Brake pad sensor warning light

[chanlon1]

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]

It should do

 

[enuff_zed]

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]

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]

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

 

[bigwinn]

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

Unplugged front and rear and cleaned the connections- light gone

 

[Zedebee]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Zedebee]

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]

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]

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.

 

[chanlon1]

Back home now and I checked the two sensors. One was plugged in, the other wasn't...doh....however, the light was still on the dashboard when I reconnected it.
Took the car out for a drive and the lights stayed on.
Once back home, I put the car in the driveway, stoped the engine, but when I went to start the engine, it wouldn't (will create another thread about this...think its the starter motor), however, I am pretty sure the light had disappeared.

 

[colb]

The Creator 310+ menu is a bit clunky and reads modules one at a time though the selected menu Engine, Chassis or Body but once you know your way around where each module lives in the menu its not really a bother. Higher end scanners that use Tablet form like Autel Launch and Top Don do of course they do a full health report and scans all modules in one go producing a detailed report. If you want that kind of scanner then your looking at £300+ depending on Brand and if its a Chinese Clone. Creator at circa £50 is a bargain for what it can do.

 

[chanlon1]

The Creator 310+ menu is a bit clunky and reads modules one at a time though the selected menu Engine, Chassis or Body but once you know your way around where each module lives in the menu its not really a bother. Higher end scanners that use Tablet form like Autel Launch and Top Don do of course they do a full health report and scans all modules in one go producing a detailed report. If you want that kind of scanner then your looking at £300+ depending on Brand and if its a Chinese Clone. Creator at circa £50 is a bargain for what it can do.

I had a longer play around with the c310+ yesterday trying to see if I could find anything to do with brake wear sensors. Couldn’t find anything but did get a bit more familiar with the menu structure.
One thing I did discover was that it’s not running the latest software and since I am a Mac user, I can’t update it. Need to find a windows machine somewhere….

 

[pvr]

:wink: Bootcamp

 

[colb]

Current version is 12.05 which can be updated using the Creator update software on a Windows laptop. Updated one the other day for a fellow member who had a used Creator on version 7.
Run Windows on a Mac see here
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102622