Hi All,

My pad wear sensor has tripped (both front and rear) and I have since installed some EBC greenstuffs. My question is how do I get rid of the pad sensor warning? I don't really want to buy a new sensor and I am assuming that modding the sensor should be an easy fix (it was on my audi S4, just clip the sensor and splice the wires).

With the Mini I have cut the wires and spliced them but the light remains. I figured that perhaps the Mini looks for an open circuit so I unspliced the wires but the light still remained on. I asked the Mini dealship and they replied that the ECU looks for an open circuit and that perhaps the light remained on after cutting the wire due to it holding the fault code in memory. The dealer tried to reset the ECU with no luck. I'm lost and I need help. I know non OEM pads are being used by others and I know it shouldn't be this hard... Please help!

Rob

 

It is my understanding that the pad sensors need to be replaced after the warning light is illuminated. There is no other way around it. I think they're about $20 each (you need a front sensor and a back sensor)

 

I would be VERY careful about cutting ANY wires in your MINI...

 

Try putting the key in the start position, not running, and hold the brake peddle down. After thirty seconds the light should go out if the circiut is ok. That is how it works on bmw's anyway.

The light goes on when the sensor is cut. Which to me says that the ecu is looking for a specific resistance, so jumping should be ok as long as the resistor is still in line.

You coud just replace them and not actually plug them into the pads, just zip tie them away. I think they are only a few dollars.

 

ROFL! Another example that the dealerships are DUMB. The Brake Pad Wear Sensor usually sees a short. If the sensor hits the rotor, it'll open the circuit and throw the light on the IP. You need to short the two wires going to the sensor to get the light to turn off. It will take an ignition cycle to turn the light off. Of note, the "wires" used are not typical electrical wire, and are VERY tough to solder. "Ghetto twists" are probably a better overall idea.

I agree; especially if you DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

 

This is exactly right. I tripped my pad sensor light, tried all kinds of things to get rid of the light. Only thing that finally worked was replacing both the front and rear sensor cords. I did not place the new sensors back on the pads. After ignitiion turned back on the light was still there and we thought we had failed yet again, however after about 10 minutes of driving the light went out -- and never came back on.

 

I believe if you have closed the short, the flat tire monitor button will reset the brake light by holding the button down. I tried this multiple times during my brake pad writeup and it seemed to work everytime.

You're right the only way to get the light off is to replace the sensor. I believe it cost me around $16 per sensor--you will need 2 if both front and back are worn down. Not sure how you wore both down unless you never replaced the front--that is--the rear wears down much slower, so the front sensor would have triggered the light long before the rear would.

Plugging the new sensor wires takes just a few minutes--very easy to do.

Front brake pad and sensor writeup

Rear pad and sensor


Sensor Wire

 

So . . . is it right to draw the conclusion that removing the pad sensors BEFORE they are tripped and tying them out of the way will avoid this issue altogether? (assuming you're able to keep an eye on brake pad wear without "help").

Thanks,
Joe

 

Yes.