Traction control
Traction control
Author
Discussion

r1ot

Original Poster:

733 posts

237 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
My dad has a 328 Coupe of 1997 vintage and has sometimes noticed that the traction control light comes on. Sometimes it won't happen for a while and then at keeps coming on every few miles or so. It's got worse recently after the brake fluid was changed.

Bearing in mind this car has done about 20k miles since new and is garaged all year around he's a bit confused what the problem is. Also it unlikely that he drives it hard enough for the traction control to actually kick in don't think he has ever taken it above 4000 rpm.

Are there any failure points in the system and what is most likely to cause it?

coltonbob

138 posts

252 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
Wheel speed sensors are a common failure on the E46 so may be the cause of the problem...What is the light doing? On continuously or flasing intermittently?

neiljohnson

11,298 posts

236 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
I had a problem with one of these that turned out to be the engine mount. As the engine was moving around the plug was hitting the bonnet hence making the light flash.

MitchT

17,119 posts

238 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
The light flashes quite easily on my 318is - It can be something as simple as accelerating gently over something slightly slippier than the regular road surface, such as a manhole cover, that triggers it. I wouldn't worry unless the light comes on and stays permanently on or the engine is cutting power when there's clearly no need.

r1ot

Original Poster:

733 posts

237 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
no all the tyre sizes are the same this car is as it came out of the show room, he doesn't even drive it in the rain.

the light tends to come on and stays lit for 5 to 10 minutes at a time then goes out.

like I said he never revs it, is often in fifth by the time he reaches 30 mph and makes the slowest gear changes imaginable. why because "he doesn't want to stress it". aww bless!!

Edited by r1ot on Monday 14th July 23:25

coltonbob

138 posts

252 months

Tuesday 15th July 2008
quotequote all
I realise this cars an E36, I just thought that they may still suffer from failed wheel speed sensors as the E46's do? As the light is staying on for minutes at a time rather than the odd flash now and again it sounds to me like it's going to be a dodgy electrical connection / sensor issue

Edited by coltonbob on Tuesday 15th July 16:34

MitchT

17,119 posts

238 months

Tuesday 15th July 2008
quotequote all
r1ot said:
the light tends to come on and stays lit for 5 to 10 minutes at a time then goes out.
That's definitely a fault of some sort then.

Top pup

316 posts

235 months

Tuesday 15th July 2008
quotequote all
Probably a wheel sensor, best to get a diagnostic check done.

SpeedIsProgress

233 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
quotequote all
r1ot said:
no all the tyre sizes are the same this car is as it came out of the show room, he doesn't even drive it in the rain.

the light tends to come on and stays lit for 5 to 10 minutes at a time then goes out.

like I said he never revs it, is often in fifth by the time he reaches 30 mph and makes the slowest gear changes imaginable. why because "he doesn't want to stress it". aww bless!!

Edited by r1ot on Monday 14th July 23:25
I do hope you have advised him driving it like that probably does more harm than just driving it normally!

OllieBirmingham

5,700 posts

221 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
quotequote all
As above. I hope you get to beat the living sh*t out of it now and again to redress the balance....;)