Audible warning when braking

[markworz]

Only started today and can't find anything in the manual.

Quite simply when I brake I get a constant high pitched audible warning sound BUT no warning lights on the dashboard.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially in this weather and especially on a weekend.

Many thanks in advance.

[pearla]

You sure you are not down to the metal on the pads? You say you have covered 24000 miles

[markworz]

Yes pal, I could well be. Is there no visible warning on the dash for this ? It would make sense to be honest.

Please bear with me, I am no mechanic.....

[ZACK]

Yes pal, I could well be. Is there no visible warning on the dash for this ? It would make sense to be honest.

Please bear with me, I am no mechanic.....

The Only Cars That Tell You When Your Pads Are Low Via A Message On The Dash Are Some Of The Top Audis, Beemers And Jags.

Brake Pads Have A 'Warning Layer' Built In So They Squeel When The Pads Are Low So I Suggest You Go Change Your Pads, Usually About £30 Fitted At Your Local Garage.

[markworz]

The Only Cars That Tell You When Your Pads Are Low Via A Message On The Dash Are Some Of The Top Audis, Beemers And Jags.

Brake Pads Have A 'Warning Layer' Built In So They Squeel When The Pads Are Low So I Suggest You Go Change Your Pads, Usually About £30 Fitted At Your Local Garage.

Cheers Zack although there's no squealing from the wheels.

Just realised a service is due anyway so it looks like a day off work this week and i'll get it booked in.

Cheers again.

[DaveB]

The Only Cars That Tell You When Your Pads Are Low Via A Message On The Dash Are Some Of The Top Audis, Beemers And Jags.

Brake Pads Have A 'Warning Layer' Built In So They Squeel When The Pads Are Low So I Suggest You Go Change Your Pads, Usually About £30 Fitted At Your Local Garage.

Most cars nowadays have pad wear warning lights for the front brakes, triggered by a wire embedded in one of the pads. When the pad wears down to the wear indicator wire it completes a circuit via the disc, setting off the pad wear warning. Every car I've had for the last 20 years & more has had a pad wear warning light system - even my wife's 1993 Peugeot 106 had it! However, it appears that DS3 doesn't - there's no reference to it in the Owner's Handbook & I can't see any evidence of a wear indicator wire on the pads & I'm not going to take a wheel off to check!

Pads with a "warning layer"? I've never seen such a product! The only pads I've ever seen with a built-in audible warning are some American references which have a wear indicator in the from of a thin metal strip which contacts the disc & makes a squealing sound when it contacts the disc if the pads are worn below the allowable minimum.

If the brakes are squealing there's something wrong - may be worn pads, may be a sticking caliper, sticking handbrake, etc.

[ZACK]

Pads with a "warning layer"? I've never seen such a product! The only pads I've ever seen with a built-in audible warning are some American references which have a wear indicator in the from of a thin metal strip which contacts the disc & makes a squealing sound when it contacts the disc if the pads are worn below the allowable minimum.

Quote From Wiki...
Some have a thin piece of soft metal that causes the brakes to squeal when the pads are too thin, while others have a soft metal tab embedded in the pad material that closes an electric circuit and lights a warning light when the brake pad gets thin. More expensive cars may use an electronic sensor.

That's What I Mean You Penis...

[DaveB]

That's What I Mean You Penis...

Post reported.

[cyclone]

Quote From Wiki...
Some have a thin piece of soft metal that causes the brakes to squeal when the pads are too thin, while others have a soft metal tab embedded in the pad material that closes an electric circuit and lights a warning light when the brake pad gets thin. More expensive cars may use an electronic sensor.

TBH when you said layer it sure sounds like you meant just that, a layer of brake material that is exposed when the pad gets worn to a certain thickness not what you quoted from wiki.

[mattds3sport]

many cars have the warning lights now i changed pads on a 03 focus couple of months ago and they all have the sensors in also it just kicks the handbrake light on when they are low

[DaveB]

If I'm reading this correctly, when you brake you're getting an audible warning with no visual confirmation?

The most reliable source I can find online, the Mintex catalogue, indicates that DS3 pads don't have wear indicators, so maybe the warning is for something brake-related but not necessarily the pads, e.g. faulty brake light bulb? However, any fault "beep" I've had, with or without an associated warning light, has been accompanied by a warning message on the "Multifunction Screen" in the centre of the dash.

[markworz]

Hey folks,

Jus had the car in for its 24k service and whilst they were at it I mentioned the problem. Anyway they stripped the brakes down and couldn't find anything wrong. The pads are as to be expected and there are no other problematic elements that would cause such a warning. So despite me paying £244 for a service and an additional £32 for them to attempt to recreate the warning I am no nearer to finding out the problem.

Oh and I had to walk around Peterborough for nearly 6 hours as they cocked up their bookings.....Which knocked on my booking at Autoglass for a 2nd windscreen in 6 weeks, which subsequently was also cocked up as Citroen had sent them the wrong glass.

Patience of a saint fortunately.

[jazd71]

If it is squeaking usually indicates worn pads , foreign object stuck somewhere it shouldn't be , i must be light on brakes as i get easily 40k from pads even on front. Just had 25k service on my DS3 not even close to half worn on front!?

[DaveB]

Anyway they stripped the brakes down and couldn't find anything wrong. The pads are as to be expected and there are no other problematic elements that would cause such a warning.

Although you said that there was no squealing from the wheels it does sound to me as though you've been suffering from brake squeal, in which case what the dealer has done should cure it. The most common cause of squeal on sliding-caliper brakes is something sticking; it may be a pad stuck in the caliper, it may be the caliper pins seized, etc. Cleaning everything, making sure everything is free to move & lubricating the moving parts will cure the problem.

[markworz]

Cheers for all your help folks, just sat waiting for Autoglass. Got me the afternoon off work anyway.