When does the brake pad warning light come on?

[Tony500]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

How do you tend to drive? I try not to use the brakes unless absolutely necessary, I engine brake alot.

Same driving technique my Dad uses, which I need to be cautious of though because he braked so little on his old Nissan the calipers actually seized up and had to get it all changed anyway.. :P

To be fair I do drive the car too hard for how its ment to be driven. On the back roads I do like to see what power the car has every now and again.
I can drive sensible, but most of the times I get cut up and puts me in a mood lol.

Average is around 35k though.... Pagid do a 25k/25months warranty on their pads.

[AndyMcc]

I'm obviously a freak then. My 09 has 80300 on the clock and had its front pads and discs changed at 74000. The rear pads and discs are original and still have loads left on them. I only changed the fronts early due to the Volvo braking, shaking, steering wheel - incidently it hasn't done this since. The rears still have loads left, pad wise a good 5-8 mill.
I must be a good driver.

Andy.

[Al1baly]

Originally Posted by alfadave11

or you spent time on motorcycles

I started on scooters and motorbikes and progressed to cars so yes very true.

[BOBAD]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

.....I try not to use the brakes unless absolutely necessary, I engine brake a lot....

Brake pads are much cheaper than engines and gearboxes !

[alfadave11]

Originally Posted by BOBAD

Brake pads are much cheaper than engines and gearboxes !

if that's the case ...do not use the accelerator then ...most common way to wear engines ..some people hey lol

[XCR]

I've just paid my local 'specialist' to fit my new EBC front pads today and check the rear brake shoes (as the car is new to me) and, upon driving it home (the long, traffic free route) I noticed that the Brake Warning Light was illuminated on the dash. Any idea why this might be ?
I rang him as soon as I noticed and he wants me to 'pop it back in' in the morning....

[FunkyMelon]

Brake warning light usually comes on when fluid is low....

[Bendolfc]

Fluid low is accompanied with a message on the dim with the reason though.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by FunkyMelon

Brake warning light usually comes on when fluid is low....

+1 to that. You didnt specify what car you have (y/model) but I dont think any P1 s40/v50 had brake pads sensors so you can exclude that possibility.
If there is a more serious reason like BCM failing or other problem, then you usually get "brake failure, stop safely" or something.

Edit - did you mean "brake warning " message or actual icon light on clusters? have pic?

[martin93]

Not even my 2017 V40 had a brake pad warning system, it's not a Volvo thing really. So the V50/S40/C30 certainly won't unless they are special vehicles for police etc. They just trust their owners to keep the car serviced and up to scratch without relying on warning lights. Brake pad sensors are a very German thing. Mercedes have had them since the 70's, BMW and the VWAG group fit them to most of their cars too.

Here are a selection of brake warnings, so the exact message you got would help a lot:
- 'Brake failure, stop safely'
- 'Anti-skid service required'
- The handbrake light
- ABS light
- DSTC light

Also, brake pad wear also depends on the type of engine you have, and whether it's a manual or auto. My V40 D4 auto was getting due a set of front pads at 28K, whereas my 1998 V40 1.8 petrol manual went through a set of front pads every 70K.

As others have said, the 'Brake failure, stop safely' is deigned to alert you of low fluid level amongst other things. However, it's more common that the CEM has a bad connection.