for
stringing you a load of sh*te about "bedding in periods" as that is
irrelavant as doesnt concern the light. Will probably take him about 15
minutes.

HTH and I hope i'm right,
Oli

 

I've done the brake pad change myself. There are 2 wires on each front
wheel. The mechanic who changed your front brake pads must have done a doggy
job which cause one or more of the four wires touching the disc.

 

i would go back and tell him to fix it, he should have fitted new warning
sensors which should have come with the new pads, some "lazy" mechanics dont
bother fitting them and instead leave the old ones in (they push into the
edge of the pads)
you should allow about 50 miles or so to "bed in" the new pads, but this has
nothing to do with the sensors so your mechanic seems to be talking out of
his bum.
steve.
oxford

 

:i would go back and tell him to fix it, he should have fitted new warning
: sensors which should have come with the new pads, some "lazy" mechanics
dont
: bother fitting them and instead leave the old ones in (they push into the
: edge of the pads)
: you should allow about 50 miles or so to "bed in" the new pads, but this
has
: nothing to do with the sensors so your mechanic seems to be talking out of
: his bum.
: steve.
: oxford
:
:
:
: : > I've done the brake pad change myself. There are 2 wires on each front
: > wheel. The mechanic who changed your front brake pads must have done a
: doggy
: > job which cause one or more of the four wires touching the disc.
: >
: > : > >
: > > : > >> Advice required. Recently had a full service done at an independent
: > >> garage.
: > >> They said the brakes needed renewing all round. Had new discs and
pads
: at
: > >> front and rear pads replaced. Ever since the warning light that tells
: you
: > >> the front pads are wearing keeps flashing intermeittently whilst
: braking.
: > >>
: > >> Mechanic said 'They're new brakes and will need bedding in', didn't
: want
: > >> to seem like complete F-wit so didn't ask him what he meant. AS a
: result
: > >> I've been leaving larger stopping distances between
: cars/lights/junctions
: > >> etc. and using gearbox for more engine braking whilst being quite
light
: > >> on
: > >> the pedal.
: > >>
: > >> Is it just the sensor playing up as the pads/discs are new or does
the
: > >> sensor need some form of 'tweaking' after new brakes are fitted?
: > >>
: > >> Thanks in advance for advice.
: > >>
: > > Technically, as soon as the pads are replaced the light should go out.
: > > The way it works is within the pad there are fine electrical fibres
: > > towards the end of the pad and they 'complete the circuit' so to speak
: and
: > > make the light come on on your dash.
: > >
: > > Assuming he has changed the pads then I would guess that one of the
: wires
: > > that goes into the pads is loose/become disconnected and is earthing
out
: > > on the caliper or a piece of metal. This is what happened to me.
: > >
: > > I would be tempted to jack it up and have a look by taking the wheels
: > > off - follow the wires that come out of the pad and join the car
wiring.
: > > See if the place where they come out of the pad is loose.
: > >
: > > If you don't want to do it, go back to your mechanic, and b*llock him
: for
: > > stringing you a load of sh*te about "bedding in periods" as that is
: > > irrelavant as doesnt concern the light. Will probably take him about
15
: > > minutes.
: > >
: > > HTH and I hope i'm right,
: > > Oli
: > >
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:
wires on the pads are catching either wheel or disc
bad workmanship