Argh! ABS palava...

[Captain Jack]

So my lovely* car has been pi$$ing me off lately with a spate of error messages, notably about the ABS.

PP2000 has been helpfully* suggesting that it's my front left ABS sensor that's at fault being open or short circuit (didn't see to know which), so I ordered a couple and set about replacing them.

Two hours later of relatively easy process, the work was done*. Only it wasn't - as soon as I started driving, I immediately knew that something was wrong as ABS kept kicking in as soon as I touched the brakes. Crap. Soon after *beep* ABS fault popped up once again with PP2K saying that there was a "coherence" problem from BOTH front wheels now.

A bit of investigation revealed that I have accidentally damaged ABS magnetic ring while removing the sensor ... by drilling it out (these things are stuck solid). The ABS ring is part of the wheel bearing, so unfortunately, I now have to get someone to replace the thing on both wheels if I am ever to get ABS and ESP functionality back. For now, I disconnected one of the sensors so that I at least have brakes that work*.

Grrr.... with MOT looming next month, this isn't good timing!

[steve_earwig]

Argh! indeed, and you still don't know if you've cleared the original fault

You should be able to remove the connector off the abs ecu and measure towards the sensors, noting if one measures differently to the others. In theory anyway...

[jasper5]

I know it doesn't help you, but I don't drill these sensors out....instead I undo the driveshaft nut and push the driveshaft in...break off the top part where the holding bolt is and use a big punch, large bolt, or 1/4 inch drive socket bar to bash the remaining part of the sensor all the way through...retrieve the old bit from where you have pushed in the driveshaft....clean up the hole where the sensor fits and smear washing up liquid around the hole to easily fit the new sensor.

To check which wheel bearing magnetic ring you damaged knock the driveshaft in and take a look at each ring.

[Captain Jack]

Thanks Jasper - for next time!

Definitely knackered both sides I can see where the damage is - it's not smooth there, which is probably what's causing it.

Anyway, car booked in for next Wednesday to have the new bearings fitted... At least I'll have shiny new bearings!

[Welly]

Oh bumhats I hate that sort of thing, you go to do a job yourself and end up making things worse, this isn't helping is it so I'll shuffle off and think about the hole in my exhaust pipe.

Hope the new bearings don't cost you too much.

Get the MOT done early?

[Captain Jack]

Yeah MOT is not due till 14th December so don't want to do it too early, else I'll lose 1 month MOT... and we don't want that

I *was* going to do cambelt and water pump change this year but that's on hold, what with the full set of boots costing nearly 400 worthless sterlings + £110 for both bearings with ABS ring on it + £120 for front brake discs (ks?) and pads + £200(?) for fitting these next week. That's already around £800+, plus whatever surprises MOT will throw at it...

I was toying with the idea of getting another car but considering the limited amount of driving I do and the fact that there's not much* really wrong with the car (other than the above), the fact that it's only on 80k AND the fact the HonestJohn scares the crap out of me forced me to rethink.

Welly, what happened with your Merc idea? I do like the later C and E class Mercs from 2009 onwards but they are still attached to a hefty premium and I just cannot justify it to myself at the moment.

[Welly]

Welly, what happened with your Merc idea? I do like the later C and E class Mercs from 2009 onwards but they are still attached to a hefty premium and I just cannot justify it to myself at the moment.

I very like the C Class Sport, they seem to be around the £8k mark? like you say they hang on to high prices - but for a good reason? I dunno.

For me it's all academic at the moment since it looks increasingly like I might be 'mothballing' the Volvo for a while and driving a Renner Twingo!

Welly_Daughter junior has started driving lessons and wants a car ultimately; the answer appears to be me registering said chariot and adding her to the insurance as a learner until she can take it on herself. The Twingo's appear to be quite trouble free from the extensive* research I've done.

I don't think the Volvo of doom will like being stored away though

[Doggy]

Welly's been out for a spin.....



Hmmm rear-engine rwd Smart* car genes, sounds interesting

Personally, I suspect Welly has found it more cost effective to get this year's winter tyres as part of a 'package'.

[Captain Jack]

Reminds me of my mum's '98 Clio, which is no more. A bit claustrophobic for me and no sense of being "hugged" by the cabin. 406 is better at that than the 407...

For Beliebers though, it's the perfect car.

[Welly]

Is that a Twingo? must be the new one?

I'm looking at 2008-ish ones the 2nd generation model I think with a little 1.2 pez up front.

I think Renner's are fine as long as you don't touch anything and you keep as still as possible. And preferably not use it.

[Captain Jack]

I think Renner's are fine as long as you don't touch anything and you keep as still as possible. And preferably not use it.

[Captain Jack]

Idiots. Car went in on Wedsneday. Get a phone call a few hours later saying "we can't fix your ABS problem" among a load of other waffle. I am like er... "I know ... that's why I asked you to replace the bearings". But they obviously wanted to check for simpler* things to save* me money - the exercise of which cost me £115 with no work, that I specifically asked them to do, done. It's now Friday and come 5pm they were still p!$$ing about with it, despite promising to have it ready yesterday. And then 2pm today...

It's back now - seems like replacing the bearings did fix the ABS issue, which means I was right all along and they saved* me money by doing chargeable work I didn't ask them to do. Won't be taking it to them again then....

So this ABS palava cost me £110 in parts (+extras for brake discs/pads), £115 for useless work* (which included running it through their Strap-On diagnostics machine) and £244 for the ACTUAL work. And £30 odd for the ABS sensors themselves.

Aaaaarrrggghhhhh....

I did see a nice Fraud Mondy for £10k, low miles, full levvers.... Hmm.

[OllieNZ]

Surely if you didn't sanction the work you can tell them to do one?

[neil830]

I know it's now a bit late. But I'm sure on the 406 you could just change the abs ring, you had to heat them up to get them on. Sure I did on mine years ago. It was a late one though 53 reg.


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[Captain Jack]

Completely different on the 407. The "rings" are magnetic rubber things on the wheel bearings. No way to separate the two.

On the fronts anyway. Rears can be done separately.