Hello! MK3 GTI ABS issue-could do with a bit of advice please....

[John W]

Hello all

New here. Have recently bought a MK3 GTI 8 valve 5 door to use as my winter car. High mileage but a nice car to drive. So far, faults have been limited to the noisy reverse gear ( ) and non functioning rear electric windows.

Anyhow, this morning, I accidentally drove through a large puddle (lake!) with my drivers front wheel. A short while later, I noticed that the ABS warning light was on. I'm assuming the two things are related......

So I did some research, and from what I can gather (and please DO correct me if i'm wrong!) an amber ABS light is a minor fault and a red ABS light is a major one-is that right? Mine is amber.

So assuming I have a wet or dirty sensor, do I need to get anything reset or will the light just go off when the fault is sorted?  Is the wet sensor likely to be the problem?

Many thanks for your advice!

John

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Hi Welcome along,

Right have you plugged it in vag-com yet?, If no do that and it will tell you which sensor is playing up and you can then go about sorting it out. by replacing the sensor or just check to see if the wiring is brittle. My sensor plug was shot, and that bought a abs fault light on...

[tweed]

Give it a day or two to see if it corrects it self. As you say it's wet or got a bit of dirt on it. If it doesn't go away after couple of days, jack car up take the wheel off and clean the abs sensor.

Also disconnect the battery for 10 mins.

[John W]

Great-thanks guys. I'll try the waiting/battery disconnect first. What is Vag-com and how do I get it?

[Gti_Jamo]

You can also test the abs sensors using a meter via the ecu. Should be some info on here about doing that if you don't know anyone with vag com.

[John W]

Hmm...been looking at Vag.com stuff on fleabay. Is it REALLY as easy as that-buy a cable with moody software CD for £30 and plug it in ?

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Hmm...been looking at Vag.com stuff on fleabay. Is it REALLY as easy as that-buy a cable with moody software CD for £30 and plug it in ?

As far as i know, the cable on ebay will not bring up majority of the faults and it'll be waste of money, You need to buy the proper cable & get the proper software from ross-tech i believe?

[javalin]

>So I did some research, and from what I can gather (and please DO correct me if i'm wrong!) an amber ABS light is a minor fault and a red ABS light is a major one-is that right? Mine is amber.
You only get an amber light on the mk3!  As I understand it, a light which either (a) doesn't "self test" and go off, or (b) stays on is now an MOT fail. 

I.e. if its fitted it must work.

Sounds like you've killed a sensor.  Oh well.  Yes unless there is an obvious issue (i.e. short circuit or plug full of water!) then you need VCDS to tell which sensor is faulty and is triggering the light.

James

[Gti_Jamo]

Also an illuminated amber light will mean your abs has been disabled, which will usually result in your back wheels locking up in the event of a emergency stop so be careful out there.

[VW BUSH]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/U281-OBD-2-CAN-BUS-SCANNER-SKODA/dp/B001C9V89A

all you need for a Mk3