Warning lights on

[Porky]

Right, a couple of weeks ago my tyre pressure light came on, so I checked all the tyres and they are at recommended levels and no slow punctures but still the light is on..?

Also, last night my brake warning light came on, the brakes don't feel or sound like they are completely out of steam but I haven't had a chance to check them properly. However the car has only done 16,000 miles and it's not like I stamp on the brakes, most of my driving is commuting and I'm more of a heavy accelerater than a heavy braker, always leaving enough room for a gradual decrease in speed....

Is it normal for the brakes to wear in this time? Or could I have an elecrical problem as the tyres are fine as well but the light is still on?

As a result, if the pads are worn, what is a recommended replacement? Preferably minimal dusting pads!!!

Cheers,

Will

[crispy]

I suspect that the pads will be down to the indicators at that mileage.

My pad light came on at 12K, which I was a little surprised at to say the least. My previous BM managed just under 40K.

Dealer told me that the pads would only be about 60 - 65% worn when the light came on, but being a high performance car they were cautious with such things.

On inspection thee was plenty of pad left. Be warned though, the pads have pins in them, which will then gouge the discs, meaning that they will need replacing as well.

[PetrolDave]

Pad life depends on usage style - I've done over 31,000 miles and still have the original pads, but do expect to change them in the next 5000 miles or so.

Have you reset the TPMS system? - you can do it from the DIS. That should clear the TPMS warning. If it doesn't then it suggests either the coding is set for a different pressure to what you are running or that the battery in one of the wheel pressure sensors is failing - VCDS (VAG-COM) should be able to tell you which.

[Porky]

Thanks, yeah I had heard about the pins.... I'll get a look at them at lunchtime today and then see how much Audi want before I look elsewhere!

[Porky]

For all your info, I sopke to my mechanic last night to bend his ear, largely as I couldn't undo the valve caps by hand! Anyway, he said to check the tyre pressures and if they are fine then it's the suspension as the pressures are sensed off suspension rebound. I know my DRC is leaking in both fronts, so may be that. Thought it may be of interest to you guys...

[PetrolDave]

the pressures are sensed off suspension rebound.

That's the biggest load of bol..cks I've read for a long time.

There's a pressure sensor built-in to each wheel (behind the valve) and that senses the pressures all the time that the wheels are rotating. It transmits the tyre pressure (and other info like temperature) over a low power radio link to a receiver in the car.

If you look with VAG-COM at the TPMS controller just after a run you can see all the pressure and temperature data from each wheel sensor (and an estimate of the remaining battery life) - you wouldn't get temperature and battery life from a suspension rebound measurement.

[Contigo]

Pad life depends on usage style - I've done over 31,000 miles and still have the original pads, but do expect to change them in the next 5000 miles or so.

.

Quick someone check if Miss Daisy is in his boot

[Porky]

the pressures are sensed off suspension rebound.

That's the biggest load of bol..cks I've read for a long time.

There's a pressure sensor built-in to each wheel (behind the valve) and that senses the pressures all the time that the wheels are rotating. It transmits the tyre pressure (and other info like temperature) over a low power radio link to a receiver in the car.

If you look with VAG-COM at the TPMS controller just after a run you can see all the pressure and temperature data from each wheel sensor (and an estimate of the remaining battery life) - you wouldn't get temperature and battery life from a suspension rebound measurement.

fair play, thought it was an interesting point worth mentioning. Thanks for clarifying it.

So, back to square one then. My tyre pressures are fine and I still have massive red warning lights on the dash? Any ideas, as you seem to know your way around these cars?

Will

[PetrolDave]

So, back to square one then. My tyre pressures are fine and I still have massive red warning lights on the dash? Any ideas, as you seem to know your way around these cars?

Get someone with VAG-COM to look at the TPMS controller.

First check for fault codes.

Then check the measuring blocks on the TPMS controller immediately after you've been for a drive. With recent versions of VAG-COM you get text telling you what each value means - and check that the values from each wheel for pressure, temperature, remaining battery life, etc are OK. If one is bad then you may have a failed sensor, if all are bad then you may have a failed antenna or TPMS controller (or connection between them).

[Porky]

So, back to square one then. My tyre pressures are fine and I still have massive red warning lights on the dash? Any ideas, as you seem to know your way around these cars?

Get someone with VAG-COM to look at the TPMS controller.

First check for fault codes.

Then check the measuring blocks on the TPMS controller immediately after you've been for a drive. With recent versions of VAG-COM you get text telling you what each value means - and check that the values from each wheel for pressure, temperature, remaining battery life, etc are OK. If one is bad then you may have a failed sensor, if all are bad then you may have a failed antenna or TPMS controller (or connection between them).

Thanks Dave

[pad125]

I had the same problem last week, red warning light came on and I couldn't get into to the DIS to reset set it. 10 mins in the dealer and all put back to normal

[BERGS2]

similar issue here -

every time i start up the tyre pressure warning comes up - checked all tyres perfect all round.

is there a manual reset? -

cant beleive it would have to go to the dealer?

[PetrolDave]

is there a manual reset? -

Yes, on the DIS enable the menu and choose the TPMS, then enable the tyre pressures changed box.

That forces the system to re-read all the tyre pressures and reset any current warnings.

[Porky]

is there a manual reset? -

Yes, on the DIS enable the menu and choose the TPMS, then enable the tyre pressures changed box.

That forces the system to re-read all the tyre pressures and reset any current warnings.

I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me, I'm a little slow. Can we explain this for highly educated, yet surprisingly thick people like me please??!

Will

[PetrolDave]

I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me, I'm a little slow. Can we explain this for highly educated, yet surprisingly thick people like me please??!

I've gone out in the pouring rain to get the manual out of my car....

In my manual the TPMS section is at page 53.

OK, so press the SET button on the steering wheel until the DIS shows the menu (Set, Check, Menu off, Help), using the + and - buttons select Set and press the SET button.
Scroll down the menu that appears using the + and - buttons to select Tyre Pressures and press SET.
The Store tyre pressures option should be selected, press the SET button.

That will store the current tyre pressures.

If that doesn't clear the warning it's worth trying selecting the Wheel change option on the Tyre Pressures sub-menu to see if that clears it.

The other clue is whether the symbol at the top of the DIS is a yellow tyre, a red tyre or a yellow tyre with a line through it.

Yellow tyre = slightly low tyre pressure(s).
Red tyre = dangerously low tyre pressure(s).
Yellow tyre with a line through it = TPMS fault.