Author Topic: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti  (Read 4536 times)

Offline SimonG

  • GTI forum regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 124
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #20 on: 23 February 2013, 21:20 »
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. :smiley:

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.

Good advice.

You've managed to find a fault with the handbrake switch which seemed to make the light stop on. You could do a continuity test on the sensors to see how much resistance is present across the two pins. There are some figures around here somewhere; this will give you another indication of the state of the sensors.
  Mk3 Anniversary GTI 16V, Mk2 GTI

Offline tshirt2k

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,323
  • Been there...Done that...
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #21 on: 24 February 2013, 09:25 »

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

I think you'll find the are a common failure. Especially on these cars. 


Mk3 ABF 16VT Megasquirt V3

Tshirt knows........ How to diagnose

Offline vr6D4v3

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 83
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #22 on: 24 February 2013, 10:19 »
Is there anything on these cars that aren't a common problem?

Offline jas307

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 18
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #23 on: 24 February 2013, 21:33 »
Where is the ABS ECU located?. I know the control module is by the pump, but the ABS ECU is located elsewhere. Any ideas where please?

Offline benvictors

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,172
  • bgk Tuning - coming soon!!!
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #24 on: 25 February 2013, 15:36 »

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

I think you will find that the plunger needs to be at the very bottom to make the connection which brings on the light, you don't need the little cap for this feature to work properly, if the plunger is up then there should be no light  :wink:

Offline Screech16v

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,432
  • MK3 20vt AGU
Re: Abs & Handbrake light on mk3 16v gti
« Reply #25 on: 25 February 2013, 19:03 »
Where is the ABS ECU located?. I know the control module is by the pump, but the ABS ECU is located elsewhere. Any ideas where please?

 :huh: the abs ecu is the control module  :lipsrsealed: