Renegade Diesel Brake Issues: Fix That Warning Light

I had a similar issue with my 2016 Compass Diesel last year. Having some experience with basic car maintenance, I first thought it was the ABS system playing up, but it turned out the brake system was incorrectly bled after routine maintenance. The brake pedal felt spongy and the warning lights kept appearing. The workshop found air bubbles in the brake lines, which severely compromised vehicle safety. They had to perform a complete brake system bleed using professional equipment. The whole process took about 2 hours and cost 90 Euro. Before heading to the shop, can you provide more details about: Does the brake pedal feel different when the engine is running vs off? Are the brake fluid levels normal? When exactly did these symptoms start? Have you had any recent brake work done? Proper diagnosis is crucial for brake-related issues since replacement parts can be expensive if you replace the wrong components. The symptoms you describe sound very similar to what I experienced, but its best to get a proper inspection done by professionals.

Latest service was at 28000 KM about 2 months ago. Thanks for the detailed response. The brake pedal feels significantly harder when the engine is off compared to when running. I checked the brake fluid levels yesterday and they appear normal with no visible leaks around the hydraulic brakes components. The symptoms started gradually over the past week, getting worse during highway driving. No recent brake work except for standard checks during the last service. The brake performance decrease is most noticeable during initial pedal press, requiring more force than usual. The pressure sensor warning appeared shortly after that. Would testing the brake booster be a good next step before replacing any parts?

Based on my own experience with the same issue on my Compass, the symptoms you describe, especially the difference in pedal feel between engine on/off, strongly point to a brake booster system problem. The pressure sensor failure often triggers these exact warning signs. When my brake booster pressure sensor failed, I also noticed that harder pedal feel. The gradual decline in brake performance matches what happened to my vehicle too. The fact that the brake fluid level is normal and there are no visible leaks suggests the hydraulic brake system itself is likely intact. Testing the brake booster before replacement is definitely the right approach. In my case, the workshop performed electronic diagnostics specifically focused on the brake system and pressure sensor readings. This helped confirm the issue before any parts were replaced. The total diagnostic process took about an hour. For optimal brake performance and vehicle safety, I recommend having a certified technician: 1. Test the brake booster operation 2. Verify pressure sensor readings 3. Check vacuum lines for potential leaks The diagnostic costs were around 60 Euro in my case, and it saved money by pinpointing the exact issue rather than replacing parts unnecessarily.

Thanks for the helpful information. After checking the brake fluid levels yesterday, I noticed they remain consistent which is somewhat reassuring. The symptoms you described with your Compass match mine exactly, especially that distinct difference in brake pedal feel between engine on and off states. Your experience really helps confirm my suspicions about the brake booster system being the likely culprit. The gradual onset of issues during highway driving particularly concerns me from a safety perspective. Having proper diagnostic tools used by professionals makes sense before replacing any components. I will schedule an appointment to have them specifically check the brake booster and pressure sensor. Getting that hour-long diagnostic test for around 60 Euro sounds worthwhile to pinpoint the exact problem. Much better than replacing parts unnecessarily. The fact that your issue was resolved after proper diagnosis gives me confidence about addressing this. Will make sure they thoroughly test the vacuum lines and entire brake system while they have it in the shop. Vehicle safety comes first, so I want this resolved properly. Thank you for walking through your repair experience. It helps validate my concerns about the hydraulic brakes and provides a clear path forward with the testing process.