Brake warning light problems, looking for advice please!

[Shire]

Hi all,

I've had my Z4 for just over a week now and whilst driving this evening I heard a beep and the following two warning lights popped up on the dash:

So I pulled over about half a mile down the road, had a quick look at the handbook and thought 'Oh, I must have caught the handbrake with my sleeve' because when I started the car the lights went out until they came on again about 3 miles later.

Please tell me I'm being a noob and I've overlooked something as the picture above (taken from the handbook) sounds bad/expensive!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shire]

Searching suggests it could be a number of things from low tyre pressures all the way up to a £2000 repair bill! Ouch!

I'll get it checked out just in case but I'll chuck some air in the tyres first :?

 

[mr wilks]

don,t panic too soon .
current BM,s (from 2004) can throw up warnings & errors that may not actually be specific .
low battery can do it ? if you have a conditioner/charger leave it on for 24 hours

 

[Shire]

Hi mr wilks, thanks for your input. The car is only driven at weekends so that might be something to do with it. I don't have a charger but I do have a scangauge so I'll try plugging that in to see if there are any error codes.

 

[bcworkz]

Since it's not emissions related, you won't get useful info from a generic scan tool. You'll need BMW software to get actionable info. The only other cheap fix I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is to ensure the ABS sensors are clear of mud or other debris.

 

[mr wilks]

Hi mr wilks, thanks for your input. The car is only driven at weekends so that might be something to do with it. I don't have a charger but I do have a scangauge so I'll try plugging that in to see if there are any error codes.

treat your Z to a conditioner charger & it will reward you
they were selling generic versions of the ctek at LIDL earlier in year for £15 but not sure if any still available ?
if not then its nearer £50 i,m afraid for the "branded" version http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTE-MXS5-0-12V-Battery-Charger/dp/B004ZWV1JI/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1354213037&sr=8-14

 

[Shire]

Well I've checked the brake fluid level and that's on max so I know it's not that. I then spent an hour in the cold cleaning the bonnet catch as the bonnet woulnt open. chucked a load of WD40 on it, shut it and tried opening it again but it appears that didnt help...

Off to my folks house to use my step Dads multimeter so will report back shortly!

Since it's not emissions related, you won't get useful info from a generic scan tool. You'll need BMW software to get actionable info. The only other cheap fix I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is to ensure the ABS sensors are clear of mud or other debris.

Could you tell me where I might find them please? I assume they're on the hubs (all 4 wheels)? Failing that, it'll be off to an Indy to see if there are any fault codes.

 

[gerald_tvr]

Almost certainly it's a faulty DSC pressure sensor, there are two attached to the master cylinder, get the error codes read by either a dealer or much better an Independant specialist, had identical problem about £150 all in at an Indy.

 

[Shire]

Hi mr wilks, thanks for your input. The car is only driven at weekends so that might be something to do with it. I don't have a charger but I do have a scangauge so I'll try plugging that in to see if there are any error codes.

treat your Z to a conditioner charger & it will reward you
they were selling generic versions of the ctek at LIDL earlier in year for £15 but not sure if any still available ?
if not then its nearer £50 i,m afraid for the "branded" version http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTE-MXS5-0-12V-Battery-Charger/dp/B004ZWV1JI/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1354213037&sr=8-14

So it's not the battery, was reading a healthy 12v with the engine off and 13 odd with the engine running.

Just driven about 20 miles and the lights didn't come on again. Very strange!

 

[Shire]

Almost certainly it's a faulty DSC pressure sensor, there are two attached to the master cylinder, get the error codes read by either a dealer or much better an Independant specialist, had identical problem about £150 all in at an Indy.

Does the garage need an autologic machine to read the codes? Looks like I'll need to take it somewhere local this weekend for piece of mind

 

[nfarmer]

Almost certainly it's a faulty DSC pressure sensor, there are two attached to the master cylinder, get the error codes read by either a dealer or much better an Independant specialist, had identical problem about £150 all in at an Indy.

Does the garage need an autologic machine to read the codes? Looks like I'll need to take it somewhere local this weekend for piece of mind

Yes or BMW software etc - some on here have it INPA or DIS. Could be someone with the software near Oxford

Norman

 

[Shire]

Almost certainly it's a faulty DSC pressure sensor, there are two attached to the master cylinder, get the error codes read by either a dealer or much better an Independant specialist, had identical problem about £150 all in at an Indy.

Does the garage need an autologic machine to read the codes? Looks like I'll need to take it somewhere local this weekend for piece of mind

Yes or BMW software etc - some on here have it INPA or DIS. Could be someone with the software near Oxford

Norman

Cheers Norman, I'll make a new thread to see if anyone is available as I'm really struggling to find somewhere that's open in a Saturday.

 

[bcworkz]

Could you tell me where I might find them please? I assume they're on the hubs (all 4 wheels)? Failing that, it'll be off to an Indy to see if there are any fault codes.

The fronts are the only ones likely to be confused by debris accumulation, the rears are well buried. On one side, there will be two bits on the spindle carrier with electrical wires running to them, the ABS sensor and the brake wear sensor. The other side will not have a brake sensor. I forget which side has the wear sensor.

 

[Shire]

Thanks for that. A little more digging found this page which was quite useful:

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28300

 

[TINO]

yep clean sensors on all wheels,I have found sometimes light still on but by turning the ignetion on and of 4 or 5 times without starting seems to reset lights and out they go,worked on mine clean sensors every 6 months now,think it's just learning to live with a zed, hope it works for you.