ABS warning light

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey

ORIGINAL: 944 man

If it passes the self-test when you turn the ignition on, then Id suspect the wiring. If it does turn out to be the ABS controller, then it should only cost a few pounds from an extablished breaker (because they seldom ever sell. If you buy from one of those list every screw at a stupid price skankers who 'trade' on t'internet, then who knows what theyll try and charge?).

Simon

[] I am pretty sure who you are talking about here, ISTR he charged me 150 quid for mine. I am definitely in the wrong business.

I suspect that youre talking about Buttercup; but he is the exception that proves the rule and he has always been desparately expensive. I have a bee in my bonnet about the one man band chancers who list evey piece if of plastic trim for £5 and ask prices for some parts that even Simon wouldnt have asked in the nineties!

 

[DavidL]

I'm in the same position but mine only came on after the garage had it so they can have it back!
It could be a loose sensor if you're lucky. It is worth testing the relay but sadly it could be the ABS ECU (by the boot release under the dash). These are a bit more to fix.

 

[appletonn]

I've had a similar issue with my 'beetle' and after cleaning and testing the sensors to no avail, I then started swapping the expensive bits with a car that that had no faults - thankfully it ended up being the main relay in the fusebox, still £50 from OPC though, but much cheaper than the ABS ECU...

 

[pegasus]

Hi there, think positive,most abs problems are down to poor connections,be methodical,disconnect each sensor in turn,use switch cleaner and connect / disconnect the plug and socket a few times(this cleans the pins) check the abs light after doing each plug,then you will know what one was a bad connection. If that doaes not work remove each sensor in turn and check ther is no debris stuck to the sensor magnet,If you still have no luck,try borrowing a known servisable sensor and change each in turn again,asill no luck check the power feed (relay)and the abs motor earth which is found behind the plactic inner wing guard osf wing. Apoor power putput from the alternator can olso cause the abs light to come on but I am sure a bad connection will be your problem,hopr this helps John.

 

[barks944]

Thanks for the advice all.

 

[944cop]

I had the same problem too it was a really easy fix, the glovebox light was shorting on the frame and blew the fuse when I changed the bulb.

 

[944cop]

Insomniac that I am I have been laid in bed thinking about the glovebox shorting the fuse, that knocked all the dash lights off. It was still a fuse that knocked off the ABS can't remember which one it was though same symptoms you have and worth a look before doing anything else.

 

[barks944]

Will check that before I do anything 944cop. Does the ABS normally provide a health signal or somthing? So if its not powered or damaged it doesnt output its health signal and the light comes on.

 

[DavidL]

Just a thought but are our cars new enough to have ABS diagnostics from the ECU? If so identifying the problem should be a bit easier.
Fixing it may not be any cheaper mind...

 

[sawood12]

Tom, maybe you're not driving the car enough!! When I first bought the car it was from a guy who only clocked up a couple of thousand miles a year in her and the ABS light would come on - not all the time and not on every journey, but when it came on it stayed on. After about 2 or 3 months of my ownership, bearing in mind I was using it every day, it stopped illuminating and stayed off for the remainder of my ownership. I've heard that this can be a common problem with garage queens or cars that are locked up for the winter.

I think a Bosch service centre can carry out some form of diagnostics on them. I'm sure I remember someone doing this a few years back when this thread cropped up before and successfully diagnosing the problem to one of the wheel sensors. Was quite a cheap fix too.

 

[pegasus]

Like I said in my reply before the most likely cause of the abs light coming on is either bad connections or wheel sensors,you will probably find that if the car is driven a lot the general bumps and vibrations cure the bad connection,look for the easy answer first,don't overcomplicate it and save yourself some cash as well, think positive,all the best John.

 

[egan1]

Is your warning light on at start-up or only when the car starts moving?

It's a wheel sensor if it comes on once the car starts moving. If not it could be the relay, ABS control unit or pump.