I think Gretchen has a Gremlin!...

3014 Views 25 Replies 11 Participants Last post by jers99lt, Jul 20, 2012

shoswell

Discussion Starter · Jul 14, 2012

Bike: 2005 36K
Issue: Brake failure & Red Triangle lights alternating.
Known: Changed the rear pads, Shortly after (only in the early morning) the BF and triangle would come on about a mile down the road. Turn bike off, another mile, lights on

Checked: Rear brake reservoir, rear pads, front pads, and fuses. All seem normal.

The odd part, returning home (80 RT commute) no lights, until today.

Solve, suggestions, smart ass remarks?

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

hallzee

· #2 · Jul 14, 2012

Turn the bike off every mile?

Let me know if you want help removing tupperware, cuz that's all I know at this point.

Paging John Zeiler... John Zeiler to the white courtesy phone please!

Dick

· #3 · Jul 14, 2012

shoswell said:
Bike: 2005 36K
Issue: Brake failure & Red Triangle lights alternating.
Known: Changed the rear pads, Shortly after (only in the early morning) the BF and triangle would come on about a mile down the road. Turn bike off, another mile, lights on
Checked: Rear brake reservoir, rear pads, front pads, and fuses. All seem normal.

The odd part, returning home (80 RT commute) no lights, until today.

Solve, suggestions, smart ass remarks?

Are there one, or two, rear brake reservoirs on an '05??

bmrbob

· #4 · Jul 14, 2012

You say you replaced the rear pads, and then it started doing that, right? Then you need to add just a little brake fluid to the rear reservoir, the one under the right side of the passenger seat. That will take care of the problem. :yeah:

Lee510

· #5 · Jul 14, 2012

When I saw this thread title on the "Forums" page, I thought MWNAHAS had problems with his wife! :histerica

Since it's Gretchen the LT, I've got nothing. Sorry for your trouble. Hope you get the lights straightened out soon.

mwnahas

· #6 · Jul 14, 2012

Even if the level is in the 'normal' range in the rear reservoirs get an eye dropper and put a few drops of break fluid in them. And my Gretchen is fine.

jzeiler

· #7 · Jul 14, 2012 (Edited)

That little reservoir under the seat is not the one you want on an 05 and up. What you want to top off is the one ON the ABS unit. the short one is the rear and the tall one is the front. Not easy to get to and best to use a syringe to top off. Most likely have to remove the left side "battery cover" tupperware to get to the short reservior on the outboard side.

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mwnahas

· #8 · Jul 14, 2012

jzeiler said:
That little reservoir under the seat is not the one you want on an 05 and up. What you want to top off is the one ON the ABS unit. the short one is the rear and the tall one is the front. Not easy to get to and best to use a syring to top off.

Xcellent... I'll bet that's the culprit.

shoswell

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 15, 2012 (Edited)

Thank you gentlemen... I knew Barbara inside and out, but Gretchen is almost like a new woman. I have to figure her out.. lol

Now for the stupid question. I can find the pump, and see the one that I'm supposed to look at, but....

Do I remove the Allen fitting? (Red arrow)

(edit)
Removed the Allen and dropped 4 droppers full of Fluid in the hole... Test road the bike, no lights! :dance:

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K100Dennis

· #10 · Jul 15, 2012

Yes, that is 1 of the 2 reservoir filler caps, see the other one further towards the centre of the bike. Both these are teed onto a common brather hose.
I can't remember which is which but 1 is the front wheel circuit reservoir, the other being the rear wheel reservoir. These are the reservoirs which will reduce in level as the brake pads wear and the pistons follow them in towards the disc(s).
You'll see a very fine plastic strainer under the caps, pluck it out carefiully using long nose pliers. Check the fluid level and top it ip slightly if required. I actually don't have the level dimensions, sorry. Overfilling won't cause a problem other than fluid being pushed out through the breather hose.

shoswell

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 16, 2012

Gremlin is back!

