I have had the same issue off and on since the last time I had front pads put on. I am going to to do rear pads tomorrow and take the snow tires off. While I am in there I am going to look for broken wire, if I cannot find anything wrong I am going to just cut the wires from the pad and connect them together. I am hoping this will resolve the issue as I have to get the annual safety inspection on Tuesday.

 

My guess is that your mechanic just screwed up and shorted one of the wires to the brake pads. Note only the fronts have sensors so if your mechanic says the rears look good get another mechanic.

 

pics would be nice to see where he screwed up.

 

he knew there were not rear sensors. I'll have him take another look and test to see if the connection was shorted. I, myself, am kinda shooting in the dark here. I just take what I hear from him and throw it up here. I don't actually have any idea what the sensor looks like, what the connection looks like, or if there is even a wire that has to be connected (I would assume their is a loose wire that just connects to the pad or something). If someone had pictures of a proper VW brake assembly or maybe could explain how exactly it is put together that would really help me out because I'm just curious to know what's going for future reference.

My mechanic primarily does hondas and toyotas, but I've trusted him with most of my car work (that are general fixes) and never had problems. He will always tell me when there is something he would rather not do and have a certified vw mechanic do it.

 

We have brake pad check lights? Zomg, i'm so selling my car....

 

Try this:
Unhook both battery cables from the battery for at least 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes is up, touch both the neg and pos cables to each other for about a second. This usually discharges the capacitor that "holds" the code.

Reconnect the cables to the battery, start your car, and check for the warning light.


Hope it works for you. Lemme know, ok?





uu8

 

i'm a bit concerned about this procedure to discharge a capacitor.

i would use a resistor to slowly discharge it or just leave it overnight.

but it is my 2 cents

 

IF i touch the neg/pos together (makes me feel like i'm blowing up my car) and the capacitor actually discharges will that reset my key fob as well? and will i need any sort of code to 'reactivate' my radio. my mechanic was worried that if i disconnected the battery that my radio MIGHT require a code to be able to turn on again. i had no idea what the code would possibly have been and i said screw it and just unplugged the negative for about 5 minutes and the radio was fine.

any other thoughts on this tapping neg/pos together? worst thing that could happen by doing that?

 

do you think the brake codes are something a scanner at AutoZone would be able to clear? or would that require something from VW?

 

I just fixed mine, I had to jump a wire from one contact to the other. Somewhere in the wire from the connector to the pad one of the wires must have been broken. I used a short piece of wire to make the connection.

 

Yes there is a Radio Code (call the nearest dealership and they can tell you your code).

No need to jump your battery (i shuddered when I read that)

What I did to get rid of that code was to disconnect the sensor from the back of the brake pad. cut the wire about an inch below the connector and twist and secure them together. This tricks the computer into thinking the sensor is reading "OK".

If you do this and for some reason the warning is still present you have a couple options. Drive the car for 4 or 5 cycles (a cycle being - Start car, drive, turn off car). Or go to the nearest Autozone or similar parts store and have then scan your car and clear the warning light.


You don't really need to have the brake pad wear sensor if you are half-way competent about your car. Just look down there every 3 months or so and visually see how worn down your pads are.

 

I called AutoZone and they said that their scanner would not remove the indicator light code and that it was just for other engine codes. So, do you suppose that is correct and if so is there a shop that anyone knows of where I could just get that code erased and avoid the VW stealership. I don't want to pay $85 diagnostic fee just to remove a code.

 

This would be a good time to buy a $10 ebay Vag cable and download the VagCom freeware. If you want, you can then upgrade it to a licencsed copy for $99.

 

The light comes on if there is no continuity - if thewire breaks, or the sensor gets worn away (breaking it's continuity). It goes straight off if there is continuity. There are no codes to reset or batteries to disconnect, or things to buy. Just take the wheels off, unplug the sensor from the loom on the inner wing, and check for continuity through the sensor (there should be) and then try shorting the loom connector on the inner wings with a short jumper wire, the light/message should disappear. Some garages get the wrong pads for earlier cars and while they do fit, they don't come with sensors, so they refit the old ones thinking that they are triggered by the sensor shoring to earth via the disc, but they are incorrect.

 

alright. well i'll get my mechanic to test the connection middle of this week. he still has to replace a couple more items and put new struts on so he will have the front end off the ground anyways. thanks for all the input and i'll post my result and let you know if we find the issue.

 

snapdragon, i took off one wheel and looked at everything (first time) to get an idea of what I would be explaining to my mechanic. I was going to try and short the loom connector and see if I could get the light off but I had an issue getting the brake-side connection loose so I just stopped prying because I saw a small plastic clip already torn slightly. Is there something I have to unclip before the connector comes out? I want to take another look at it tomorrow along with the left side to see if I can resolve it myself.

*and just so I know... when buying new brake pads AND new sensors would the sensors look like a 6 inch long cable with the connector at one end?*

 

When you buy new pads make sure they come with sensors. They will have a length of cable about 6 inches long with one end attached to the brake pad and the other end a female(?) connection.