Break Pad Light (tried all things found on forum) - HELP
 

My mechanic has told me that he has replaced front and rear pads when doing the breaks. Also tried 2 sets of sensors and cannot get the light to go off.

I have tried all the things found on the internet. Playing with the dash tests, key in 2nd position with foot on break. Nothing seems to get the light off. My mechanic said he thinks maybe it's something wrong with the computer and could investigate if I wanted him to.

My question is, is there anything else I can try? Is there a chance, he has not replaced the sensors? Thanks!

Have you tried driving the car for a few miles to see if it will go off?

Yes. I've driven a long ways. Mechanic replaced all pads and forgot to replace sensors. I was too busy to ever get back for him to do so and drove months with the light on. Finally got it back to him when he told me that new sensors aren't working to get the light off.

Also forgot to mention it's an 03.

Make sure when he insert the brake pad sensors into the main plug you have to push the end all the way in till it clips, also inspect the inside of the sensor so the little pins receive into the female plug end correctly. I have seen the pins have been a little off they when connection the plug end to the main harness, bends the pins , thus the connection is not made.

What production month is you 2003 ?

The front sensor looks like this on the end. There is little pins inside that housing.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/34356778175/ES61989/
http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/37851_x600.jpg
http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/375352_x600.jpg


Rear sensor

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/34356761448/ES61973/
http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/37848_x600.jpg
http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/37850_x600.jpg


Thanks and let me know what you find out?

Thanks. I will take a look. It seems as though I am going to need to go in and check the connections. If this does not work, which is a possibility as my mechanic said he tried 2 sets, could it really be some sort of computer malfunction?

I would check those connections first and also inspect the wiring running to the back connections housing on the female side ( main harness ). You can run a wire to complete the circuit after that and test the receiver pins on main harness side. That should trouble shoot your brake wire connection.

This happened to me once before. For some reason the internal resistance of the new sensors was just a little too high and the computer would not recognize them as new sensors. If you still have the old sensors, cut the plastic sensor piece off the end and splice the wires together to create an electrical short. Plug the modified sensors into the wiring harness and turn the ignition on. The light should reset itself.
Turn the ignition off before unplugging the modified sensors and plugging the news ones back in.
If you don't have the old sensors you can try shorting the two contacts with a thin piece of bent wire.

Thanks everyone. Will be looking into this weekend. Going to get in there and check all connections. I am not the most mechanically inclined, but can follow directions and have common sense. I think getting in there and understanding how the sensors work may help me troubleshoot.

If I "short them out" to get the light off, I assume the light will never come on and will need to just keep an eye on the pads moving forward?

He was talking as a reset for the light and once its clear to reinstall the new ones. Just to trick the computer.

+1

"If I "short them out" to get the light off, I assume the light will never come on and will need to just keep an eye on the pads moving forward?" Yep! Think about what people did a few years ago when none of these idiotic "features" were incorporated into vehicles...They just looked at their brake pads and changed them when they got low. Disc pads can be seen on both sides without taking the wheels off (the inboard ones with an inspection mirror).

to verify the correct reset procedure for the brake sensor warning is to have no feet on the pedals or anything else and turn the key to the 'run' position

DO NOT START

sit this way for 30 seconds (or a bit more)

then turn off

then start and the light should be out - if everything has been connected correctly

GEN1 ONLY ..... GEN2 is different.

Correct. Turn key to run. Wait for light to go out. Done.

Is there some reason why you just don't take your car to your Mini dealer? Brakes are a serious safety issue, since you are having so much trouble with the sensor there might be other issues causing the problem in the first place. I know the dealer fees might be high but how much time and energy have you spent trying to figure out the problem yourself? Not to mention the degree of anxiety caused by an operational safety related issue. I've done a great deal of mods myself on my 2002 JCW including brake upgrades but when stuff like the problem you are having ocurres I've always handed it over to my Mini dealer and its been resolved within a few hours. And no, I have no affliation at all with Mini other than being a happy owner of my 2002 JCW since new.

Thanks all. Ive been off the grid lately. I still have not resolved the issue. Car is running fine, car breaks fine, just still have the light on. I looked at the connections and everything seemed to be connected and ok. I think I may just bite the bullet and go with Hank's advice. AKA the mini dealership. At the end of the day, I'm not a mechanic.