Brake pad warning light

[marinabrid]

Never having had a car with a warning lamp that the front pads were low  i now have this in the Mk2. Why would it come on when starting , stay on a while until i stop car,  then when i restart   it does not appear. Just wondered how they system works.

[insanitybeard]

This isn't an uncommon issue, mine has done exactly the same thing. Possibly dodgy connections or dirt and moisture ingress to blame- the number of pad wear sensors on the vehicle seems to vary depending on build date, I think the later model Mk2's had one on the nearside front and possibly one on the offside rear? There's a connector at the back of the wheelarch- at least on the front- which connects to a lead which goes into the brake pads, might be worth pulling that connector on and off a few times and spraying some WD40 or similar in to drive out any moisture.

[Mirez]

Its a ground loop which passes through the brake pads and down to ground, as the pad wears away the loop of wire embedded in it also wears and eventually breaks causing the ground to be lost and the light to come on. Of course if the circuit is broken at any other point, ie the connectors by means of poor contact, the it would also come on. Once illuminated it will stay on until the ignition is cycled and the loop is restored.

As above, you may have one, two or four connectors depending on build date to check out but as its a new car to yourself I wouldn't assume its an electrical issue and instead start by visually inspecting the pads first incase its a genuine warning!