Brake pad sensor warning light

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 3:05 pm

Changed the pads on the E86 recently and afterwards the brake pad sensor warning light was on the dashboard.
Can’t recall if I didn’t reattach the sensor correctly or broke it etc but that’s not my question.
Would scanning the car with an OBD scanner show any codes for this. I’m not near the car for a couple of days so can’t try. I’ve a Creator 310 and curious if it would tell me if the front or back sensor at fault.

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 4:56 pm

It should do

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:26 pm

Depending what wheels you have on, you may even be able to see if it's fallen out.
Often an issue where they don't fit tightly into new pads, fall out and get trapped/damaged by the disc.

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:48 pm

I’ll get a chance at the weekend to take a look. I just know that last weekend all new pads went in. I replaced only one sensor as the other was relatively new, but can’t recall if I actually connected it back up to the little black box. I know for sure at least one of the sensors I disconnected completely.
Also, on the older of the two sensors, where it connects to the pads, the metal clip came away, so I remember kind of shoving it back in….possible it’s fallen off….

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:40 pm

Do you work for a dealer with that sort of memory?

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:18 pm

Recently I had a brake sensor warning showing- but both were 'ok'

Unplugged front and rear and cleaned the connections- light gone

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:42 pm

It may be that disconnecting the sensor caused a fault code and the light to come on. You might just need to clear it and it will go away.

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 8:05 pm

Zedebee wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:42 pm It may be that disconnecting the sensor caused a fault code and the light to come on. You might just need to clear it and it will go away.

Is there a certain process to clear it?

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 11:10 pm

If you have a Creator 310+, just go to the relevant menu (it’ll be under the Chassis menu somewhere), select Read Fault Code to check what and where the fault is, then select Clear Fault Code, then Read Fault Code again to check it’s gone. The dashboard light should go out too. If not, then you know you have an actual fault that needs fixing.

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 7:08 am

Zedebee wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2024 11:10 pm If you have a Creator 310+, just go to the relevant menu (it’ll be under the Chassis menu somewhere), select Read Fault Code to check what and where the fault is, then select Clear Fault Code, then Read Fault Code again to check it’s gone. The dashboard light should go out too. If not, then you know you have an actual fault that needs fixing.

Thanks. I’ll take a look. Don’t ever recall seeing anything to do with brake pad sensors under the chassis menu though.

kis · Post by **kis** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:13 am

AFAIK the code will clear itself after a few miles?

If the sensor was connected back up, the error light will only come when the wire is broken. So either damaged and needs to be replaced or re-connected.

On our R50 the sensor broke on removal. They go incredibly brittle - and as you experienced the little metal retaining clip for the pads often springs away into oblivion. So I got the broken sensor and soldered the two wires together. I check it frequently enough to not need the prompt.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:15 am

Yep, goes off by itself when I replaced the sensor and pad. £10 eBay sensor

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:24 am

chanlon1 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 7:08 am
Zedebee wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2024 11:10 pm If you have a Creator 310+, just go to the relevant menu (it’ll be under the Chassis menu somewhere), select Read Fault Code to check what and where the fault is, then select Clear Fault Code, then Read Fault Code again to check it’s gone. The dashboard light should go out too. If not, then you know you have an actual fault that needs fixing.
Thanks. I’ll take a look. Don’t ever recall seeing anything to do with brake pad sensors under the chassis menu though.

There isn’t, as far as I know, but there must be a code somewhere for the dashboard light to be activated, and that’s where I reckon it would be. The procedure for clearing codes is the same whatever menu they appear in, but I’m sure you knew that already.

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:27 am

Zedebee wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:24 am There must be a code somewhere for the dashboard light to be activated, and that’s where I reckon it would be. The procedure for clearing codes is the same whatever menu they appear in, but I’m sure you knew that already.

Yeah, I’ve seen the Read Codes and Clear Codes options. Maybe just clear everything and see.
I do wish the Creator would scan everything at one go as I always find the menu quite clunky.

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:28 pm

There is no error code for this one. New sensor was £4.99 from eBay for my car. The light went away on its own after the second or maybe third restart.

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