Brake Pad sensor
 

My brake pad sensor light was flickering last night on the way home. I am assuming that I have a short in one of the sensors. Is there any harm in running the car with out the sensors for a few days to see if that is the problem?

Thanks

How good are your brakepads? ;)

Why do you assume there's a short somewhere? Why not remove a wheel and check the brake pad lining thickness? Spec = 11mm new, 2.5mm touches the wear sensor, 2mm is discard thickness.

and in answer
 

to your question, no no harm driving a few days that way. the only thing that happens is the light flickers. it is not secretly attached to a kill switch or anything! heh heh.

tom w

My wife drove her ML320 for another 4 weeks before I got around to doing the brakes. As I recall there was still a fair amount of life in the brake pad when the sensor started lighting up. It should leave you ample time to get them fixed, but don't wait too long.
Don

Per the manual, about 1000 km worth of pad left when the light starts to flicker.

The brake pads (at least the out sid pads) have alot of life left. They are not that old maybe 2 years and 15K (just guessing. I do not have the maint manual so I have no idea when I replaced them). So I am pretty sure it's not the pads. Just wanted to make sure that when I take the wheels off later today that if I find the pads to be fine, I can oull the sensers out to see if that is whats causing the flicker.

Thanks

Outside pads do not always correlate well with inside pad wear.

Under standing the sensor will explain your situation.
The sensor is a grounding wire that is coated with plastic. as the rotors wear the pads down it "files" away the plastic and starts to make contact with t he metal wire in the sensor. The rotor is providing the ground to the light in the dash. so the process is slow and results in a flickering of the light initially. You have 4 wires in the front pads. Which one is worn requires that you inspect all 4 pads to ensure that the caliper is not causing one pad to wear prematurely.

As posted you can go 1000 KM after the light starts to flicker. But an inspection is required to make sure the pads are wearing evenly.

It is possible for the wire harness to deteriorate. but then it usually illuminates while the wheels are turned, placing a force on the wire harness.

Dave