So, you have already seen that nasty “Braking System Fault” error message in your Renault Kadjar. Otherwise, you would probably never get to this page. Although it may feel nervous to see the error messages and warning lights connected with brakes, it shouldn’t be a serious case. Your Kadjar has a lot of electronics to tell you about all kinds of problems with your car, so this is just a warning.
The “Braking System Fault” error message may be accompanied by several warning lights and it means that the system identified the problem in the brakes. It may be the brake pad or the electronic parking brake. Also, quite often, the problem is caused by the low battery and doesn’t have anything in common with the brakes.
In this article, I will cover the following:
- Things you should check immediately when there is a brake warning in the Kadjar.
- What are the possible reasons for the “Brake System Fault” message?
- Scanning for codes – what can you learn?
- Professional help for your Kadjar brakes.
- Can you drive when the Kadjar says “Braking System Fault”?
What should you do when you see this error message?
First of all, you should understand that the “Braking System Fault” message may tell you about an urgent problem with the brakes that requires your attention. If this is the case, you will also see the STOP light illuminating on the dashboard. It means you should stop the vehicle as soon as the road conditions allow you to do so.
In any case, if you see this message and the braking system warning light on the dashboard, you should stop in a safe place and do some inspection to know that everything is OK and you can continue driving.
Here’s what you should check, in the first place:
- Is the brake fluid level OK? Locate the brake fluid reservoir under the bonnet of your Kadjar and look inside. It should be almost full of fluid.
- Are brake pads in normal condition? If you have light alloy wheels, it will be easy to see the pads. Check if they still have enough thickness to work correctly.
- Is the EPB working? Your electronic parking brake is not hard to check. Apply it, start the engine, and try moving your car from its current place. You will see if the EPB is working.
- Is the stop light working when you are pressing the pedal? Ask someone to see if the stop lights are working properly when the pedal is pressed. This may tell you about the problems with the light bulbs or brake switch.
- Does your car have normal brakes? Try driving and braking on an empty road to make sure that you can safely drive further.
ATTENTION: If you find out that there are no brakes, the pads are damaged or worn out, the brake fluid level is low, or there is another serious problem with brakes, there is no way you can safely drive! Figure out how you can solve the problem (road assistance, buying fluid in the nearest store, calling a tow truck) without driving your car because it will be too dangerous!
Possible reasons for the “Braking System Fault” in the Kadjar
Although the braking system is extremely important and I never recommend playing a joke with it, you can try some DIY ways to solve the problem before you go to the dealership and leave your money there. Also, it’s very well to know what the problem is before you get the car in for repair. This will obviously save you a lot of money and time.
Here are the most common problems that may trigger the “Braking System Fault” message:
1. Brake pad sensor
The sensor is there to inform you when you should change your brakes. This sensor may trigger the warning in two situations: when it’s broken or when the pad is too thin and needs to be replaced.
There is a special code for the brake pad sensor in the ECU, so if you have any kind of scanner, you will easily locate the problem. If the sensor tells you that it’s time to change the pads, you can still drive about 500 kilometers before the pads start scratching the brake disc.
2. Low battery
You didn’t expect to see the low 12V battery as the culprit for this problem. But in the cars with the electronic parking brake, it’s not that rare. The battery may get low and the system will catch several faults. Actually, the low battery may trigger almost any warning lights and messages in your Kadjar, so it’s always worth starting your inspection with the battery.
If the battery voltage drops really sharply, you will spot it in the way your car starts. It will crank slowly and the dash lights may dim a bit.
The low battery should be recharged or replaced. There are too many expensive electronic modules in your Renault, so you better don’t risk them and change the battery before it fails. Otherwise, it can fry something and the warranty will not even pay for this.
3. Problems with the EPB
The electronic parking brake has its own error message saying “Check Parking Brake”. But it’s Renault, and things don’t always go as Renault engineers want them to go. So, very often, when the parking brake module has a glitch, you will see the “Braking System Fault” message.
I couldn’t find any simple way of resetting the Kadjar’s EPB. So, you may reset it by disconnecting the battery. If this doesn’t help, the EPB module may be broken and need replacement.
It will cost you about 500 euros at the dealership and 250 euros online. But the module will have to be programmed for your car.
4. Leaking brake fluid
If the fluid level drops, the system will react immediately and will command you to stop the car. The obvious message, in this case, is the “Braking System Fault” message. If you find out that the problem is with the low brake fluid level, you need to top up the fuel. After that, the message should be gone after several minutes.
Also, if the problem reappears within a day or two, it means your Kadjar has a brake fluid leak and needs urgent inspection. Driving such a car is not really safe.
5. Wiring or connection issues
The Kadjar may develop connection issues after about 5 years of life. Also, the bad climate or water damage may cause these problems. The connectors on the brake pad sensors are attacked by water on the road and some road debris. They aren’t going to live forever. Also, the EPB wiring may be damaged by spilled coffee or something.
I won’t focus on the wiring problems because they are extremely hard to locate even for mechanics. So, this is a topic for a different article. But you should know that this is one of the possible reasons why you see the “Brake System Fault” message.
What about DIY repair methods?
If we are talking about DIY repairs, there is not so much you can do. First of all, you should check if the 12V battery is working properly. You can even replace it on your own – just remember that the negative terminal should be disconnected first and connected last.
Also, you may try disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery for some time to reset the electronic control modules. This may help you solve the problem. At least, for some time so that you can drive.
If you figure out that the braking system in your Kadjar lacks fluid, you can buy the needed fluid (DOT 4) and top it up.
Unfortunately, all other inspection and repair methods require special tools. You can also read the codes if you have a scanner. But keep in mind that cheap scanners will only give you an overall view of the codes in the ECU. They may not communicate with the EPB module and braking system modules.
So, if you can’t solve the problem on your own, it’s obvious that you need some professional help. I strongly recommend Renault dealers for diagnosis even if you are out of the warranty with your Kadjar. But for repairs, it’s often worth searching for a good independent garage – this will save you hundreds of pounds.
Can you drive when you see “Braking System Fault” in the Kadjar?
This is a serious fault that can affect the safety of your vehicle. If the Kadjar tells you to stop by illuminating a red STOP lamp on the dash, you shouldn’t keep driving and ignoring this problem.
Before you drive, you should check the following:
- the brake fluid levels;
- the condition of your brake pads;
- whether your EPB is functioning properly and isn’t locked;
- make sure the brake pedal is stiff enough and works just as usual;
- see if the brake lights are on when you press the pedal.
If you check everything and there are no obvious problems, you may keep driving very slowly on the side of the road. Turn on the emergency light to avoid misunderstandings with other drivers on the road.
The best route for you is the route to the dealership or to the trusted Renault garage.
To wrap up
I understand that seeing the “Braking System Fault” message in your Renault Kadjar may be pretty stressful. But you should keep your head cool and check everything thoroughly. Very often, this is just the brake pad sensor or the EPB fault that is easy to solve just by resetting the control modules.
Anyway, you mustn’t ignore this problem because it may eventually be the reason for a car accident. You may keep driving only after you make sure that everything is OK with the brakes and you are safe on the road.
If you have anything to add or want to ask a question, please write in the comments below!