ABS valve noise
Discussion
Hi, I am newcomer to this section of PistonHeads, so be gentle with me!
My daughter owns a 2009 Mini One that has developed a strange "sighing" noise when the brakes are applied.
Our local garage has inspected the car and confirmed that the tyres, brakes and suspension are all OK and their
diagnosis is a valve in the ABS system is a bit lazy, creating a "sigh or light groaning" noise. The brakes appear to be
performing correctly at the moment and they say that there is no danger of the valve failing.
Has anyone on here had experience of this and is there a repair remedy?
I know the only full answer is a replacement ABS system
My daughter owns a 2009 Mini One that has developed a strange "sighing" noise when the brakes are applied.
Our local garage has inspected the car and confirmed that the tyres, brakes and suspension are all OK and their
diagnosis is a valve in the ABS system is a bit lazy, creating a "sigh or light groaning" noise. The brakes appear to be
performing correctly at the moment and they say that there is no danger of the valve failing.
Has anyone on here had experience of this and is there a repair remedy?
I know the only full answer is a replacement ABS system
I have never heard of an ABS valve sighing/groaning or generally making a noise anything like that before.
Does it happen when on the move or stationary or at all times?
Does it only happen when actually pressing the pedal down?
Does it still happen if you keep the pedal pressed or does it stop when the pedal stops going down?
Does it happen when on the move or stationary or at all times?
Does it only happen when actually pressing the pedal down?
Does it still happen if you keep the pedal pressed or does it stop when the pedal stops going down?
More noticeable when car is cold the noise occurs when pressing the brake pedal and you are just about to come to a standstill.
Probably over the last four or five metres I would say.
At higher speeds and just "dabbing" the brake pedal I cannot hear the noise but that could be to do with normal road and traffic noises around.
As I say, everything seems to be working OK and the garage confirm there is no problem with tyres, pads, discs or steering mechanism.
Probably over the last four or five metres I would say.
At higher speeds and just "dabbing" the brake pedal I cannot hear the noise but that could be to do with normal road and traffic noises around.
As I say, everything seems to be working OK and the garage confirm there is no problem with tyres, pads, discs or steering mechanism.
That sounds more to me like the ABS pump is coming into operation when you come to a stop, when it shouldn't be doing so. As the relative wheel speeds are a lot slower, the waveform from the sensors stretches out as each pole on the reluctor on each wheel (if it's like the R50 Mini, they use a magnetically charged seal on the back of the wheel bearing). If a sensor is on its way, this will be how it manifests itself, as the speed the poles pass by the sensor slows down, so a dicky sensor starts 'missing' them out, and feeds back to the ABS/TC that a wheel has locked or is going slower than it appears to be.
Best way to test this (the only way, really) is to use the diagnostics to look at each of the wheel speeds whilst driving the car at a straight line through a variety of speeds - best done on private roads.
Best way to test this (the only way, really) is to use the diagnostics to look at each of the wheel speeds whilst driving the car at a straight line through a variety of speeds - best done on private roads.
I think what you have been told by your garage sounds like a cop out to me, as in, they don't know what it is & can't be bothered to check after a quick look.
I don't think it is the ABS cutting in, but as per the post above, you can do a "lave data" check on what the wheel sensors are seeing as the speed comes down, which may help.
If it were the ABS cutting in it is quite alarming & results in what can be some pretty severe vibrations through the pedal and the pedal rising & falling as the pump resets the pedal height when the fluid is bled off by the ABS actuators, none of which you describe.
For me, I would be trying to find out exactly when it happens as follows.
Brake to a complete standstill from several different speeds with someone else in the car & describe between you EXACTLY what happens, for instance, no matter what speed you brake from is it always the last few metres, is it always when you get below 20 mph, is it always after 5 seconds etc.
Also try to (once again between you) decide where it is coming from.
Is there any vibration though the pedal, through the floor, through the steering etc.
The more info you can give us, the more likely we are to be able to help.
I don't think it is the ABS cutting in, but as per the post above, you can do a "lave data" check on what the wheel sensors are seeing as the speed comes down, which may help.
If it were the ABS cutting in it is quite alarming & results in what can be some pretty severe vibrations through the pedal and the pedal rising & falling as the pump resets the pedal height when the fluid is bled off by the ABS actuators, none of which you describe.
For me, I would be trying to find out exactly when it happens as follows.
Brake to a complete standstill from several different speeds with someone else in the car & describe between you EXACTLY what happens, for instance, no matter what speed you brake from is it always the last few metres, is it always when you get below 20 mph, is it always after 5 seconds etc.
Also try to (once again between you) decide where it is coming from.
Is there any vibration though the pedal, through the floor, through the steering etc.
The more info you can give us, the more likely we are to be able to help.
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