Brake Pad Warning?

[satsu]

Hi Guys,

My A4 is coming up to 4 years old and has done just over 36k. The brake pad warning light has started coming on intermittently. This seems very weird when the car just had a service a couple of weeks (and a couple of hundred miles) ago and the garage said the pads were fine. The outer pads all look ok but it's pretty much impossible to get at the inner ones without taking the wheel off.

The problem is that we're driving to the Scottish Highlands at the weekend and I'm going to struggle to get it into the garage before then. Any views on whether this is likely to be a dodgy sensor rather than an actual problem and anything I can do to fix it check?

Thanks

[SunnyBard]

Hi Guys,

My A4 is coming up to 4 years old and has done just over 36k. The brake pad warning light has started coming on intermittently.

Ah thanks, your question has partially answered one I've been meaning ot ask for a while ... what method does the A4 use for low pad detection? Is is the type with conducting wires in the pads, or just works by the fluid level getting low as the pads get further worn?

[markp306]

The brake pad warning light has started coming on intermittently. This seems very weird when the car just had a service a couple of weeks (and a couple of hundred miles) ago and the garage said the pads were fine.

I had an advisory from the garage that I would need front pads at the last service (29000miles-ish) and they said you have about 500 miles once the light is on. They didn't say if the light was permanent or intermittent though. I would expect permanent so can't offer any reason why yours is intermittent. I ran the car for another 4000 miles and then booked it in for new pads. The light still wasn't on but the garage decided I needed discs too! The discs were changed, but I made it clear to both Camberley Audi and Audi UK that I am unimpressed that the tyres are lasting longer than many parts on this car over its 3+ years, including: ignition switch, 2 different ECUs, aircon pressure switch, clutch, flywheel, door seals, and now the fuel filler lock. I'm wondering if any other manufacturer could actually do worse than this B8?

[magt1000]

I had an advisory from the garage that I would need front pads at the last service (29000miles-ish) and they said you have about 500 miles once the light is on. They didn't say if the light was permanent or intermittent though. I would expect permanent so can't offer any reason why yours is intermittent. I ran the car for another 4000 miles and then booked it in for new pads. The light still wasn't on but the garage decided I needed discs too! The discs were changed, but I made it clear to both Camberley Audi and Audi UK that I am unimpressed that the tyres are lasting longer than many parts on this car over its 3+ years, including: ignition switch, 2 different ECUs, aircon pressure switch, clutch, flywheel, door seals, and now the fuel filler lock. I'm wondering if any other manufacturer could actually do worse than this B8?

The joys of Cambridge Vindis Audi. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole....

My car has 102k on the clock, pads changed at approx 85k, still on the original discs...

[Gizmo68]

An intermittent light would suggest either an iffy brake pad plug connection or low brake fluid.