'Replace Brakes' light on cluster.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

190D22 · #1 07-03-2002, 05:17 PM

I washed my car today, and I gave the wheels a good spray inside and then when I was done washing I took it for a drying run. I got thing up to 70 w/ the AC on then backed off because it was a 55mph speed zone.

At the point I was slowing down I noticed that the replace brakes light on the cluster was illuminated. It was flickering a little bit, then once I came to a few complete stops it shut off. Could I have gotten the sensor on the brakes wet and made the thing illuminate the light?

dpetryk · #2 07-03-2002, 05:20 PM

Water will not affect the sensors. I think its time for new brake pads.

190D22 · #3 07-03-2002, 05:24 PM

They aren't more than 6 months old! And the light only illuminates when you brake. I know that because when I first got the car it lit up whenever I braked. I did indeed need new pads in the front.

JimSmith · #4 07-03-2002, 05:37 PM

dpetryck and 190D22,

Isn't it feasible that the cleaning stuff that was used, or the water and all that old carbon dust, might have enough conductivity to trigger the light? I know on my cars they come on wet before they do dry, but when they come on it is time for pads. The condition never gets better for long, the indication just goes away for a moment or two.

But three months, if it is normal driving is pretty short pad life. You should be getting at least 10K miles to a set of pads.

If your rotors are shot, and by that I mean they have a substantial ridge on the outside diameter, you will get the signal when the ridge activates the sensor, which can be with a significant amount of brake pad left on the rest of the pad.

Sounds like it is time to get the wheels off and do an inspection. Good luck, Jim