Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Brake Pad Wear Sensor: Testing and Inspection


Early Production:





Late Production:






The solid state switch in instrument cluster closes when sensor input is 0 volts. Sensor input is 0 volts if brake pad wear sensor grounds against the brake rotor or the brake pad wear sensor circuit is open.

Note! Voltage at brake wear sensor connector is within 1 volt of battery voltage.

Condition: Brake Pad Wear indicator stays ON after start-up bulb check sequence or intermittently illuminates during brake application.

1 Turn ignition switch on.

2 Check for voltage at RH rear brake pad sensor connector:
No volts: check for an open circuit between I/P connector C1, pin 21, and rear brake sensor connector.

3 Check RH rear brake pad sensor for continuity and wear:
No continuity: replace sensor.
Wear: If pad sensor is worn to the point that the wire running through the sensor is exposed, replace sensor.

4 Check for voltage at LH front brake pad sensor connector:
No volts: check for an open circuit between the LH front sensor connector and the RH rear sensor connector.

5 Check LH front brake pad sensor for continuity and wear:
No continuity: replace sensor.
Wear: If pad sensor is worn to the point that the wire running through the sensor is exposed, replace sensor.

6 Check voltage at I/P connector C2 pin 26:
No volts: check for open circuit between I/P connector C2, pin 26, and the LH front brake pad sensor connector.

7 If brake pad sensor circuit is OK yet the Brake Lining Wear Indicator is still ON, the fault exists in the I/P Cluster.