For the past few weeks, every once in awhile the DSC light, brake light and brake pad warning light simultaneously come on while driving. They stay on for about 10-30 seconds, then go off. There is no obvious pattern that I can determine, no obvious trigger. The brake pads are good and I know the hand brake isn't up. I assume the DSC isn't really turning off but that's hard to determine. Has anyone ever seen this before? I'm assuming it's an electronic gremlin but no idea how to track it down. (NOTE: To take the photo I was able to stop the car before the lights went off. They have never come on while stopped).

 

you might have to read live data regarding the abs sensors on the wheels. Also, just to get it out of the way, determine the life of the battery and its strength.

 

I would have guessed ABS sensors at the wheels. I remember reading something about them causing a light show and I have had intermittent issues which I believe was from them. But this seemed to be related to excessive brake squeal from the race pads.

However, another issue I once had where I saw with dash lights like this (not sure if it was identical, though) was related the wear pad sensor/wire. I thought I had it tied off well, but it was flapping in the breeze and the wire broke. This caused it to trip the lights. These are cheap and easy to replace.

 

Thanks Eddie07S. My sensor wires are also tied off so that could be it.

 

I think I found the problem. There is a brake fluid level sensor in the reservoir that went bad and that appears to be throwing the lights. I shorted it out and so far, so good. If the light doesn't come back after two more rides I'll make this a bit more permanent. To replace it, I'd need to replace the entire reservoir.

 

WOW!
How did you find that?

 

The lights were making me nuts so I asked my local MINI shop to hook it up to the diagnosis software to see if anything came up. It showed the bad sensor. I wasn’t aware there was a brake fluid sensor and as far as I’m concerned it’s a useless feature. I shorted it out to see if it was causing the lights and it was.

 

 

Well done!

 

That's an incredible trick to learn. But only if you know for sure that it's the brake fluid sensor should you do that. I've fought this for weeks, first it was left front ABS sensor, then it was the right front, then right rear. Took all 3 sensors going out pretty much one after another for me to clear all the lights on the dashboard. Looks like those ABS sensors and TPMS sensors are good up to about 10 years. I have two 09 MCS to tell me that much.

 

I was sure that the pads were good and the hand brake wasn’t on. Based on that I assumed the DSC was working even though the light was on. I did a track day and that was confirmed so I knew it had to be something else.