ABS light...

[lectrotek]

So google tells me ABS on mk3's is a bleedin' nightmare. And yet into this nightmare I must go...

So car scraped thru MOT a year ago, but with the garage telling me the ABS needs sorting.They felt a bit of pity for me coz i'd spent a fortune with them previously so they turned a blind eye to the ABS.

Anyway, what's odd is that the ABS warning light to the right of steering wheel doesn't come on at all. Airbag does, and then goes off as normal but no ABS light. Anyone know why?

The handbrake light below the speedo is also on constantly.

[RC81]

Hi, speaking from previous experience. The norm is that some people find it funny to damage the bulb in order to disguise that there is a bigger ABS fault! I found this on my MK3 GTI years ago. It also went through years of MOT's before I bought it without the bulb lighting at all, So when I bought the car, I delved a little deeper! But it just show's not all garages follow the procedure during an MOT?? Anyway, I found my bulb smashed to s**t! and the ABS pump to be the incorrect one and an ABS sensor not working! So after connecting vagcom found the 3 faults and replaced accordingly. So in your case, check the light its self or connect Vagcom if you have it. Hope that helps you 

[gasketface]

When you get an abs fault the abs light stays on.If you dont sort it in a certain amount of time the handbrake light comes on as well and stays on.

I had this on a 96 8v gti,it was just a wheel sensor.

Fault code reader would be a big help to you,under £20 on Ebay.

[lectrotek]

Lovely. cheers guys

[VW BUSH]

Handbrake light on points to the pump/abs ecu having a fault.
If its just the ABS light then you have a sensor(s) out or showing intermittent fault.
If the ABS light does not come on and go off on start up then someone has fragged it to trick the MOT tester.

This is not a nightmare job at all.
Change all the wheel senors and make sure all the connectors/wiring is good, don't go down the "its only year or so old" route.
The after market ones are gash and leak moisture into the coil inside giving problems after one winter (i used to make them).
They are easy to fit, about 20 mins a corner.
Clear all your faults take it for a spin, see if the light comes back on.

ABS pump is next fix if above does not work.....

[lectrotek]

Thanks Bush. Much appreciated.

Found these faults:

Wheel sensor left/front
Wheel sensor right/front
Wheel sensor right/rear
ABS pump.

Looks like the whole system is farked.

Gonna change the sensors first. These worth getting?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-MK-III-2-0-GTI-16V-1992-TO-1997-ABS-WHEEL-SPEED-SENSOR-LEMARK-/391270195044?fits=Model%3AGolf%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+III&hash=item5b19855f64

Gonna get a new pump too. I presume this is not as easy to fit?

[gasketface]

The pump is not hard to fit but you have to bleed the whole system afterwards,possibly more than once.

If you get a known good pump you can just about manage to hook it up to the plug on the car and test it before you fit it.The plug/lead already on car will just about reach.

After clearing the fault codes obviously.

Sounds to me like it may just be the pump itself but you should alos check condition of the plug on the pump as it could just be a poor connection.

[VW BUSH]

Fronts are different to rears, the rears also changed from about 96 on.

This company will be able to help make sure you get the right bits if you are not sure.
Forum discount too.
http://oemandmore.co.uk/
I used Eicher last time out and they all lasted more than a year before I cubed the GTI...

Start looking for a working ABS unit, don't get one unless it has a guarantee or you see it working/scan it for faults.
Fitting is easy but as said you will need to bleed it by using vagcom to activate the pump unit ensuring all air is removed from each brake caliper.

[SimonG]

What was the fault code that suggests it is the pump? 01276 Signal out of specification?  With all those 'faults' you list I'd be suspecting the ABS controller. Unless you are unfortunate with all those faults.  I've recently taken the ECU off the pump, opened it up and repaired the dry solder joints inside.

Swap the connectors over at the rear, under the rear seats and see if the fault with the rear sensor has swapped sides. This would point to the ECU rather than the sensor.

[lectrotek]

thanks for the input chaps. very much appreciated.

I've got half term off (teacher-perks!) so i'm going to try and sort it out. To be honest i've got no idea how to sort the ABS controller/pump so I'm going to change all the wheel sensors first coz they look simple, and at least I can eliminate em (they must be shagged anyway)

Worth getting standard or more expensive sensors from GSF?