failed MOT

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

three-two-five
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Reading,UK

Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:06 pm

my e30 failed on abs, no light comes on.. very observant tester

try'd a new bulb but no joy.. wht else could it be? relay, ecu??

does any1 have any working relays for sale too...

its for a facelift vert

thmxs guys!!
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:58 pm

Chances are it's been rigged by a previous owner, so you have to find where this has happened.
When an ABS system is in full working order, and the engine is running, the ABS light is off because it has 12 volts + on both sides of it, so the first check is to see if this voltage is present at the bulb with the ignition on.
Another thing to check is that the car still has ABS, and the whole system hasn't been removed by some idiot.
TPS
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 13119
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:00 pm

Open the Glovebox, to see if its got an ECU!
Image
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
mcbonio
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1868
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:00 pm

Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:54 pm

Accelerate to 40mph and slam on the anchors, see if the wheels lock up.
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:27 pm

mcbonio wrote:Accelerate to 40mph and slam on the anchors, see if the wheels lock up.
Almost certainly it doesn't have a working ABS system. We're trying to determine if it still has a non working system!
three-two-five
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Reading,UK

Post Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:24 am

thnx for the replies
there is the ecu for the abs, im jus wondering if the relay's got fried as the garage jump started it a few time as batt was flat.. would a duff relay still make the abs light come on with ignition??
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:06 am

Duff relay would leave the light on all the time the ignition is on.
Check for 12 volts at the light.