Brake Warning Light-MOT Failure?

aliadds

The brake warning light was showing on my Audi A3 so when I had new tyres, the garage checked the brakes...removed some corrosion, but said they were fine. This week I have my MOT but the light is still on. I'm sure that the brakes are fine, but will the light being on mean an MOT failure?

jeannieblue

Have you checked your stoplight bulbs? Brake fluid level?

aliadds

No...i'll check them. What do you mean when you say stoplight bulbs?

Chippy_Minton_2

The brake light bulbs.

aliadds

derrrrr!
Thanks I'll check them as well

goldspanners

it will fail if the red brake warning light is on.

it could be as a certain special someone said the brake fluid needing topped up,could be a sticky handbrake switch,could be a brake pad sensor,could be an ABS sensor or sensor ring.

harveybobbles

What do you mean when you say stoplight bulbs

Bulbs that light up when you are about to stop.


But calling them bulb light stops is silly...

anewman

Could even be a fault in the float level switch in the brake master cylinder reservoir.

Chippy_Minton_2

anewman wrote: »

Could even be a fault in the float level switch in the brake master cylinder reservoir.

Do you think the OP should remove it and give it a flush through with fairy liquid?

That usually clears that problem.

EcoR1

goldspanners wrote: »

it will fail if the red brake warning light is on.

No it wont. The ABS light is a different matter.

howburn

Not sure how much into car maintenance you are but the simplest two things you can check as already said is the fluid level and the hand brake switch, try working the leaver a few time and watch the light. After that it could be that the brake pads are worn in which case they will need replacing, but it could also be that the sensor wire to the pads has become disconnected, some need a complete circuit so even if the wire is not touching anything else on the car the light will still come on. Other sorts of sensor if the wire touches anything else metal on the car the light will come on. Have a look inside and underneath the front wheels for any loose wires.
Is it red light? The red light is normally for worn pads, low fluid and sometimes the hand brake, some cars have a separate light for the hand brake. This light is unlikely to be for the ABS, this light is orange.
Don’t worry about it not passing the MOT 1st time, if you have a decent garage/testing station they will fail it if need's be but they can ether repair it for you or you can take it away and do the repairs elsewhere, if you choose to take it away you have 10 working days to the repairs and not be charged for a retest, after this time you may be charged.