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#12
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ABS light is on
"Terry Pinnell" > wrote in message ... >I have a 1996 N-reg BMW 328SE Auto. Its ABS light is coming on and staying > on while driving. However, using the CHECK button on the computer panel > displays 'Check Controls OK'. > > I haven't been able so far to test it out on a suitable surface, but > should I assume it's broken? If so, is a repair likely to be within the > capabilities my local garage (which regularly services the car), or am I > going to have to take it to an expensive BMW dealer please? > The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work -- your tires will lock if you use the brakes in a panic, or on ice even if not in a panic. ABS looks for a tire to stop turning as you apply the brakes. It it finds one then the brakeing pressure is removed from that wheel for a moment and then is reapplied. The result is that the wheel is allowed to turn so you retain directional control over that wheel. The light being on means the system is disabled and the tire will lock and remain so until you release the brakes. This is not a fatal condition -- we drove around for decades without ABS systems. Indeed, in the early days of ABS, lots of people wanted information on how to disable them. In any case, you have a failed speed sensor in one or more of the wheels. Odds favor just one failed sensor, but there are four of them and you have no clue which one. You need a diagnostic device that connects to the Data Link Connector (the round one by the right-side shock tower in the engine bay) to read which one has failed. Replacing a speed sensor is not a difficult task, and one that most people should be capable of undertaking at home. |
#13
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ABS light is on
"Terry Pinnell" > wrote in message ... >I have a 1996 N-reg BMW 328SE Auto. Its ABS light is coming on and staying > on while driving. However, using the CHECK button on the computer panel > displays 'Check Controls OK'. > > I haven't been able so far to test it out on a suitable surface, but > should I assume it's broken? If so, is a repair likely to be within the > capabilities my local garage (which regularly services the car), or am I > going to have to take it to an expensive BMW dealer please? > The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work -- your tires will lock if you use the brakes in a panic, or on ice even if not in a panic. ABS looks for a tire to stop turning as you apply the brakes. It it finds one then the brakeing pressure is removed from that wheel for a moment and then is reapplied. The result is that the wheel is allowed to turn so you retain directional control over that wheel. The light being on means the system is disabled and the tire will lock and remain so until you release the brakes. This is not a fatal condition -- we drove around for decades without ABS systems. Indeed, in the early days of ABS, lots of people wanted information on how to disable them. In any case, you have a failed speed sensor in one or more of the wheels. Odds favor just one failed sensor, but there are four of them and you have no clue which one. You need a diagnostic device that connects to the Data Link Connector (the round one by the right-side shock tower in the engine bay) to read which one has failed. Replacing a speed sensor is not a difficult task, and one that most people should be capable of undertaking at home. |
#14
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ABS light is on
On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:04:38 -0800, Jeff Strickland wrote:
[...] > The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work No it doesn't. It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the ABS won't work. Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply. |
#15
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ABS light is on
On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:04:38 -0800, Jeff Strickland wrote:
[...] > The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work No it doesn't. It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the ABS won't work. Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply. |
#16
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ABS light is on
Chris Whelan > gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying: >> The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work > No it doesn't. > > It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the ABS > won't work. I've never yet come across an ABS system that didn't fail-safe and turn off completely at the first sniff of a fault. |
#17
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ABS light is on
Chris Whelan > gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying: >> The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work > No it doesn't. > > It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the ABS > won't work. I've never yet come across an ABS system that didn't fail-safe and turn off completely at the first sniff of a fault. |
#18
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ABS light is on
On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:35:19 +0000, Adrian wrote:
> Chris Whelan > gurgled happily, sounding > much like they were saying: > >>> The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work > >> No it doesn't. >> >> It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the >> ABS won't work. > > I've never yet come across an ABS system that didn't fail-safe and turn > off completely at the first sniff of a fault. The wiring loom to the dash gets damaged; a short from a live wire connects to the ABS warning light... Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply. |
#19
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ABS light is on
On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:35:19 +0000, Adrian wrote:
> Chris Whelan > gurgled happily, sounding > much like they were saying: > >>> The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work > >> No it doesn't. >> >> It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the >> ABS won't work. > > I've never yet come across an ABS system that didn't fail-safe and turn > off completely at the first sniff of a fault. The wiring loom to the dash gets damaged; a short from a live wire connects to the ABS warning light... Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply. |
#20
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ABS light is on
"Chris Whelan" > wrote in message ... > On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:04:38 -0800, Jeff Strickland wrote: > > [...] > >> The ABS light being on means the ABS will not work > > No it doesn't. > > It means the system "thinks" there is a fault which *might* mean the ABS > won't work. > > Chris Same thing. If you cannot rely on the system working, then it does not work even if there is random functionality. |
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