A3 red control light - what does it mean

A flashing CEL is a critical error. You are supposed to drive directly to your dealer or an Audi specialist and get it corrected.

If you wait you could ruin your engine or risk an accident.

Really!

robert wrote:

Except that's not a CEL. I think it's a brake warning (low pads/low fluid, or something), or handbrake (parking brake) left on?

Dnia 24-07-2006 o 23:24:03 Peter Bell napisa³(a):

it has something to do with the brakes. fluid level is ok, and i was told that there are no sensors on the pads so i wonder what this could mean (unless i was told wrong). i don't have a manual, so can't check what that means. could anyone look up for me in the manual and tell me what it says on blinking brake warning? i would really appreciate it.

regards rob

I can't tell you about the A3 but on the A4 (B5 chassis at least) there are pad wear indicators on the fronts. These will cause the instrument light warning you describe, when one of them wears down to the limit.

There are no corresponding wear indicators on the A4 (B5) rears; visual check is required every 3-4 months or so.

You say you "were told" that there were no wear indicators on the front. Two possibilities:

1. The person telling you this is wrong. Remove a front wheel and look for some wiring and a black plastic D-shaped connector, close to the top of the wheel knuckle. You should find it mounted on a bracket.
2. Provision for pads with wear indicator wiring exists but in this particular case some after-market pads without this were used, the person telling you knows of this, and the wiring on the car was modified accordingly.

Find out which of these is true. In any case, I bet that a visual inspection of the pads on all 4 wheels will show that you need to replace something.

Let us know what you find.

/Robert

My 99 A3 has pad sensors. Suggest you take the wheels off and check the pads and sensor leads. Mine only has a sensor on the nearside (left- UK) front wheel.