Getting a warning light off the dash

vicwatson

Looking for some help with regards this, I have a brake disc light on my dash that I've had switched off by Advance Tyres before my NCT last two times at a cost of 40.00 a pop - each time it goes off its comes back on after a few weeks. It's an automatic fail at the NCT.

I was reading that you can buy an OBD2 bluetooth adaptor that plugs in then get a free app for android phone and manage such lights oneself.

Anyone tell me if its that simple really?

Anyone tell me where I can get one at a reasonable price so i can do this myself and save 40 euro?

PS - I understand what warning lights are for etc etc but this one is obviously mental as I had the brake discs changed and the light came back on a few weeks later

Thanks for help, it's an E39 if that's a help

Nissan doctor

vicwatson wrote: »

Looking for some help with regards this, I have a brake disc light on my dash that I've had switched off by Advance Tyres before my NCT last two times at a cost of 40.00 a pop - each time it goes off its comes back on after a few weeks. It's an automatic fail at the NCT.

I was reading that you can buy an OBD2 bluetooth adaptor that plugs in then get a free app for android phone and manage such lights oneself.

Anyone tell me if its that simple really?

Anyone tell me where I can get one at a reasonable price so i can do this myself and save 40 euro?

PS - I understand what warning lights are for etc etc but this one is obviously mental as I had the brake discs changed and the light came back on a few weeks later

Thanks for help, it's an E39 if that's a help

The light on your dash has nothing to do with your brake disks or having them changed.

Its a break wear light which can either mean that your pads are worn and the wear sensors have been tripped or your brake fluid is low.

If you had pads changed before and the sensors were not changed then the light will keep coming back on.

vicwatson

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The light on your dash has nothing to do with your brake disks or having them changed.

Its a break wear light which can either mean that your pads are worn and the wear sensors have been tripped or your brake fluid is low.

If you had pads changed before and the sensors were not changed then the light will keep coming back on.

Car was completely serviced last year and this area was all looked at and sorted, the a few weeks later the damn light came on again!

I just wanna get rid of the light ! Without having to pay 40 euro every time.

Thanks

cletus

I have the obd2 reader your talking about, and it works fine, but if the light keeps coming on then all your doing is masking the problem.

Are you sure that the brake wear sensor was replaced at the service, were the brake pads themselves changed at the service.

They may well have turned off the light, but not anything else.

BTW, what car (make model year) as there are certain cars the dongle and android app dont work with

vicwatson

cletus wrote: »

I have the obd2 reader your talking about, and it works fine, but if the light keeps coming on then all your doing is masking the problem.

Are you sure that the brake wear sensor was replaced at the service, were the brake pads themselves changed at the service.

They may well have turned off the light, but not anything else.

BTW, what car (make model year) as there are certain cars the dongle and android app dont work with

An E39 BMW yr 2000, yes the pads were done alright.

Can you tell me where you got the obd2?

subway

would put money on the sensors not being replaced tbh.

Muckie

Best to check the brake area to see if these sensors are missing.

If so, best bet is to visit your local scrapyard and get them off car the

same as yours. Should now work. Hope your car passes too.

BostonB

vicwatson wrote: »

Car was completely serviced last year and this area was all looked at and sorted, the a few weeks later the damn light came on again!

I just wanna get rid of the light ! Without having to pay 40 euro every time.

Thanks

Fix the problem not the light.

cletus

vicwatson wrote: »

An E39 BMW yr 2000, yes the pads were done alright.

Can you tell me where you got the obd2?

I got mine on dealextreme, but google elm327 bluetooth adaptor and you'll get loads of places selling them

I would recommend, as others have said that you check the wear sensors though, as there is obviously an issue

nct tester

brake warning light on dash is not a fail item anyway, unless its for a car with electronic handbrake

vicwatson

BostonB wrote: »

Fix the problem not the light.

Thanks for your insightful answer to my initial question:rolleyes:

BostonB

Obviously not insightful enough. The solution to the problem is not paying 40 a pop to turn the light off. Its to fix the problem with the sensor. Also don't keep going back to somewhere that keeps charging you for the privilege of not fixing something.

Nissan doctor

BostonB wrote: »

Obviously not insightful enough. The solution to the problem is not paying 40 a pop to turn the light off. Its to fix the problem with the sensor. Also don't keep going back to somewhere that keeps charging you for the privilege of not fixing something.

vicwatson wrote: »

Thanks for your insightful answer to my initial question:rolleyes:

Its actually a perfectly logical solution. Why constantly spend time worrying about the light every NCT time or spending money having it reset or on OBD programmes when you could get the problem diagnosed and repaired once and then be finished with it.

You say you've had it looked at but you'd be surprised how many garages haven't got a clue how to work with the sensors on the BMW brakes and reuse old ones or try to cross the wires etc to reset the light, which never works properly.

For barely more then the price you've been paying to have the light reset you could have the the problem permanently repaired!

BostonB

Its a bad habit to get into ignoring warning lights. Leads to people driving with an engine management light, or low oil light on, then wondering why there's a loud bang and a huge bill afterwards. Not that this sensor is of that scale an issue.

Of course theres the other scale of issues with a spurious warnings...
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showpost.php?p=918416&postcount=4

vicwatson

My thread has been killed:o

I just wanna know where I can get an OBD2 Bluetooth adapter on the cheap !

CJhaughey

vicwatson wrote: »

My thread has been killed:o

I just wanna know where I can get an OBD2 Bluetooth adapter on the cheap !

Dealextreme.com