ABS light

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

My m8 is just about to buy a 1.9 TD 19. Only thing that concerns me is that when I was trying to move the car in a muddy field the ABS light flickered on/off when it was running, now im assuming this shouldnt be doing it. Whats the likely cause and more importantly, easily solved? I've heared ABS systems are a swine to work on...

Cheers

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

could be anything!

Reley, leaky modulator, accumulator etc etc

If however you were tryign to move and it was wheelspinning then the lights may flash on and off. They will also do that if the sensor and reluctor ring ws covered in mud.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

Gah, ABS!

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Right, drove the car back yesterday, ABS light seemed to pop on and off when it felt like it. Most likely cause a loose lecci connection? Only other thing i can think of, is the previous owner fitted disc brakes to the back (god know why) so maybe this has fecked the ABS up good and proper.
I'm right in assuming an illuminated ABS warning light is an MOT fail?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

So if you cant fix it in time for the MOT, take the ABS bulb out Smile

Site Subscriber Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 728

LOL...Nice

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

One day Neal will give a serious helpful answer Wink

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

can it be one of those pad thickness sensors by the front wheels ????

me thinks they might go loose very easily , i suppose they would light the ABS warning up would not they?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

huwwatkins wrote:

One day Neal will give a serious helpful answer Wink

LOL WTF, I am always being helpful!

The ABS bulb removal suggestion was dead serious BTW...

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Hmm, I was under the impression that was a totally different system as i've got it on my 'non ABS' TD. Just out of curiosity, what makes the ABS system on the 19 'so bad' ?

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Depends which system it is

Bosch:

ABS add-on for standard brakes. Works quite well and is reliable

Bendix:

Completely independant braking system, quite unreliable. If it works it works extremely well. If it doesn't work you've got no brakes. Horrible pedal feel too

Bendix was phased out in early 93

Neals right too, more enterprsing individuals modify the ABS light so it lights up with the oil light or similar so it comes on with the ignition then goes out Smile

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 589

I think they are a nightmare on the 21t's aswell, on mine, if the light comes on after going over 12mph (i think) and stays on, then its a ABS ring (maybe the teeth are corroded or simply need cleaning very gently with a soft wire brush) if the light does something different then its most likely a sensor (they can be tested with a voltmeter) i dont think the sensors are expensive from Renault, but if someone has been messing with the rear brakes then it could be that, id get the sensors checked then take it from there.

My ABS light stays perminetly on, the front rings need replaced on mine, but she still passed the MOT, when a ring has gone it confuses the ABS system, this then causes the ABS system to shut down completly (the light stays perminetly on) your brakes then should go into the safe normal mode, and not have the pedal pushing back on your foot when trying to press it.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty if the car has ABS then the rear brakes will be discs as standard.

They never fitted ABS to the drum brake models, although the new meganes and clios do.

Anyway just removing the bulb is a fail if the ABS systems there it has to have a working bulb. Wiring it in with the oil light should be enough to pass it.

If the bulbs comign on and off I would say give the reluctor rings a good wire brushing.