Fault in Brake System Warning

[Ian W]

I got the fault in brake system warning lamp up on my S3 today.

Any idea what its likely to be? Only seems to happen when I go round corners, it was serviced in Jan and had the brake fluid changed then.

Brakes are working fine other than it needing new disks and pads up front.

Anyone else had this and found an easy fix?

 

[HTC]

Possibly the wire for the brake pad sensor has rubbed through and touching metal.

 

[Ian W]

I joined the brake pad wires together 6 months ago as I had the brake pad warning light on as the wire was snapped, if its gone again and touching something could it be causing the warning?

 

[Andy D]

I had the same problem last week.

The warning light usually illuminated when going round a corner and would go off and on again throughout my journey. I checked the brake fluid and it look okay so just added a little bit more just incase.

It seems to have cured the problem, it hasn't come on now for two days, I'm taking it to a local VW dealer tomorrow morning just to have it checked...just incase.

 

[Ian W]

My plan is to top it up with fluid and see what happens.

Thats was my next question...is normal DOT 5.1 stuff ok to use?

 

[Andy D]

Yip 5:1 is what I bought, 250ml bottle from halfords, I think it was 3.99.

Used less than a quarter of the bottle.

 

[Ian W]

Should have a bottle or 2 in the garage anyway, i'll top it up tomorrow...

Cheers

 

[Dave_Bayern]

DOT5.1 Will mix fine with DOT4, but its DOT4 the Garage puts in your car as standard.

You should bleed and flush the fluid and fll it with DOT5.1 really, not just mix brake fluid.

To do it yourself you will need:

1 Bottle brake fluid
11mm spanner
Gunsons Eezibleed

So total price of £30.

 

[Ian W]

I checked the fluid yesterday and it was low, topped it up and its fine now

Probably bleed them when I fit new disks and pads in a few weeks.

 

[grathies]

I know alot of people who do alot of track day's that seem to have sworn off using DOT5.1

They seem to prefer Castrol Response Super DOT4 for its heat-range capabilitys