Brake Failure

[dano0827]

Alright here we go, 03 Klt
Had the light flashing deal, fill all fluids and the light went out, then reverse started giving me issues and not backing continuous for more than 7-10 feet, then the brake failure/abs lights came back on all this around 40-50 degree temps, so i charge the battery and double check the rear resovoir above passenger footrest as i can get to it with not many issues"needle nose vise grips are great"
anyhow, now the light has been blinking for hmm about 1 1/2 years yes very bothersome but the brakes and abs system has worked fine since the problem began, and now what happened next was truly SCARY!
I was taking my normal ride and the light went from the typical slow blow to a wicked fast one, and i went to hit the brakes and NOTHING! i did not have time to shut down the engine, i grabbed 3 gears down to first dumped the clutch and slowed as fast as i could, anyhow, after i was able to turn her around, i got going to 30mph or so shut it off and YES i had brakes again, but now the light blinks real fast again, Any idea's on a fix, i am getting a bad taste in my mouth over these damn electronic brake systems, i hunger for the old style hydraulic, simple! anyhow, all or any help is appreciated, all fluids filled, battery plenty of charge, brake pads less than 3000 miles on them, ???? signed scared shitless! :eek:

[jzeiler]

I'll just ask did you fill Both of the reservoirs under the rear seat? They are a two chambered affair and one of them is for the front brake and the other is for the rear.

[dano0827]

ok i did not know of the other?
wow egg on the face,,,,where might one find the other
since the one is under/ behind the passenger right rear peg, where might the other be,,,,i actually have hope!

[jzeiler]

It is just one unit but it has two caps that fill two separate chambers. The rear cap is hard to see.

Here is a better view.

[blueknightga6]

And hard to get to. I think I needed to remove the reat seat to be able to get to it. I may have also needed to remove the right battery cover and right rear footpeg mount too. I was removing other tupperware at the time, so I didn't mind. I think though that with needle nose vise grips and nimble fingers you can get to it only by loosening the rear seat.

[dano0827]

Wow that makes me feel even dumber than ever, i will have to disect the area and most likely it is the culprit, i have changed all the pads, filled all resovoirs except this one hiding in the waaaay back!
Bmw definitely over-engineers all their assemblies! But built to last.

[Caveno]

Wow that makes me feel even dumber than ever, i will have to disect the area and most likely it is the culprit, i have changed all the pads, filled all resovoirs except this one hiding in the waaaay back!
Bmw definitely over-engineers all their assemblies! But built to last.

This was a risky act - the lights flashed for a year and half. I can understand ignoring a service engine soon light, but brakes! If you weren't sure where the fault was coming from you should have just hooked it up to the GS-911. You can check here for someone who has it in your neihborhood.

Glad u didn't end up hitting something.

[kk610lt]

This was a risky act - the lights flashed for a year and half.
??????????????????????????????

[dano0827]

too funny, i guess, i wasnt worried because everything was working fine, and i wasnt about to take it to BMW and get boink'd for clearing a code, in the future i will be forced to heath the warning or not share my horrifying experience with the likes of you beemer folks! :rotf:
Thanks to you all for the info, i still have yet to take the time needed to fill the brake fluid, but rest assure, i have not driven it since the ACTUAL failure! And with my 35 years behind the bars of motorcycles i should have known better.

[dano0827]

This was a risky act - the lights flashed for a year and half. I can understand ignoring a service engine soon light, but brakes! If you weren't sure where the fault was coming from you should have just hooked it up to the GS-911. You can check here for someone who has it in your neihborhood.

Glad u didn't end up hitting something.
There is no link!

[dano0827]

update,,,
The second resovoir was completely dry, even after filling it up, i took it for a quick ride just to ensure the brakes still worked ok, and when i came back the fluid level dropped again, so low and behold i filled it up again and the light is off and no longer blinking,,, :dance:
Thanks alot to all of you!
I really needed that!
Dan

[dfinazzo]

So now that you know where the reservoirs are you will need to learn another lesson.

When replacing brakes and pushing back the pucks at the wheel to put your new brakes in guess where the brake fluid will go as you are pushing the pucks back?

Yep right back to those reservoirs so you will need to drop their level down by taking out fluid - if you don't there will be brake fluid on the floor.

Ask me how I know . . . :D

[dano0827]

good to know, and as i have driven it for a few days the light is back on, i am sure there was areas that have filled in and i hope after this next refill it will be it,,, but yes i will be sure to remove some before i replace pads.
Thanks again.