The bake pad warning is showing on my display so I took it to the garage this morning to check out and change if necessary. I've just phoned the garage and he says only the rear pads need changing and the warning may still come on because the sensor is on the front and those pads are ok! Anybody else had this problem?

The warning comes on when the pads have approx one third of friction material left if they have been fitted properly (10K ish miles). You have to replace the sensors to....

not personally but i think the previous owner did as the wiring has been removed but the pads were genuine gm. doesnt bother me as ive got airbags for when the brakes dont work ;)

I have had my front brake pads changed by a vauxhall main dealer (cheaper than reputable garages) and it still says brake pads on my computer they do not come with sensors on, stupid i think i don't know why yours is back pads and they dont have sensors maybe your front ones are going or just one of them hope this helps Liam ;D

The fronts have sensors and the rears dont (rears dont do much breaking in reality).

They dont come fitted on the pads because not all models have them.....plus the dealer should have fitted new sensors for you.

Thanks, once again I get the impression the garage can't be arsed changing the sensors so they just say the fronts are ok. I'm trying to avoid using the main dealer because their quote for changing all the brake pads and doing a full service was £472 (it was over £200 for doing the brake pads)!!

what i meant was that i bought the pads from main dealer and fitted them myself worked out cheaper sorry i put it wrong on last msg mark is that why they did'nt supply with sensors??? liam

I know some people don't bother fitting the sensors, but they are only around a tenner (less on TC) so for this cost I don't see the point in NOT having them....

markjay do u have any idea where to get these sensors from???

Any Vauxhall dealership, or Autovaux  - I know there also aftermarket ones around, so you can also try the usual motor factors.

Vauxhall (£8.67+Vat retail each), motor factors or ebay....(not always listed) or even autovaux

Your dealer can provide the sensors, they are about £7 - £10 each + VAT, and you need 2.

ok thanks 4 info i'll be gettin sum new ones then :D

3 simultaneous posts there....

wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 14:28:

markjay do u have any idea where to get these sensors from???

I am very near my local Vx right now. Could get a couple for you on Trade Club and post it to you if you like (assuming they have them in stock...). Will charge you what they cost me on TC plus postage. Please let me know. Also give me year and engine details for your car just to be safe, although I think they are all the same... Any personal details please PM me.

Thats an offer i'm intrested in any idea how much this would cost my car is an Omega 3.0 mv6 MK2 2000 w reg thanks liam
P.S the boy your Omega looks very nice in pic u have :)

If the Vx Retail price is around £10 each inc VAT, then the TC price will be, well, just under that... I don't have the TC book with me so can't say for sure, probably £8 each or so? Postage can't be much more than first class stamp, they are just tiny wires really and dont weigh much, will fit in a padded envelop.

That would be great how'd u want me to pay u ???

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 13:56:

The warning comes on when the pads have approx one third of friction material left if they have been fitted properly (10K ish miles). You have to replace the sensors to....

10K ish miles?

I've done 26K on mine and no warning lights ;)

If Vx have the sensors, I'll PM you my address and you PM yours in return, then send me a cheque by post?

yes thats fine thnks

No prob, will go there on the way home and PM you in the evening.

Thanks mate real help  :) i'll pm u my adress now ok

Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:02:

10K ish miles? I've done 26K on mine and no warning lights ;)

The alternative braking method of opening the door and putting your foot down may save the pads but it does wear the soles so no saving overall (especially if you are wearing Churches).

It is also very inconvenient in the winter and can be dangerous when driving against on-coming traffic in narrow country lanes.

It can be considred adequate however for vehicles permanently parked is supermarket's car parks.

Markjay wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:43:

Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:02: 10K ish miles? I've done 26K on mine and no warning lights ;) The alternative braking method of opening the door and putting your foot down may save the pads but it does wear the soles so no saving overall (especially if you are wearing Churches). It is also very inconvenient in the winter and can be dangerous when driving against on-coming traffic in narrow country lanes. It can be considred adequate however for vehicles permanently parked is supermarket's car parks.

I have a couple of bricks tied with string on the back seat and I chuck the out of the window to slow me down. It saves me a fortune on shoes and I dont get wet in the winter and it works well on country lanes. [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Yes, but it still does not work out cheaper than brake pads... unless you actually open the window before throwing the brick out that is.

