Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti

[VW BUSH]

Quite common for someone to disconnect the abs light to get it through an MoT, mine was when I bought it. You'll find the handbrake switch on the handbrake itself and to see you'll have to remove some trim. Disconnect the switch plug and jump the two pins to see if it goes on/off. Also make sure the brake fluid level is not too low as well, this can cause the dash light to come on as well.

If the little cap is missing and the plunger has floated up you will get a light on as well

[jas307]

had a look at the brake fluid and notciced the plunger is sticking up, held the plunger down but the handbrake light still stayed on?

[vwwvgolf]

if it the ecu send it off to bba reman. they fix it with life time warranty for 90 quid. they collect it and post back too all in the price. just done this with mine

[VW BUSH]

had a look at the brake fluid and notciced the plunger is sticking up, held the plunger down but the handbrake light still stayed on?

That's eliminated that then Worth getting a cap though.
You will end up changing the wheel sensors at some time worth doing just so you know they are good, would be a ball ache to put a new ecu on only to find a duff sensor....

[Gavv8]

The wiring to the sensors can play up or break inside the sleeving and still look intact, if someone has worked on the brakes recently and been a bit heavy handed they could easily have damaged the sensor cables although to do all four is pretty bad luck, i'd replace the ecu first.

[Stewy12]

I have 2 spare ecus also if u disconnect the abs light get a led wire it up to the oil switch so it comes on and put it were the abs light is I did this for my mot (mot testers advice) or just replace all 4 sensors this works as well

[jas307]

thanks for the help guys much appreciated, made some progress today took the abs light out and noticed the bulb has blown, now looking for a replacement unit, also took the handbrake trim off and fixed the switch now the handbrake goes on/off as it should.

[jas307]

could someone tell me where the ecu part number is located?

[vwwvgolf]

on the ecu itself, it faces down to the road. will most likey be covered in crrrrrap

[gasketface]

Forget the ecu for now.The abs light comes on when one sensor fails.If you ignore that and another sensor fails the handbrake light will stay on as well.If any other sensors fail after that nothing else will light up as VW think you should have got the message by now.

My advice,change all 4 sensors,buy a code reader and once fitted reset all faults.Total cost on ebay about £45 all in.

You will probably have to destroy all the old sensors to get them out though !.They arev held in by torx headed screws and rust.

If that fails and your wiring is good then look at ecu but in my experience it very rarely fails.