Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
In the Mercedes maintenance world usally the wheel bearings are cleaned, inspected and if serviceable repacked with fresh grease when the rotors are replaced/machined. There is a method to the madness, then again if you are one those people that believes in reactive maintenance perhaps a Japanese car might be more to your liking. - Original Message - From: Levi Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 3:29 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light That said, my rotors are probably overdue for replacement. If only I didn't have to mess with the dang wheel bearings. That's just stupid in my mind. I love my Isuzu's and Subaru's where the rear discs are the same as the front. You take off the caliper and the roto just slides off. Levi
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Alex Chamberlain wrote: Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? It seems unlikely, but when you take the wheels off you can inspect the pads. Then you'll know for sure. ;)
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? Normally they're supposed to light only when the brakes are pressed, but if you let it go on it gets progressively worse in that they light more often. But the times I've had the flicker right from the start it's been a problem with the wire routing, or the sensor being ruined. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 8/27/2006 7:09:54 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) Isn't the fluid level in the master cylinder the same circuit as the brake linings sensors? In other words, a slightly low fluid level could cause the flickering you report. On most models I'm familiar with, low fluid level activates the same red light that is activated by the emergency brake. Worn pads activate a different (yellow) light. Marshall -- Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions) der Dieseling Doktor [EMAIL PROTECTED] '87 300TD 182Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 237kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi (retired)
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Alex Chamberlain wrote: Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? What you describe might be possibly caused by worn pads alone, but only after the light would be reliably activated every time you applied the brakes for many weeks or months! Marshall -- Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions) der Dieseling Doktor [EMAIL PROTECTED] '87 300TD 182Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 237kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi (retired)
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
I have seen the brake lining light flicker when the sensor wire was rubbing the rotor. I was showing a friend how to put on front brake pads and he put the spring clip over the wires and pressed wires to rotors. I did not check his work close enough and had to go back and fix it. Of course this guy had the mechanical aptitude of a rock. You know the kind of person, the kind you keep having to say righty tighty, lefty loosely Also I have seen it flicker when the pads are worn but pressing on brake usually changed flickering to be on or off. Trampas -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marshall Booth Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 1:02 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 8/27/2006 7:09:54 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) Isn't the fluid level in the master cylinder the same circuit as the brake linings sensors? In other words, a slightly low fluid level could cause the flickering you report. On most models I'm familiar with, low fluid level activates the same red light that is activated by the emergency brake. Worn pads activate a different (yellow) light. Marshall -- Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions) der Dieseling Doktor [EMAIL PROTECTED] '87 300TD 182Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 237kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi (retired) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
I've seen something similar on mine with the rotors worn the right(wrong?) way. Basically, the outer edge of the rotor is not wearing down with the rest of the face. So, there can be a lot of pad left, but the outer edge of the rotor starts eating into the outer edge of the pad and/or wire and when it's just a rough rusty edge it can sometimes just flicker while driving without using the brakes... That said, my rotors are probably overdue for replacement. If only I didn't have to mess with the dang wheel bearings. That's just stupid in my mind. I love my Isuzu's and Subaru's where the rear discs are the same as the front. You take off the caliper and the roto just slides off. Levi On 8/29/06, Marshall Booth [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Alex Chamberlain wrote: Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? What you describe might be possibly caused by worn pads alone, but only after the light would be reliably activated every time you applied the brakes for many weeks or months! Marshall -- Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions) der Dieseling Doktor [EMAIL PROTECTED] '87 300TD 182Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 237kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi (retired)
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
The only way I could thing off is if there is a build up of metal dust from the brake disc which is causing an intermittened circuit. For those who do not know how the brake pad thickness sensor works, on proper MB brake pads there is a little hole at the top where a sensor plugs in. This sensor has a wire coming off it which plugs into a socket which is attached to the brake caliper housing. This sensor is replaced when the pads are replaced, a good parts supplier will supply these sensors without having to be asked. He/she will ask wether you want special brake pad grease which if you don't have any is a yes. Once the pads reach a pre determined thinness the sensor makes contact with the disc which closes the circuit and illuminates the dash warning light. This usally only happens when the brakes are applied. There is nothing mysterious about this set up and once done is easy to understand. There is no sensor on the rear brakes, therefore they have to be inspected manually. Changing MB brake pads is pretty much the same as other cars except for this sensor. The easiest way to check if the sensor is causing your illuminating problem is to get a multimeter, stick one end on the disc and the other into the sensor plug, if you have a complete circuit you know where your problem is at. Doing this you don't have disassemble anything except taking off the wheel. - Original Message - From: Alex Chamberlain [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 9:37 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light Thanks for the help, all---I will take the wheels off and investigate all the wiring closely. So there's no way the pads could just be worn and cause an always-flickering light (as opposed to one that flickers only when the pedal is pressed)? Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 25/08/2006
[MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Alex Chamberlain wrote: The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) A lip on the rotor is probably scraping the wire or the sensor. Occasionally the wire back to the dash is shorted somewhere. Marshall -- Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions) der Dieseling Doktor [EMAIL PROTECTED] '87 300TD 182Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 237kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi (retired)
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. Seen it. Take off the wheel and have a gander at the little wire sensor that's pushed into the brake pad, and the routing of its wire too. Rotors can cut in to them, etc. The wire probe itself needs to be insulated, and that could also be damaged, especially if you have metallic pads. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
In a message dated 8/27/2006 7:09:54 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) Isn't the fluid level in the master cylinder the same circuit as the brake linings sensors? In other words, a slightly low fluid level could cause the flickering you report. Regards, Jim Friesen Phoenix AZ 79 300SD, 262 K miles 98 ML 320, 145 K miles
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Isn't the fluid level in the master cylinder the same circuit as the brake linings sensors? In other words, a slightly low fluid level could cause the flickering you report. It isn't on 123s. On those the master cylinder fluid level is wired to the BRAKE light. I'm not sure about 124s.
Re: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light
Alex, I have the wear sensors on my Passat and had to splice the wire after the rotor cut into it. Most likely thats the problem. They normally don't flicker or come on until the pad is worn down to the sensor. Check the wires and connections just in case its either come unplugged or cut. Harry 69 280 SEL 120,000 Miles 72 350SL 108,000 Miles 2004 VW Passat 4 Motion 1999 Mazda Miata -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 9:09 PM Subject: [MBZ] Flickering brake lining light The brake lining light on my 124 just started flickering, seemingly independent of whether the brake pedal is being pushed or not. I've never seen this kind of intermittent behavior before; when I've needed new pads, I think the light has always come on steadily when the pedal is down. Is this just a variation on the worn-pads signal, or something electrical? (Shamefully, I've never done the brakes on a Mercedes before, so I'm kind of unclear how the wear sensors work and thus whether they could reasonably produce a flickery dash light.) Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
