ABS light on

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:00 am

my ABS light has come on today.

it was in the dark so havent checked the car yet

does that mean the fluid is low or something bigger??

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:48 am

Brenner5 wrote:my ABS light has come on today.

it was in the dark so havent checked the car yet

does that mean the fluid is low or something bigger??

It won't be fluid related.

Most likely causes are dirty/clogged/damaged/rusted toothed wheels on the hubs (the ones the sensors look at), or the sensors themselves (or their electrical connections).

Ian.

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:05 am

Does the light come on with the engine running and the car not moving, or only come on whwn you drive off, and reach about 5 MPH?

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:35 am

usually it comes on just as you start the engine but should go out after a few seconds, it does a test of the sensors, then just as you start moving off, it tests again just as you get over 5mph, if either of the tests are failed the light stays on

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:36 am

the ABS light comes on when the ignition is turned and then stays on when the engine has started..

the brake sensor light is off though but that could have been disconnected as they are not very reliable

do i have to check all the wheels or just the ones with the sensors??

i have been getting a noise from the passenger wheel so will check that out 1st !!

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:37 am

jamesroools wrote:usually it comes on just as you start the engine but should go out after a few seconds, it does a test of the sensors, then just as you start moving off, it tests again just as you get over 5mph, if either of the tests are failed the light stays on

would this mean my brakes will now lock??

unsafe to drive..mmmmm

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:42 am

the brakes will mostly likely lock up everytime stand on the brakes, im not 100% sure on how the e30 system works, but it might still work just not on all wheels, only where the wheel that has the faulty sensor(s) will it lock up, although if its an abs ecu fault then it wont work at all, if all the sensors seem ok, then take it too a specialist, abs ecu's are very easily damaged and the wiring is not something to be messed with

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:44 am

sorry forgot to mention it may also be a fault with the abs pump,

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:46 am

[quote="jamesroools"]sorry forgot to mention it may also be a fault with the abs pump,[/quote

im glad i got spares

Post Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:51 am

if its not the sensors try replacing the pump, or trying hitting it lightly, sometimes the pump gets stuck and this helps

after all that then get an expert in