GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: silverfox on 28 July 2005, 10:03
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Hi,
i need some help on finding the problem with my ABS.
The ABS light does not come on when turning on the ignition, i tried the car out in the rain and the ABS is not working.
All the info i have found is around the ABS light coming on or staying on, not staying off. also the airbag light doesnt work, although i dont think the 2 are related.
Any ideas anybody....i feel a lot of expense coming my way! :cry:
Nick
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ok.. i just noticed you havent had the car long :(
So I assume its always done this..
um.. first i suggest you pull out the bulbs n check they're actually plugged in OR if they're not blown.
The bulbs should always come on at some point when you start the car. They only go off if everythings ok.
As they're not coming on either the bulbs are gone or not connected.
I know when the airbag tripped on my old car i just unplugged the connector from the bulb (however i told the people that bought the car the airbags were disabled)
_both_ being out stinks of them both being disconnected to hide an underlying ABS fault.. hopefully the airbag one was just disconnected to divert attention away from this other light staying on when you bought the car.
Oh and a final thing... For both ABS and airbag problems gettnig the car on a fault code reader will show exactly what/where the problem is. Some specialists will do this for free... some charge a little.
Pop the bulb holders off the dash and check what happens order then holla back!
Right now my moneys on them both coming on, and the airbag light going out.
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I did pull the dash section out with the bulbs in it, it was connected, and after sticking a meter across the the terminals, there was 12V there, but i didnt know if there should or shouldnt be, and on which terminals. it sounds like a good bet could be the bulbs, and then see if there is a fault condition.
N
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If there is 12V it sounds like its the bulb for sure.. however sounds like its in the fault condition. (which i'd expect after you saying you couldnt get the ABS to kick in driving..)
Can u actually see that the element in the bulbs is gone?
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i couldnt really see, the bulbs look silvery and you cant see the element properly, and they sre soldered in.
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hmm :(
i guess its time to take it to a local specialist (wouldnt recommend a stealership).. they'll be able to read the fault codes and fix ya bulbs too.
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If you in london , ive got a fault code reader .
I think you need to re-check the bulbs , they cant be soldered in , surely .
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I am in London - well nearly - working in Lewisham.
As for the bulbs, they are part of a little piece of the dash that pops out below the air vent, and there is a small plug for the wiring loom, on a circuit board, that has both the airbag and abs bulbs on it.
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Sweet , im on the isle of dogs .
Have sent you a message .
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Nice to see ya helping him out adyh hope you both sort it :D
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Well, after a trip to Maplins and a bit of soldering, i now have 2 working lights :smiley:
and 2 fault conditions :sad:
Ady is going to assist in tracing the ABS fault, any ideas as to why the Airbag could be showing a fault?
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At £60 ish a corner for good sensors you wanna be keeping the fingers crossed.. :sad:
Code reader will tell you more though.. :sad:
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Ady and his trusty laptop tracked it down to be the right rear sensor. and the airbag fault says - resistance too high!!! whatever that means. But at least i can get the sensor changed and get it through the mot now.
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Ive checked on the internet about the airbag issue and its to do with the ignitor circuit . I wonder , as you said , whether the thing has gone off before .
All other codes , cleared when i reset them so i reckon they are not a problem .
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yeah hopefully nick can then join us at some meets and shows... Good to c ur using the forum Nick... Welcome to the Club/forum mate... Say hi to the family for me....
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Well i replaced the sensor, but the ABS light is still on, showing a fault. :cry:
Does it need to be plugged in to the VAGCOM to clear the fault condition or should it clear automatically?
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Nah, if the sensor you changed was the fault, then the light should go out automatically, after driving about a mile or so (well thats what happened when i did my n/r sensor). Mines a 1997 8v gti, not sure if the system is the same, but i don't see why it would be different
Hope you get it sorted
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Well i gave up trying to fix it, and took it to my local VW dealer for a diagnostic check.
They worked on it for a day, and eventually told me that it wasnt the sensor as the computer showed, but in fact a fault on the ABS ECU, it wasnt reading from the sensor, price to repair £600 :shocked:
But after all the work they did tracing the problem, they didnt charge a penny :smiley:
So i now have to source an ABS ECU.
I tried BBA-reman, £130 to fix mine, gonna look for a secondhand one first i think.
it goes on .................
does anybody know if the ABS ECU is the same one on any other models, or is it specific to the VR6?
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^ for a new ECU try people breaking mk3's on ebay..