Scary Message

[Big Giant Head]

Hi All...

My '98 XK8 has suddenly started saying "Traction Control Failure" and "Stability Control Failure".
The "ABS" light has come on too on the dashboard.
I wonder if this is going to be very expensive - or a fuse...

Any ideas / experience / advice ???

Best wishes
Tony

[Trooper2]

With all 3 warnings I would suspect the ABS module or pump has died, but no way to be sure until you get the DTC codes pulled.

How strong is the battery? It could be something as simple as a low battery resulting in a confused ABS module. Fully charge the battery then disconnect the negative lead for a minimum of 2 minutes, reconnect the lead, start the car and see if any warnings go away. It should be drivable, when ABS isn't available you still have standard brakes. You just won't have ABS, TC or DSC.

[james S]

Just had the same on my 99xj8. Baffled two garages, we swapped the ABS ECU and lots of other diaghnostic stuff and finally gave up on it. Then finally as we were doing a service found play in a rear wheel bearing. Sorted that out and no problem since. It seems it was tricking the sensors.

[a8hex]

Trooper2 said:

With all 3 warnings I would suspect the ABS module or pump has died, but no way to be sure until you get the DTC codes pulled.

How strong is the battery? It could be something as simple as a low battery resulting in a confused ABS module. Fully charge the battery then disconnect the negative lead for a minimum of 2 minutes, reconnect the lead, start the car and see if any warnings go away. It should be drivable, when ABS isn't available you still have standard brakes. You just won't have ABS, TC or DSC.

You might not even need to do the disconnecting the battery trick. If the voltages are a bit low at startup then a few bits of the electronics can fail their self tests. Sometimes stopping and restarting the engine is enough to clear these things. Sometimes a 5 minute drive will give enough charge, then stop the engine and start again to get all the gizmos to redo their power on self tests.

[Triple7]

Also wiring from the ABS modules have been known to fray. Don't panic I think the answer is, but need to get it checked out.

G

[melhook]

Don't panic, get the codes read, and my bet is it will be a front wheel speed sensor harness failure, not looads of money, easy to check with a multi meter, back on the road in no time. If the code is saying ' OSF wheel speed sensor, or NSF wheel speed sensor ' make sure the garage check the link lead, even suggest swapping leads from other side to confirm fault. Let us know how you go.

[jas xjr]

i had this a while ago,charged battery and it was sorted

[Big Giant Head]

Thanks for all the advice, off to Halfords for a battery charger.
If that fails down to the dealer tomorrow...