Passat 2003 Dash light on

zulfikarMD · 23-12-2010 1:47pm #1

Hi I am getting dashboard light turned on few mins after starting my passat 2003 1.9 TDI. Can someone tell me what is it indicating? is this a big issue? Can I drive car like this?

Thank you.

VinnyTGM · 23-12-2010 1:54pm

Thats a handbrake/brake warning symbol.

It might be low on brake fluid.
Or the handbrake could be sticking due to this cold weather.

Does it emit a beep/warning sound?

the merchant · 23-12-2010 1:54pm

You need brake pads!!

zulfikarMD · 23-12-2010 1:55pm

VinnyTGM wrote: »

Thats a handbrake/brake warning symbol.

It might be low on brake fluid.
Or the handbrake could be sticking due to this cold weather.

Does it emit a beep/warning sound?

it does emit a beep just once and lights stays on while driving.

zulfikarMD · 23-12-2010 1:57pm

the merchant wrote: »

You need brake pads!!

brakes are hard. not sure if break pads are issue? how do i see if break pads are worn out?

RoadRunner · 23-12-2010 1:59pm

Brake pads are worn.

MidlandsM · 23-12-2010 2:01pm

its a case of RTFM.

Turner · 23-12-2010 2:01pm

It is s brake pad symbol, take off a wheel and have a look, you will also need a new brake pad sensor.

The Falcon · 23-12-2010 2:33pm

If the brake pads are badly worn you get a grinding noise - Pads are down to the metal so you have metal on metal contact with pad and disc.

If you drive with pads that are worn out you risk damaging the disc! So change them soon!:(

zulfikarMD · 23-12-2010 3:49pm

The Falcon wrote: »

If the brake pads are badly worn you get a grinding noise - Pads are down to the metal so you have metal on metal contact with pad and disc.

If you drive with pads that are worn out you risk damaging the disc! So change them soon!:(

Thank you all.

87pio · 23-12-2010 5:42pm

It's only a sign that you'll have to change brake pads. they're not completely worn yet. But they will be in the next few hundred miles. They're not that dear anyway

zulfikarMD · 23-12-2010 6:02pm

Just confirmed with previous owner and he said brake pads were replaced few hundred miles ago. Anything else I need to check?

Tea drinker · 23-12-2010 6:13pm

zulfikarMD wrote: »

Just confirmed with previous owner and he said brake pads were replaced few hundred miles ago. Anything else I need to check?

Maybe they only replaced the rear set (for example)
Otherwise a sticking caliper could cause rapid wear, but a few hundred miles would be truly exceptional IMHO

87pio · 23-12-2010 6:15pm

Did you check brake fluid?It could be also electric problem. If the brake pads aren't worn, disc are in good condition, brake fluid is full, there is nothing to be worried about. Salt could got into it as well. I got salt into temp sensor last year. -55'C during the day

mondeo · 23-12-2010 6:21pm

Maybe the previous owner is fibbing.. I'd say it's your brake pads.

The Falcon · 23-12-2010 6:31pm

Tea drinker wrote: »

Maybe they only replaced the rear set (for example)
Otherwise a sticking caliper could cause rapid wear, but a few hundred miles would be truly exceptional IMHO

As far as I know the wear sensor is on the front pads only, on the Passat. The warning light covers brake pad wear and handbrake on - Not sure if it warns low brakefluid level (worth a look).

Best of luck and hope you get it sorted.

Lawros Tache · 23-12-2010 6:43pm

zulfikarMD wrote: »

Just confirmed with previous owner and he said brake pads were replaced few hundred miles ago. Anything else I need to check?

If you trust the previous owner (and even if you do, you should still get the pads looked at) then then most likely cause is not actually the pads but the sensor itself. If you travel over a bumpy surface the warning will trigger (even cats eyes can do it) or most likely in this weather snow/ice has compacted around the sensor and is causing it to trigger.

Either way, get someone to have a look but i'd imagine the sensor needs to be cleaned.

Passat 2003 Dash light on

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