ABS, stability, engine check lights

ABS, stability, engine check lights

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Discussion

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
Morning all,

Yesterday I drove 140 miles to work with no problems. At the end of the day I came back and started the car, it started fine as normal but I immediately got the ABS fault, stability control off, and engine check lights/ warnings appeared.
I had a quick look under the bonnet and didn't notice anything, aux belt was still on.

Car drove fine on the short drive to hotel, no issues other than the warning lights.

put the key in this morning and still the same warnings.

Any ideas? I'm tempted to just reset the codes and see if it is just a spurious occurrence.

Cheers
Mike

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
I would start with the simple things first. Get the battery checked, if it's past its best they can display random faults.

John

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
ok thanks. last time my battery died was a couple of years ago, so I'd be surprised if its that, but i'll put a multimeter on it.

Is there an easy way to reset the warning lights?

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Tuesday 26th June 2018
quotequote all
Sorry I don't know the correct way to reset the lights. If the battery and charging system are OK, you could disconnect the battery and pull out the PCM fuse, then leave it to power down for a few minutes. That may clear the system. If you have a Monaro the PCM fuse is located in the fuse box on the drivers side of the engine bay.

John

Edited by mfp4073 on Tuesday 26th June 09:21

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
I checked this morning before starting the engine, had 12.4V, so a little on the low side, but it did start quickly.
Alarms still present.

I've got a jump start pack on standby so will see how it goes.

Janosh

1,735 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
You need an OBD code reader to diagnose the fault.... another common issue is the ABS sensor / loom, but you won't know until you run the diagnostic.

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
I've got an OBD reader at home...

Although I've heard that most aren't that useful and give just codes related to the engine? Any particular one you recommend that will diagnose potential ABS faults?

motomk

2,148 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
This is a VXR8 or an early HSV VT/VX car?



350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
its a 6.0 VXR8

SturdyHSV

10,083 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
If a battery is shagged it can read OK with no load across it and then drop off dramatically once under load, so may still be worth a try.

Certainly given so many lights came on at once, my first thought would be battery.

Fundamentally the various signals from around the car are considered either on or off, and lights are illuminated if something is wrong.

If the voltage through the system is low, the 'on' signal could be weak enough that it isn't above the threshold to be considered 'on' by the various control modules, and suddenly you have a huge array of faults...


Janosh

1,735 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
350 said:
I've got an OBD reader at home...

Although I've heard that most aren't that useful and give just codes related to the engine? Any particular one you recommend that will diagnose potential ABS faults?
A basic OBD reader should provide those fault codes... otherwise I'd search for a local owner who would let you borrow an EFI unit.

SturdyHSV

10,083 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
Depending on where you're based I have EFI Live, live in Northampton and work in Aylesbury, happy to meet you somewhere thumbup

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
Depending on where you're based I have EFI Live, live in Northampton and work in Aylesbury, happy to meet you somewhere thumbup
Thanks, very kind of you to offer, I'm a bit far away in Lancaster at the moment, although live in Birmingham so I'll see how I get on for now thumbup

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
Depending on where you're based I have EFI Live, live in Northampton and work in Aylesbury, happy to meet you somewhere thumbup
Hi, you have PM thumbup

MyM8V8

9,456 posts

194 months

Wednesday 27th June 2018
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
If a battery is shagged it can read OK with no load across it and then drop off dramatically once under load, so may still be worth a try.

Certainly given so many lights came on at once, my first thought would be battery.

Fundamentally the various signals from around the car are considered either on or off, and lights are illuminated if something is wrong.

If the voltage through the system is low, the 'on' signal could be weak enough that it isn't above the threshold to be considered 'on' by the various control modules, and suddenly you have a huge array of faults...
This. Voltmeter is no good you need a load tester.

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Thursday 28th June 2018
quotequote all
Well last night I started the car and the only warning that came up was the engine check light... getting a code reader today to see what is flagged up.
Will look in to a load tester

PapaT

79 posts

130 months

Thursday 28th June 2018
quotequote all
I once had what sounds like a similar issue, turned out to be a wheel bearing needing replaced, the rear bearing is pressed into the hub and carries the ABS pick up ring, I changed the mini ABS wiring looms and the sensors but it made no difference so then got the bearing changed and voila..fixed.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Thursday 28th June 2018
quotequote all
PapaT said:
I once had what sounds like a similar issue, turned out to be a wheel bearing needing replaced, the rear bearing is pressed into the hub and carries the ABS pick up ring, I changed the mini ABS wiring looms and the sensors but it made no difference so then got the bearing changed and voila..fixed.
Wheel bearing - easy fix? Stupid question!

350

Original Poster:

65 posts

113 months

Saturday 30th June 2018
quotequote all
Checked the codes last night and got C1234 and C1209 which do indeed point to an ABS issue.

I've cleared the codes for now so will see if its an intermittent issue.

Janosh

1,735 posts

166 months

Saturday 30th June 2018
quotequote all
You’ll either need the sensor or loom, parts aren’t too expensive so better to fit both at the same time and be sure it’s sorted...