Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):

>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>
>> Really!
>
> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>

it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was told
that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could mean
(unless i was told wrong).
i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
warning? i would really appreciate it.



regards
rob

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):

>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>
>> Really!
>
> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>

it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was told
that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could mean
(unless i was told wrong).
i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
warning? i would really appreciate it.



regards
rob

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):

>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>
>> Really!
>
> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>

it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was told
that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could mean
(unless i was told wrong).
i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
warning? i would really appreciate it.



regards
rob

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:

> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone
> look up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking
> brake warning? i would really appreciate it.

I can't tell you about the A3 but on the A4 (B5 chassis at least) there
are pad wear indicators on the fronts. These will cause the instrument
light warning you describe, when one of them wears down to the limit.

There are no corresponding wear indicators on the A4 (B5) rears; visual
check is required every 3-4 months or so.

You say you "were told" that there were no wear indicators on the front.
Two possibilities:

1. The person telling you this is wrong. Remove a front wheel and look
for some wiring and a black plastic D-shaped connector, close to the top
of the wheel knuckle. You should find it mounted on a bracket.

2. Provision for pads with wear indicator wiring exists but in this
particular case some after-market pads without this were used, the
person telling you knows of this, and the wiring on the car was modified
accordingly.

Find out which of these is true. In any case, I bet that a visual
inspection of the pads on all 4 wheels will show that you need to
replace something.

Let us know what you find.

/Robert

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:

> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone
> look up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking
> brake warning? i would really appreciate it.

I can't tell you about the A3 but on the A4 (B5 chassis at least) there
are pad wear indicators on the fronts. These will cause the instrument
light warning you describe, when one of them wears down to the limit.

There are no corresponding wear indicators on the A4 (B5) rears; visual
check is required every 3-4 months or so.

You say you "were told" that there were no wear indicators on the front.
Two possibilities:

1. The person telling you this is wrong. Remove a front wheel and look
for some wiring and a black plastic D-shaped connector, close to the top
of the wheel knuckle. You should find it mounted on a bracket.

2. Provision for pads with wear indicator wiring exists but in this
particular case some after-market pads without this were used, the
person telling you knows of this, and the wiring on the car was modified
accordingly.

Find out which of these is true. In any case, I bet that a visual
inspection of the pads on all 4 wheels will show that you need to
replace something.

Let us know what you find.

/Robert

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:

> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone
> look up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking
> brake warning? i would really appreciate it.

I can't tell you about the A3 but on the A4 (B5 chassis at least) there
are pad wear indicators on the fronts. These will cause the instrument
light warning you describe, when one of them wears down to the limit.

There are no corresponding wear indicators on the A4 (B5) rears; visual
check is required every 3-4 months or so.

You say you "were told" that there were no wear indicators on the front.
Two possibilities:

1. The person telling you this is wrong. Remove a front wheel and look
for some wiring and a black plastic D-shaped connector, close to the top
of the wheel knuckle. You should find it mounted on a bracket.

2. Provision for pads with wear indicator wiring exists but in this
particular case some after-market pads without this were used, the
person telling you knows of this, and the wiring on the car was modified
accordingly.

Find out which of these is true. In any case, I bet that a visual
inspection of the pads on all 4 wheels will show that you need to
replace something.

Let us know what you find.

/Robert

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:

> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone
> look up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking
> brake warning? i would really appreciate it.

I can't tell you about the A3 but on the A4 (B5 chassis at least) there
are pad wear indicators on the fronts. These will cause the instrument
light warning you describe, when one of them wears down to the limit.

There are no corresponding wear indicators on the A4 (B5) rears; visual
check is required every 3-4 months or so.

You say you "were told" that there were no wear indicators on the front.
Two possibilities:

1. The person telling you this is wrong. Remove a front wheel and look
for some wiring and a black plastic D-shaped connector, close to the top
of the wheel knuckle. You should find it mounted on a bracket.

2. Provision for pads with wear indicator wiring exists but in this
particular case some after-market pads without this were used, the
person telling you knows of this, and the wiring on the car was modified
accordingly.

Find out which of these is true. In any case, I bet that a visual
inspection of the pads on all 4 wheels will show that you need to
replace something.

Let us know what you find.

/Robert

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:
> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
> up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
> warning? i would really appreciate it.
>
>
>
> regards
> rob
My 99 A3 has pad sensors. Suggest you take the wheels off and check the
pads and sensor leads. Mine only has a sensor on the nearside (left- UK)
front wheel.

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:
> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
> up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
> warning? i would really appreciate it.
>
>
>
> regards
> rob
My 99 A3 has pad sensors. Suggest you take the wheels off and check the
pads and sensor leads. Mine only has a sensor on the nearside (left- UK)
front wheel.

Re: A3 red control light - what does it mean
 

robert wrote:
> Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell <peter@invalid.org.uk> napisa³(a):
>
>>> If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.
>>>
>>> Really!
>>
>> Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low
>> fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?
>>
>
> it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was
> told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could
> mean (unless i was told wrong).
> i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look
> up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake
> warning? i would really appreciate it.
>
>
>
> regards
> rob
My 99 A3 has pad sensors. Suggest you take the wheels off and check the
pads and sensor leads. Mine only has a sensor on the nearside (left- UK)
front wheel.