Re: Occasional brake warning 'n' stuff

[Dave Head <dhead@sundial.sundial.net>]

At 03:05 PM 5/15/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Doug,
>
>There are 3 possible explanations for the sensor. I had experienced all
>of them in the 85' 5000s I used to own. 1) The sensor is no more than a 
>piece of wire that got embedded inside the brake pad itself roughly 
>4/5 down from the top of the pad, as your brake pad wear down to that 
>area it will cut the wire and cut/short the circuit that loop back to the 
>autocheck unit. The sensor is only on one of the two pads(usually the 
>inboard pad) on each side or pair of pads. It is possible that the pad that
>carries the connection is below the 20% when the other pad is still look fine.
>The 5000s with the single piston caliper has a tendency to wear the inboard 
>pad quicker than the out board pad since the piston acts on the in board 
>pad. 2) The second possible explanation is the wire embedded in the pad 
>got melted or snapped somewhere. I had melted one before. 3) Loose connectors
>for the brake wear sensor. 
>
>For 1 and 2. The light might come up occasionally at first because of 
>some partial connection and eventually it may become permanently on.
>
>Just remember it only take one side of the front brake system sensor to 
>turn that warning light on. 
>

Not always that simple. Mine started out that way, intermittent. Now its on
permanently. I have shorted the wires together upstream of the connector,
read sat on the pads with my ohm meter. First I'll go to the Auto Check unit
and short the input to verify its an "in between" problem. Next is to go to
the Kostal connector (shiver) check there, etc. My problem is somewhere
upstream. 
Haven't gotten around to it yet - now that the turbo is back on line, and
the after-run cooling awaits it's final part, Its time to recharge the AC
(HEY EVERYBODY - check those Schrader valves for tightness!), fix the #$%^@*
VDO odometer, pray the caps fix the ABS and the idiot who owned it before me
didn't put the wrong CV joint in (not even sure which one!), replace the
bomb, send out the Euros for replate, replace the trans mounts, AMSOIL the
trans and diffs - THEN maybe I'll worry about that sweet little yaller light
(proper homage to the Audi Gods required, always...)
********************************AUDI FAN******************************
EMCM(SW) Dave Head (nuclear grade electrician)
87 5KCSTQ 170K miles and not counting (damned VDO odometers)...
1.9 bar boost (charlie spring, no shim) - @ 1.3 the shuttle launches!
Maitland FL
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