I call again on the collective heads of wisdom!
My 1995 P38 DSE Auto every now and then comes up with an ABS Fault which is followed by Traction Failure! The ABS and TC lights stay on as well as the message.
What is strange is that it isn't permanent and can come on when started or when in motion! Usually stopping the car, turning off the ignition and going for a pee at the services will 'cure' the 'fault'! I have a Faultmate and while it was showing the fault did a test and it showed up a faulty OSF sensor.
If I do a test when it doesn't show a fault then there is no fault logged and everything is OK!
So, my thoughts went to the connector on the OSF lead, the one under the battery! Can't see anything wrong though.

Should I take EVERY connector apart from sensor to BeCU? If so where does the wiring go so that I can check all the wiring for frayed cables etc. Also should I take the drivers seat out and replug EVERY plug in the BeCU? I don't mind doing this if I can be sure that I'm no courting problems when I connect the battery again! i.e. will the ECU stop talking to the BeCU? If this is a by product of remaking every plug can I fix the non communication with my Faultmate? I'm not fully converse with it's powers!

Or quite simply do I have faulty/not faulty/ intermittent ABS sensor? Can it be checked with a meter, and if so what readings should I get?

Thank you oh learned ones and all the best for 2010!

Ian

clean the sensor and refit was the fault a air gap? if so tap it back in

I had exactly the same problem. Turned out to be the brake pedal switch, nice and cheap to replace so well worth doing.

brake pedal switch was the cure of this exact problem on mine aswell! definately worth a go £6.75 inc vat.

Is the pump running excessivley ?

Thanks Addick47 and dantheman I'll order a new switch tomorrow! Worth doing just in case!
rewmer, this is interesting as the pump takes a little time to reach pressure and stop in the morning. I have had a couple of occasions some time ago when I have had no brake pedal after starting in the morning and not waiting for the pump to prime the system, but that problem just went and recently it's been OK!
vougese39 I had a look at the sensor itself and nothing looked strange or out of place and also why should the fault go away? I did wonder if the sensor could be 'iffy' which is why I wondered about putting a meter on it.
Thanks for these pointers and keep them coming. It would be great if it is just the brake switch £8.00 inc postage must rate as one of the cheapest repairs on a P38!
Incidentally I had a spate of 'Traction Failure' warnings which went when I had the transfer box changed, the VCU had failed and the chain was going. Ebay to the rescue with a recon unit having only done 45,000 miles!
The messages miraculously disappeared after that so I put it down to a bad connector that was remade during the exchange.

Thanks again to all,

Ian