VW Polo Bluemotion Front Wheel Loose Cable

[srothman]

I took my car for new brakes and tyres, and driving home I heard this clank sound every now and then. Got home, checked, and there was this loose-hanging cable at my front-left wheel which was banging against the inside of the rim as I was driving.

Can anyone perhaps tell me what it's for and where it goes? I tried checking myself, but I can't see where it needs to go. I also checked the right-side to see if I can see a similar cable, and unless it's inside the somewhere i can't see, I didn't notice it n the other side.

http://i58.tinypic.com/2vnknwx.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2lcn4w8.jpg

There's about a 15-20cm slack on the cable.

Car feels fine though, so not sure. I'll take it back in the week, but if it's something I can just reconnect in 5 minutes I'm not going to bother.

Thanks

 

[Wernerjvv]

That's the speed sensor for the hub. It fits behind the hub at the top, difficult to see. Just feel behind the hub for it.

 

[srothman]

Thanks, will take an closer look and see if I can get it sorted instead of having to take it back.

 

[bromster]

If VW did the work for you, I would be livid. Any negligent work on brakes could easily kill you.

 

[gfmalan]

That's how the removed abs sensor looks like.

Didn't your car complain on the dashboard?

 

[srothman]

Nope. No complaints, no warning lights, tested the brakes at various speeds, all good. I had everything done at Supaquik, so I'll take it back to them early in the week to fix

 

[Aghori]

When my ABS sensor came loose, the dashboard light was lit up. Better check up on that.

 

[srothman]

Quick update,

Brake pad wear sensor connector.

So turns out this is something my car doesn't have (was quite surprised). The pads I provided catered for this, and as such the cable doesn't have anywhere to connect to. Reason I didn't see it on the other side was because that one they removed, and seems to have forgotten to do it on this side as well.

 

[Maverick Jester]

How did whoever fit this not notice it, and what made you purchase the brake pads you used?

 

[Rusty0]

Brake pad sensor, did you fit pads with the sensor?

 

[srothman]

Don't know, and it was a matter of "Hello Goldwagen, please give me a set of front and rear brake pads for a VW Polo Bluemotion."

 

[Rusty0]

Don't know, and it was a matter of "Hello Goldwagen, please give me a set of front and rear brake pads for a VW Polo Bluemotion."

Which brand? What did you pay?
Check if theres a loose wire from the brake pad, just plug it in, if not you have the wrong pads, then just try and tape up the loose sensor somewhere where it wont knock.

It might also be linked to the engine speed sensor, then you might experience other problems.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Quick update,

Brake pad wear sensor connector.

So turns out this is something my car doesn't have (was quite surprised). The pads I provided catered for this, and as such the cable doesn't have anywhere to connect to. Reason I didn't see it on the other side was because that one they removed, and seems to have forgotten to do it on this side as well.

Yeah I was about to say it's the brake pad sensor, because the speed sensor doesn't disconnect that easily and also would put out a warning on the dash.

You can just cut it off if your car doesn't support it.

VW use the same pads across a big range of cars so you tend to get the pads with the speed sensors. Why the fitment person didn't just cut it off is beyond me though.

Nobody EVER uses them anyway and every shop will tell you to replace your pads long before the sensor comes on so it's a little pointless. It's pretty rudimentary technology anyway.

 

[Rusty0]

Yeah I was about to say it's the brake pad sensor, because the speed sensor doesn't disconnect that easily and also would put out a warning on the dash.

You can just cut it off if your car doesn't support it.

VW use the same pads across a big range of cars so you tend to get the pads with the speed sensors. Why the fitment person didn't just cut it off is beyond me though.

Nobody EVER uses them anyway and every shop will tell you to replace your pads long before the sensor comes on so it's a little pointless. It's pretty rudimentary technology anyway.

Very bad advise ^
All the popular brands even at Goldwagen will have the pads with sensors.
Its about R80 more.

Dont cut it off! It might be w closed circuit with the engine speeds sensor, (which i think it is).

Either change to the correct pads with sensor or use some electrical tape and tape the loose sensor to the brake line, in the pic.

 

[Maverick Jester]

Don't know, and it was a matter of "Hello Goldwagen, please give me a set of front and rear brake pads for a VW Polo Bluemotion."

Poor on their behalf, they should have queried on whether yours had the speed sensors fitted or not. But, it doesn't seem to have caused any dangerous situation, but poor nevertheless from them.

 

[srothman]

Which brand? What did you pay?
Check if theres a loose wire from the brake pad, just plug it in, if not you have the wrong pads, then just try and tape up the loose sensor somewhere where it wont knock.

It might also be linked to the engine speed sensor, then you might experience other problems.

The name escapes me now (I'll check.), and paid around R450-.
The cable is from the pad. I triple checked, and there are no connectors on my car for this anywhere. All other cables and connecters are connected and plugged in.

 

[Rusty0]

The name escapes me now (I'll check.), and paid around R450-.
The cable is from the pad. I triple checked, and there are no connectors on my car for this anywhere. All other cables and connecters are connected and plugged in.

Oh, so you bought a pad with a sensor but theres no sensor on the car?
Ok if you 100% sure, might as well cut it off.

Strange that such a "technology advanced" car wont have a brake pad sensor.

 

[Rusty0]

http://i58.tinypic.com/2vnknwx.jpg


Thanks

Is that a wheel spacer on the hub or is it the actual hub?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Very bad advise ^
All the popular brands even at Goldwagen will have the pads with sensors.
Its about R80 more.

Dont cut it off! It might be w closed circuit with the engine speeds sensor, (which i think it is).

Either change to the correct pads with sensor or use some electrical tape and tape the loose sensor to the brake line, in the pic.

Uhm...he has the pads with the sensor cable already....but doesn't have the sensor.

So cutting it off will do absolutely nothing more/less than it is doing currently.

*****

I have not actually found a VW that actually has the sensors installed, my GTI doesn't even have them nor does a brand new Polo across the road.

 

[Rusty0]

Uhm...he has the pads with the sensor cable already....but doesn't have the sensor.

So cutting it off will do absolutely nothing more/less than it is doing currently.

*****

I have not actually found a VW that actually has the sensors installed, my GTI doesn't even have them nor does a brand new Polo across the road.

Im the opposite, all the VWs I know have brake sensors hence I assumed he had the wrong pads.
Check the golf 4 GTI, Polo 1.6 2007 model, Jetta 5. All have the sensor.