- Posts
- 16,479
Do remember, if yours has a fault and it writes this fault to his ECU, you will have to get diagnostics on it to clear the fault out no doubt
P38A ABS and Traction Problems
- Thread starter quavey
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
I had considered this which adds a further layer of complication! Might just buy that one of Martyns and be done with. Research has shown that the problems and error code that I have comes from the ECU being dead as well. Hmm
- Posts
- 58,170
- Location
- Preston Lancs.
Has to be ECU then. Could prove that if there is no voltage at connector sensor plugs into with ignition on.
I'm glad you think so haha. I haven't yet had the dash cluster out to see if bulbs are removed but the new bulbs have come. However I have a sneaking suspicion that the telltales will work with a functioning ecu. I've seen a few references to the exact same problems I have all fixed with new ecu. Onwards and upwards!
- Posts
- 58,170
- Location
- Preston Lancs.
Think you slightly misunderstand. But it makes no matter change the ECU and see what you get.
OK I will bring an end to this thread to help anyone in the future.
After some messing I managed to fit the new ECU into the car, bizarrely there are actually three bolts holding the ecu in (rave says 2!) and the top bolt is a proper PITA. Moment of truth when putting the key in ignition and result NO ABS FAULT with the ignition on.. Joy... short lived "Traction Failure" as the pump built up to pressure... Ah. Not to worry I thought we will clear any error codes that might be there (could have been some in the replacement ECU etc) we cleared that (it did have some codes about front sensors) and no error codes left - fantastic. But still no check bulbs on the dash - looks like they have been removed then, another day another job!
Sadly I then ran out of time to actually drive the car.
A few more days later and we've been out in the old girl today and although no ABS fault with the ignition first on we still had Traction Failure as the pump built up full pressure. Anyway after driving a few hundred meters we then got ABS fault... (I know most people would cringe at this but at least its waiting to report a fault until after something has happened!) so I took it down to the garage got the snap on code reader back on and we had two errors for the rear left sensor (again!) Output low and intermittent. However, the sensor I put on it in the first place was a cheap ebay job. I retained the original wabco sensor as it was dated 2011 (how long the car appears to have had this fault) so quicly whipped the wheel of and popped the sensor in. Bolted her all back together and took her for a little run around the block. Still Traction Fault after the pump had built up to pressure but not a sniff of ABS FAULT anywhere (hallelujah!) back into the garage and back on the code reader and cleared the original faults. In hind sight I perhaps might have saved a step if I had cleared the fault first but I was more keen to see if ABS FAULT immediately after the ignition was turned on came back on.
Anyway, with all faults cleared and its original sensor back in but still the replacement ecu no ABS Fault after driving or on igition and most importantly now no traction failure either!!!!
Some morals here:
Dont buy cheap sensors
You need detail diagnostics (I expect cheaper alternatives would have reported rear left sensor fault in all situations and caused people to think that actually their original ECU was OK when infact the new sensor was to blame the second time around!)
Final thoughts? Well I wouldn't be overly surprised if the root cause of all this perhaps 5 years ago a sensor was damaged which caused damage to the ABS ECU, the offending sensor was replaced as per diagnostics but it didn't fix the problem. The PO then elected to remove the ABS and TC bulbs from the cluster to hide the fact that the car had issues and its managed to get through an MOT with an improper test and thats the way shes been for the last 5 years. Until muggins here got involved "oh I'll buy an expensive P38 it will be less trouble that way..." yeah... right!
After some messing I managed to fit the new ECU into the car, bizarrely there are actually three bolts holding the ecu in (rave says 2!) and the top bolt is a proper PITA. Moment of truth when putting the key in ignition and result NO ABS FAULT with the ignition on.. Joy... short lived "Traction Failure" as the pump built up to pressure... Ah. Not to worry I thought we will clear any error codes that might be there (could have been some in the replacement ECU etc) we cleared that (it did have some codes about front sensors) and no error codes left - fantastic. But still no check bulbs on the dash - looks like they have been removed then, another day another job!
Sadly I then ran out of time to actually drive the car.
A few more days later and we've been out in the old girl today and although no ABS fault with the ignition first on we still had Traction Failure as the pump built up full pressure. Anyway after driving a few hundred meters we then got ABS fault... (I know most people would cringe at this but at least its waiting to report a fault until after something has happened!) so I took it down to the garage got the snap on code reader back on and we had two errors for the rear left sensor (again!) Output low and intermittent. However, the sensor I put on it in the first place was a cheap ebay job. I retained the original wabco sensor as it was dated 2011 (how long the car appears to have had this fault) so quicly whipped the wheel of and popped the sensor in. Bolted her all back together and took her for a little run around the block. Still Traction Fault after the pump had built up to pressure but not a sniff of ABS FAULT anywhere (hallelujah!) back into the garage and back on the code reader and cleared the original faults. In hind sight I perhaps might have saved a step if I had cleared the fault first but I was more keen to see if ABS FAULT immediately after the ignition was turned on came back on.
Anyway, with all faults cleared and its original sensor back in but still the replacement ecu no ABS Fault after driving or on igition and most importantly now no traction failure either!!!!
Some morals here:
Dont buy cheap sensors
You need detail diagnostics (I expect cheaper alternatives would have reported rear left sensor fault in all situations and caused people to think that actually their original ECU was OK when infact the new sensor was to blame the second time around!)
Final thoughts? Well I wouldn't be overly surprised if the root cause of all this perhaps 5 years ago a sensor was damaged which caused damage to the ABS ECU, the offending sensor was replaced as per diagnostics but it didn't fix the problem. The PO then elected to remove the ABS and TC bulbs from the cluster to hide the fact that the car had issues and its managed to get through an MOT with an improper test and thats the way shes been for the last 5 years. Until muggins here got involved "oh I'll buy an expensive P38 it will be less trouble that way..." yeah... right!
- Posts
- 16,479
Glad you got a resolve.....and thanks for updating the thread with a conclusion....many don't leaving it hanging...that helps no one!!
ABS and Traction Fualt Messages can also be a symptom of low battery volts....maybe your spurious Traction fault is a result of the load the pump puts in as it charges the accumulator....
Also to note, if the pump has to run each time you start the car (aside from a few days of rest mind) and after a couple of pedal pushes, the accumulator is getting tired.
ABS and Traction Fualt Messages can also be a symptom of low battery volts....maybe your spurious Traction fault is a result of the load the pump puts in as it charges the accumulator....
Also to note, if the pump has to run each time you start the car (aside from a few days of rest mind) and after a couple of pedal pushes, the accumulator is getting tired.
Yeah I have been looking at the accumulator to be honest. It's not to bad at the moment tends to run every 4 pedal pushes or so. It does run each different day but fine if stopped and started. I don't tend to use the Rangie much once a week etc! I've not even done 200 miles in it yet and I've had it nearly a month! That includes the 70 bringing it home!
