Autocheck Brake Pad Light

[S. Jaworski]

There is a wire in the brake pad material. When you wear thru it, it
produces an open circuit that the autocheck system senses . . and the brake
warning light comes on.

With the non audi pads installed, the autocheck system sees an open circuit
all the time. Why does light go on faster? Dunno, I suspect the two open
circuits produce a much higher resistance than when only one pad is open.
With only one circuit open, the auto check system maybe has to think about
it a bit before rendering a decision. With both circuits open . .its an open
and shut case(no pun intended) . . .and it issues out an alarm immediately.

Most ppl think the autocheck brake system works the other way around . ..
that a short occurs when the pads are worn out. Thats why you and the
mechanic think there is an electrical problem . . . with the circuit now
open the warning light should be out.

If you dont give a hoot about the autocheck brake warning(like yours truly),
just short out the brake pad connector at the caliper. Of course, the job
would be much simpler if you had the mating connector with wires from the
old pads. Just strip the wires and twist them together with wire nut, tape
it with electrical tape. Otherwise, you have to cut off the harness
connector and short the wires. The next owner might want the system to work
though.

Wired new pads for my 5k only cost $15. Put new ones in. The job is not
hard. Besides, I always thought the ability to work on an audi was a
prerequisite to owning one.

Syl
88 5kq
90 100q


> Message: 6
> Reply-To: "Ryan Gemmill" <Gemmill at flashmail.com>
> From: "Ryan Gemmill" <Gemmill3 at flashmail.com>
> To: <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: Autocheck Brake Pad Light
> Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 20:45:57 -0400
>
> Quats,
>
> Yesterday I had a competent (but not neccesarily Audi proficient) shop
> replace the front pads and rotors on my '91 200 (they do mostly Porsche
> work). Autocheck's brake pad warning light had been coming on every time I
> started the car, but never right away when I turned on the iginition. It
> always went on a few seconds after the car went into motion. The old pads
> were worn to the point where the sensor would be triggered. The new pads
do
> not have a sensor for Autocheck. Now, the brake pad warning light comes on
> the instant I turn on the ignition.
>
> The shop considered it an electrical problem, but that doesn't explain why
> the light comes on so quickly now, and not before. I'm leaning towards the
> idea that the sensor wires are not properly tied down. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
>
> Ryan Gemmill
> 91 200