I'll pull it apart again and check the other side... I'll post pics to help the others that are challenged.

Q: should I expect this each time I change pads? Seems asinine at best. What role do the reservoirs play in all of this?

K100Dennis

· #12 · Jul 17, 2012

No Hoss, you shouldn't have this problem when you replace pads. If anything, the fluid level in the module reservoirs lowering as the pads wear may bring up a light, and adding fluid would fix that problem. That fluid should then overflow when the pistons are push back into the callipers to flush the system or install new pads. Check the other side reservoir (front wheel circuit I think) and top it up. If the light persists you may need to get the GS911 connected at a dealer. Has the system been recently flushed ?

jzeiler

· #13 · Jul 17, 2012

+1 on what Dennis said. I usually fill the reservoirs during a flush with the pistons all the way back then seat the pads and I don't top off the reservoirs. Never have had a case of the flashing lights. The 05 and up are no where as sensitive to fluid level as the early I ABS bikes. There may be something else causing it like a wheel sensor gap. The I ABS is self resetting so if the fault is intermittent so will the fault indicator.

bmrbob

· #14 · Jul 17, 2012

Did you put a little in the rear reservoir like I said? You didn't did you? Try it, you'll like it!

jzeiler

· #15 · Jul 17, 2012

bmrbob said:
Did you put a little in the rear reservoir like I said? You didn't did you? Try it, you'll like it!

No point the one under the seat on the 05 and up is not monitored and only feeds the rear control circuit. He added fluid to the rear wheel circuit reservoir on the ABS unit.

bmrbob

· #16 · Jul 17, 2012

I had the exact symptoms he is describing after a rear pad exchange, the rear res looked fine, the local BMW mechanic who I totally trust said to add a little fluid to it, and that took care of the prob.

shoswell

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 17, 2012

bmrbob said:
I had the exact symptoms he is describing after a rear pad exchange, the rear res looked fine, the local BMW mechanic who I totally trust said to add a little fluid to it, and that took care of the prob.

you have an '06 correct. Did they change? No clue.. moving on!.. More about me, less about you!..

Just broke into Gretchen again. checked the rear resi on the ABS pump. All good. Checked the other.. LOW? took about the same amount, which if your using a small Baby dropper, seems like a lot. This morning the lights came on almost immediately. Now they do not. Unfortunately, I broke the plastic "allen" screw, so I'm screwed. or will be screwed when I drive my happy arse to ANS....

As a side note, the fluid in the bar resi was BROWN... My gawd, I've got to flush the system!

Question: What would be the reason/cause for the fluid levels at the pump to be low? I understand they are different (seals) circuits, Both being low, seems odd...

Why does the odd ball crap happen to me? Why do I end up being the guinea pig for my local group? Why am I bald? Why has my wife remain married to my arse for almost 20 years? Why... Why... Why...

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deputy5211

· #18 · Jul 17, 2012

shoswell said:
Why does the odd ball crap happen to me? Why do I end up being the guinea pig for my local group? Why am I bald? Why has my wife remain married to my arse for almost 20 years? Why... Why... Why...

Guess you are just the lucky one, Hoss!

K100Dennis

· #19 · Jul 17, 2012

Hoss, go out to your shed, then turn around real quick,........ I bet a paranoid person is following you. The fluid is low because the pads wear down and the pistons move inwards towards the disc (out of the calliper) so increasing the system volume (space). The fluid can only be low if someone took some out (thieves ?) If it looks like crap flush it asap. I'm currently waiting to replace an '03 brake module unit for a guy who's system had never been flushed. In the reliability world we call it 'run to failure', a perfectly legitimate maintenance strategy in the right circumstances, but unfortunately this is not the place for that strategy. $2280 plus installation, that usually makes 'em sit up and take notice !

gr8fulfred

· #20 · Jul 17, 2012

Hoss: If you do need to use a GS911 to find the fault the RCB has one for club members' use. Let me know and we can set up a time on a Saturday to do it. Save you a few bucks.

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