ASC/ABS light on BMW

dekbhoy

hi guys, out driving yesterday and the ASC/ABS light came on on dashboard on my BMW E39 00, also noticed the speedometer is also not working . Would anyone know what is the most likely cause of this. Is it very serious because i am due to drive to Cork tomorrow morning from Dublin .I know when the ABS light comes on it indicates the abs is not working but in no hurry tomorrow so will be taking it easy.

Applies appreciated.....

DublinDilbert

dekbhoy wrote: »

hi guys, out driving yesterday and the ASC/ABS light came on on dashboard on my BMW E39 00, also noticed the speedometer is also not working . Would anyone know what is the most likely cause of this. Is it very serious because i am due to drive to Cork tomorrow morning from Dublin .I know when the ABS light comes on it indicates the abs is not working but in no hurry tomorrow so will be taking it easy.

Applies appreciated.....

Sounds like you have a faulty abs sensor, these are also used to supply the speed signal.

You'll need to get someone to plug into the car and see what sensor the ABS module isn't happy with. Could be the sensor or just a loose connection going to it. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

dekbhoy

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Sounds like you have a faulty abs sensor, these are also used to supply the speed signal.

You'll need to get someone to plug into the car and see what sensor the ABS module isn't happy with. Could be the sensor or just a loose connection going to it. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

Cheers for quick reply , would any garage do this if so what would the general cost to get it diagnosed ,as i can replace part myself.

jimmycrackcorm

I recently had the same problem fixed and it cost €90 to diagnose and €230 for replacement sensor and labour in a dealer.

lynchie

Had the same issue too recently.. Wasn't the sensor but the abs module itself. Couldn't be repaired so had to get a replacement. Beware that your fuel gauge may not give accurate figures if its the abs module acting up. I learned the hard way and broke down on the naas road in rush hour traffic with an empty tank yet the trip computer said I had a 1/4 tank left!

DublinDilbert

dekbhoy wrote: »

Cheers for quick reply , would any garage do this if so what would the general cost to get it diagnosed ,as i can replace part myself.

They would need a diagnostic interface that can talk to the ABS module in the vehicle. Where are you based someone here will be able to recommend someone local.

Once you know which sensor it is, should be very quick to replace it, from memory there's just one bolt that holds them in place.

unkel

As the others said, it is most likely the left rear wheel speed sensor and if you're unlucky the ABS module but in the latter case the ABS light comes on and off a few times before it stays on in most cases. But it can always be something different too, so best get it diagnosed

dekbhoy wrote: »

as i can replace part myself.

You sure? This can be quite tricky.

Where are you? I can recommend a Bosch accredited diagnostics place in Dublin where they'd have the sensor in stock (and much cheaper than BMW dealer both for labour and the part)

Matt Simis

unkel wrote: »

You sure? This can be quite tricky.

Whats tricky about replacing an ABS sensor or even the whole module for that matter? Ive done it on several different vehicles, takes like 10min and a socket set!

lynchie wrote: »

Had the same issue too recently.. Wasn't the sensor but the abs module itself. Couldn't be repaired so had to get a replacement. Beware that your fuel gauge may not give accurate figures if its the abs module acting up. I learned the hard way and broke down on the naas road in rush hour traffic with an empty tank yet the trip computer said I had a 1/4 tank left!

As of yesterday I seen a new (to me) side effect of a faulty ABS Module, misfires on Cylinder 3 and ECU communication failure. Sounds serious, but apparently a known issue on E46 and E39 BMWs when the ABS module grounding fails.

dekbhoy

thanks guys for info, i am based in the dublin 4 area . i took both the back wheel sensors out and cleaned them . drove for around 20 mins and the problem reoccurred..:mad:. dont think replacing sensors would be much of a job but replacing module i think i would prefer to let a specialist at it .will get it diagnosed monday and take it from there or else i might gamble and replace the left rear sensor and see what happens .......did notice on board computer giving dodgy readings as of to what range i had left in tank........ really hope its not the module.will let yas know when i find out.

Lex Luthor

check the cable on the throttle asc body. it snapped on my e39 after about 9yrs old

Matt Simis

Lex Luthor wrote: »

check the cable on the throttle asc body. it snapped on my e39 after about 9yrs old

His e39 is prolly a facelift with DBW and therefore no cable. I was looking this up when our e39 had the problem too.

dekbhoy wrote: »

dont think replacing sensors would be much of a job but replacing module i think i would prefer to let a specialist at it .

You have that backwards, replacing the module (ie the black plastic ABS control box mounted to the metal ABS pump) is far easier than what you did with the sensor. The ABS Module is held in with 4 security screw bits, unscrew and remove. Car will drive without it (but will loose speedo and various other bits). ABS Modules can be refurbed (Logic Automotive in Dublin can do it).

I would get the codes read first though, there are other problems that can cause this issues.

unkel

Matt Simis wrote: »

Whats tricky about replacing an ABS sensor or even the whole module for that matter? Ive done it on several different vehicles, takes like 10min and a socket set!

They tend to get stuck / welded in on older cars - when removing with force it can break and you'll need to force / drill the leftovers out. Mess.

Matt Simis wrote: »

You have that backwards, replacing the module (ie the black plastic ABS control box mounted to the metal ABS pump) is far easier than what you did with the sensor.

+1

Easier than changing a wheel

Matt Simis wrote: »

ABS Modules can be refurbed (Logic Automotive in Dublin can do it).

How much do they charge? When I researched this the best I came up with was a US company charging $300 including a 5 year warranty. Which I though was pretty good.

Voodoomelon

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I recently had the same problem fixed and it cost €90 to diagnose and €230 for replacement sensor and labour in a dealer.

Bloody hell! :eek:
As far as I know, only a BMW dealer can tell you the exact sensor thats gone, other software will only confirm that one of the four is gone.

Granted I had awful trouble drilling out a seized rear sensor, but the replacement was $90 online for a new OEM one. I have no clue why they charged you so much labour unless the same thing happened them. If they knew what they were doing and presprayed the area with penetrating fluid, they would have had the wheel back on in 10 minutes flat.

Matt Simis

unkel wrote: »

They tend to get stuck / welded in on older cars - when removing with force it can break and you'll need to force / drill the leftovers out. Mess.

They werent overly stuck on my E31, 7 years older than the OPs car!

unkel wrote: »

How much do they charge? When I researched this the best I came up with was a US company charging $300 including a 5 year warranty. Which I though was pretty good.

EUR200 to 250, very good for a local, retail job. They do a lot of this type of work apparently (ie OBD, ABS, Speedo cluster etc repair).

Fishtits

OP, your're on the money... get it diagnosed, prove the diagnosis and then spend money.

I am so pissed off over the everyguy code reader expert...

Matt Simis

Fishtits wrote: »

OP, your're on the money... get it diagnosed, prove the diagnosis and then spend money.

I am so pissed off over the everyguy code reader expert...

So who is that aimed at?

unkel

Matt Simis wrote: »

They werent overly stuck on my E31, 7 years older than the OPs car!

Stuck sensors seem common on the E39!

Matt Simis wrote: »

EUR200 to 250, very good for a local, retail job. They do a lot of this type of work apparently (ie OBD, ABS, Speedo cluster etc repair).

That's excellent, good to know, thanks! A well known, very often recommended BMW independent specialist replaced the ABS unit in my car with a reconditioned one (for the previous owner) and the bill was hefty, to put it mildly, although in fairness, a BMW dealer would have insisted on a new unit at about 2 grand fitted :eek: