Argh, ABS fault

munfred · Post by **munfred** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:12 pm

Left the 406 at work for a coupe of days as I was using the minibus.
Got back in it to drive home this evening and the light on the dash and panel is saying ABS fault.
Does anyone know if there is a common fault here? or something that usually goes wrong?
Is there a way that you can reset it or having it checked without having to fork out on getting it read for its fault code, which last time cost me £50. (cheapest I could find around here)

As far as i know I assume it is safe to drive, as the ABS should just shut down and not work if there is a fault, can anyone correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Pugman406 · Post by **Pugman406** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:54 pm

Strange!

Mine has done the exact same tonight,

so is there anyone with any anwsers- it would be much appreciated!

Cheers

Post by **steve_earwig** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:42 pm

With the light up the brakes will just be normal brakes, without ABS.

There seems to be a spate of the toothed rings breaking and coming loose on the driveshafts. See viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5524&p=56237&hilit=epoxy#p55856

Or it could be a pick-up sensor going faulty. Or wiring. Or the ECU...

Pugman406 · Post by **Pugman406** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:30 am

am i guessing the sensor is near the brake pads or similar, i might give it a good powerwash later, as i was driving down dirty country lanes when the light came on!

Post by **steve_earwig** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:06 am

The pick-ups/sensors are on the swivel hubs, on the back they're on the hub carriers. The rotors are on the driveshafts on the front (see link), on the back they're on the (gold-plated) hubs.

I don't think mud will do much to them but rust or other damage will. I had one go on my Senator, it looked like rust had built up in the tube and crushed it (then they were a very tight fit to start with). Back then I had the luxury of a decent wiring diagram and was able to test each one 'til I found the right one, alas I don't think we're that lucky with the diagrams in Haynes

Pugman406 · Post by **Pugman406** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:39 am

ok,will take wheels off sumtime and have a closer look, i know it prob wont have much affect, but i will give it a blast with powerwash, full of crap anyway!

am i still ok to drive with these lights illuminated?

Post by **steve_earwig** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:16 am

Hold on

Pugman406 wrote:am i still ok to drive with these lights illuminated?

You have the STOP light too? Then I'm really not comfortable telling you it's safe to drive [/chickenshit] There's a whole lot of circuitry in the dash so I can't really tell you what's bringing the STOP light up, maybe the ABS, maybe something else too and if the brake warning's up as well then my best advice would be don't drive it anywhere at all. Like you can rely on the handbrake to stop you in an emergency...

munfred · Post by **munfred** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:33 pm

With mine it is only the abs, and the (!) symbols that are lit up. Seemed ok this morning, braked as much as I dared from 60-30 and it seemed fine, and stoped with plenty of time. Didnt really want to push it so that either the ABS kicks in or brakes lock if the ABS isnt working.
I don't think the stop light comes on unless there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the engine/electrics.

Ive been googling horror stories of prices up to £1k for Abs ECU's to be replaced on D9's :eek:

Pugman406 · Post by **Pugman406** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:42 pm

I dont have the Stop sign lit up, only ABS and handbrake!

Pugman406 · Post by **Pugman406** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:41 pm

Well u wont believe it!.....

Gave it a good power wash behind the wheels etc, and the ABS error has gone! I dont know if this has made a permanent cure, its just a matter of wait and see!

Post by **steve_earwig** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:04 pm

*falls off pilates ball*

munfred · Post by **munfred** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:35 pm

sorted mine aswell now.

Looked at the rings on the driveshafts, they looked fine.
Took the sensors, out, they were a little dirty, so cleaned them up, but still no luck.
Went to the nearside rear, and I struggled to get the sensor out. Put some release oil on it, but still no luck, so I thought I would attack the other side.
Found a break in the wire. Not sure how it got there. I think some pikey has cut it, as there was no wear marks and it was all still in the brackets, and if I would have caught it on something it would have only been if I reversed as the suspension arm is in the way.
Few spade connectors, and some electrical tape, and all is working again.

Yay.

Post by **DaiRees** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:29 pm

Wow good news twice! Well done chaps

Post by **steve_earwig** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:43 pm

A good result! Though I'm wondering if Pugman needs to look at his connections.

munfred wrote:Found a break in the wire. Not sure how it got there.

Both the brake pad sensor feeds on my D8 have done the same thing, clean break, no obvious signs of damage, weird.

munfred · Post by **munfred** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:58 pm

The ABS wire is quite alot thicker than brake wear cabels and its nowhere near where it can be caught.
Strange.

406oc.co.uk

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