Elite Pete wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:54:

Markjay wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:43: Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:02: 10K ish miles? I've done 26K on mine and no warning lights ;) The alternative braking method of opening the door and putting your foot down may save the pads but it does wear the soles so no saving overall (especially if you are wearing Churches). It is also very inconvenient in the winter and can be dangerous when driving against on-coming traffic in narrow country lanes. It can be considred adequate however for vehicles permanently parked is supermarket's car parks. I have a couple of bricks tied with string on the back seat and I chuck the out of the window to slow me down. It saves me a fortune on shoes and I dont get wet in the winter and it works well on country lanes. [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

I just open the window and throw a ships anchor out round the nearest lampost. ;)

£6.50 + VAT trade club....90495144 two off required.

Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:58:

I just open the window and throw a ships anchor out round the nearest lampost. ;)

That would make you a dangerous driver in unlit areas... unstopable is the word that comes to mind?

[quote author=Auto Addict link=1154523262/15#18 date=1154527352
10K ish miles?

I've done 26K on mine and no warning lights ;)
[/quote]

A 2.2 doesnt get up enough speed to wear the brakes out ;)

Remember though guys, Autos wear brake pads faster than manuals.

Markjay wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 16:02:

Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:58: I just open the window and throw a ships anchor out round the nearest lampost. ;) That would make you a dangerous driver in unlit areas... unstopable is the word that comes to mind?

AAs only got a 2.2 auto, probably wont go over 20mph anyway  [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Elite Pete wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 16:06:

Markjay wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 16:02: Auto Addict wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:58: I just open the window and throw a ships anchor out round the nearest lampost. ;) That would make you a dangerous driver in unlit areas... unstopable is the word that comes to mind? AAs only got a 2.2 auto, probably wont go over 20mph anyway  [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

:( :( :( :(

Follow up: It gets stranger. I went back to pick the car up, the engineer showed me the rear pads that he'd replaced, they were wafer thin, absolutely at the limit. He showed me the front brakes, the pads were ok but the funny thing was the sensors were not connected, they were just hanging loose! Now, how come I got the warning if they weren't even connected and the other funny thing is now he's replaced the rear brake pads the warning doesn't appear anymore! Anyway I'm happy now and he changed the oil and filter at the same time.   ;)

Redeye wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 20:31:

Follow up: It gets stranger. I went back to pick the car up, the engineer showed me the rear pads that he'd replaced, they were wafer thin, absolutely at the limit. He showed me the front brakes, the pads were ok but the funny thing was the sensors were not connected, they were just hanging loose! Now, how come I got the warning if they weren't even connected and the other funny thing is now he's replaced the rear brake pads the warning doesn't appear anymore! Anyway I'm happy now and he changed the oil and filter at the same time.   ;)

I am told that if you leave the sensors un-connected, you get the MID message. The way it works is that the message comes-on when the sensor no longer makes contact with the pad material and the circuit is broken (apparently if you really want to get rid of the sensors you need to short-circuit the wires). This will explain why the message came on when the sensors were not connected.

Now that the mechanic (presumably) connected back the front sensors, the MID message is gone..

Redeye wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 20:31:

Follow up: It gets stranger. I went back to pick the car up, the engineer showed me the rear pads that he'd replaced, they were wafer thin, absolutely at the limit. He showed me the front brakes, the pads were ok but the funny thing was the sensors were not connected, they were just hanging loose! Now, how come I got the warning if they weren't even connected and the other funny thing is now he's replaced the rear brake pads the warning doesn't appear anymore! Anyway I'm happy now and he changed the oil and filter at the same time.   ;)

Engineer my arse....spanner wielding monkey....no engineering qualification there!

The brake pad wear sensors have a loop of wire inside the plastic section, when the pads get low the plastic section gets worn away and brakes the electrical circuit.....hence the warning light comes on.

wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 15:17:

Thanks mate real help  :) i'll pm u my adress now ok

OK, got them, for the un-initiated this is what it looks like (pic dedicated to AA and TD):

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/6053/brakesensorao8.jpg

U are an absolute star! cheque will be in the post first thing in the morn. Can u give me your address please so i can send off the cheque also let me know how much u want for postage thanks v/much liam ;D

wrote on 02. Aug 2006 at 20:54:

U are an absolute star! cheque will be in the post first thing in the morn. Can u give me your address please so i can send off the cheque also let me know how much u want for postage thanks v/much liam ;D

PM sent :)

Thanks m8 sent u 1 back liam  ;)