This is a guide to repairing the brake wear sensor plug and socket.
Disclaimer
This guide is used entirely at your own risk. The author is not responsible for any consequences in following this guide. This guide is definitely not recommended for fixing the wheel rotation sensor.
Safety
As you will be working under the wheel arch without the wheel on, then support the car with axle stands. I slid a car ramp underneath the suspension with a block of hardwood on top. He then lower the vehicle until the ramp begins to take the weight (see photo 0)
Problem
The brake pair wear symbol is displayed on the dash board.
Note: the sensor is only on the near-side front brake pad. There is an electrical circuit through a wire in the pads. When the pads wear the wire is broken (open circuit) and the brake pad wear symbol is displayed. The symbol will also be displayed if there is a break in the wiring (cabling). A circuit diagram and diagnostic guide for an A3 can be found here:
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?68730-should-my-car-have-brake-pads-wear-indicator The A2 might be similar but diagnostic guide is probably the same.
Possible Reasons for the Fault
1. The brake pads are indeed worn – replace.
2. The wire from the pads to the plug/socket situated on the front suspension is broken – buy new pads.
3. The plug/socket is broken – if the socket is broken then buy new pads. If the plug is broken then either buy a sensor wire repair kit or repair as per this guide.
4. The wire from the plug/socket to the dash board is broken – if it is broken between the plug/socket and the main wiring harness then buy a sensor wire repair kit or possibly repair the wire yourself. If broken in the main wiring harness then a new wire will need to be run to the dashboard.
This guide covers situation 3.
Official solution for 3: The sensor wire repair kit is about £50. The kit has a Y cable for both the wheel rotation sensor and the break pad wear sensor. The cable is threaded through a hole in the wheel arch to the engine compartment. Here the old cable is cut and the new one soldered into the wiring harness.
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Disclaimer
This guide is used entirely at your own risk. The author is not responsible for any consequences in following this guide. This guide is definitely not recommended for fixing the wheel rotation sensor.
Safety
As you will be working under the wheel arch without the wheel on, then support the car with axle stands. I slid a car ramp underneath the suspension with a block of hardwood on top. He then lower the vehicle until the ramp begins to take the weight (see photo 0)
Problem
The brake pair wear symbol is displayed on the dash board.
Note: the sensor is only on the near-side front brake pad. There is an electrical circuit through a wire in the pads. When the pads wear the wire is broken (open circuit) and the brake pad wear symbol is displayed. The symbol will also be displayed if there is a break in the wiring (cabling). A circuit diagram and diagnostic guide for an A3 can be found here:
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?68730-should-my-car-have-brake-pads-wear-indicator The A2 might be similar but diagnostic guide is probably the same.
Possible Reasons for the Fault
1. The brake pads are indeed worn – replace.
2. The wire from the pads to the plug/socket situated on the front suspension is broken – buy new pads.
3. The plug/socket is broken – if the socket is broken then buy new pads. If the plug is broken then either buy a sensor wire repair kit or repair as per this guide.
4. The wire from the plug/socket to the dash board is broken – if it is broken between the plug/socket and the main wiring harness then buy a sensor wire repair kit or possibly repair the wire yourself. If broken in the main wiring harness then a new wire will need to be run to the dashboard.
This guide covers situation 3.
Official solution for 3: The sensor wire repair kit is about £50. The kit has a Y cable for both the wheel rotation sensor and the break pad wear sensor. The cable is threaded through a hole in the wheel arch to the engine compartment. Here the old cable is cut and the new one soldered into the wiring harness.
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