brake light & brake linings warning

rdgonzo · 05-03-2005, 07:15 PM

I have replaced the pads, front & rear, after the brake linings & brake light came on. My wife has a 1997 740IL. How do you clear these? I disconnected the batt neg cable. This did nothing. The sensors on the pads look ok. I chg. pads 3 days after the warning.

Thanks rdgonzo
914-6

Bear · 06-13-2005, 07:19 PM

May take a few days to clear, but I would look at the sensors if the problem does not go away ($5.00 to $8.00)

operationcougar · operationcougar's Garage

i just posted a question about this as well, i also got the "check brake light" prompt, but my lights are fine, how do i go about fixing this (i like the sound of fixing it for $5-$8)

Bear · 07-24-2005, 05:30 AM

The brakes have electrcial sensors that snap into the brake pads (left front outer pad and right rear outer pad). If these are worn to the point of triggering the light they have to be replaced. Basically they are metal faced and plastic covered and when the brake pad wears sufficinetly, the plastic is scrubbed off of the face of the sensor by the rotor, electical contact is made and the light comes on. Take a look at these, they are easy to replace as the slide into a slot in the pad and snpainto a electrical connector (just follow the wire to the hook up).

Frogurt42 · 08-22-2005, 06:08 PM

A check brake linings indicator and a check brake light indicator are two seperate concerns. To reset the lining light after pads have been replaced, get into car and close the door. Put on your seat belt and turn on the key (do not start the car) if after a minute or so it does not reset, check and make sure brake sensors are ok. They sometimes rub against the wheel after they are replaced, because they are usually not secured down correctly. Also check the pins at the connection where they are plugged in they sometimes become corroded. If all of this seems ok-you unfortunately have a wiring problem.

A brake light indicator comes on when a bulb is out. If your brake lights seem to working fine (don't forget the third brake light) check to see if any of the bulbs are burnt (your instrument cluster actually measure resistance across a bulb this will cause high resistance) if they are they are bad. Also check the housing your bulbs go into make sure the bottom of the bulb is not burnt off. And finally make sure you have the right bulbs. Aftermarket bulbs will set of the indicator or if they are the wrong wattage. (and if that still doesn't fix it you have a bad LCM most likely.

sorry for the long explanation but I hope this helps anyone who comes across these problems!