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        General >> Problems >> ABS and TCS warning lights on
        
(Message started by: Vulcan on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 12:30pm)

Title: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Vulcan on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 12:30pm

I just went out for a small spin to the shop and the garage for some petrol. On first starting up the dash was clear of warnings but on reaching about 20 mph I got the ABS and the TCS warning on the dash. I went a mile to the shop with them on.

On starting out again they did not reappear on the 3 mile journey around for petrol.

Starting at the garage again I got both lights on accellerating out of the forecourt.

Anyone any ideas what they are telling me and what needs to be done?

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by waders on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 12:41pm

Hi George,

Sounds like a dirty or dieing wheel sensor to me.

or could be a wheel bearing!!!

Jack her up and check for play, if no play take out the sensors and clean the pick up end.

They are passing the start up test ok, but once your moving a sensor is not being sensed.

HTH

Barry.

PS. If you find filings on a sensor, suspect the bearing in that wheel!!

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Dave on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 2:10pm

That is extremely freaky, we had the exact same problem last night, suddenly both lights came on :o About to have a go at fixing it now....... :-/

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by craig on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 2:59pm

wheel sensor does sound like the problem george,but just as a quick precaution,check the tyre pressures,has been know to affect the abs lights..

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Dave on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 4:44pm

We've had a go at cleaning one back wheel sensor.... snapped a bolt

http://tinypic.com/2b5x21

Got another one. Ben cleaned the sensor and I cleaned the wheel. Haven't tested it yet.. we're going to do the other back wheel tomorrow and properly test it.

See these links:
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/abslight.htm
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/abssystem.htm

Very handy.

More tomorrow!

D+B

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Vulcan on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 5:36pm

Niether light came on on my way home from work but I have now checked the tyre pressures and the rears were a little low, this rectified.
I have since done about 30 miles and there are no warning lights, I'll monitor this till the end of the week and if they come back on I'll do some exploratory on the weekend.

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Paul B on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 8:03pm

Mine did the same thing about 6 months ago.
I was out & about, away from home so couldn't perform any checks at the time. It then decided to stop doing it, I then forgot about it, and it's not done it since.
I would put it down to a dirty sensor and not worry about it.

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Octavian_P on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 8:15pm

I got an ABS & TCS problem too ( '96 2.3L DOHC Scopio Ghia). The first thing is that i do not have a TCS light neither a switch to turn it on or off, and the ABS light is allways on, from when i start the engine till i shut it down. (when it was starting and going.....now i got a big problem with PATS). In principe i know i should check the sensors in each wheel hub, but for a scorpio beginner is there something else to know ? an advice or something ?
And another thing is how the TCS feels when it works, because when is wet outside it's a slippery devil this scorp (i'm used with front wheel drive).

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Geoff_W on Mar 22^nd, 2005, 10:40pm

Hi Octavian,

If you don't have a switch for traction control, you almost certainly don't have TCS fitted. With regard to the always on ABS light the other items mentioned on this list may well help you get to a fix.

It may be worth disconnecting the battery over night and reconnecting in the morning, a little like a hard reboot on a computer sometimes triggers a reset.

CAUTION though if you do not have the radio codes for your care you may not be able to reprogramme it.

ADDITIONAL CAUTION if you are having PATS problems as well then you may have broader electrical problems.

You will have seen this on the front page of the site, but do you have a battery cover? If not you may be having fusebox and relay problems due to a wet fusebox.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Geoff

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Octavian_P on Mar 23^rd, 2005, 12:06am

To be honest, i don't have a battery cover, i bought the car aprox 2 weeks ago, and now i'm trayin to get it into shape, all the PATS/ALARM problems started from thoes blasted fuse boxes, after changing a blown fuse (chair electrical heating) in aux box (battery side), i've checked also the main box and found dirt inside, got the fuses out....and along with them all the problems started :-[

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Dave on Mar 23^rd, 2005, 1:44pm

Success!

We've removed both rear wheels and cleaned each sensor without having to remove the calipers.
Here's a before and after shot of the offside sensor. You can see how caked it was.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/missterdave/Scorpio%20Additional/Img_4360BA.jpg

After cleaning each rear sensor we took it for a nice long test and the lights went out and stayed out, problem sorted.

Phew.

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Vulcan on Mar 23^rd, 2005, 2:43pm

That doesn't look too bad a job, I may have a go at that.. ;D

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Dave on Mar 23^rd, 2005, 7:06pm

Oui, do George! Ben did all the work with mine but it looked even easy enough for me.

Goodbye crazy warning lights.

We're thinking of doing the front sensors soon as they'll be caked too... not just yet though.

Dave

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Octavian_P on Mar 27^th, 2005, 1:04pm

I got a question how do you get out the ABS sensors because i have tryed and they seem to be stuked for good in there. Can i try to spin them out, after removing the bolt ?, will i brake anything, it moves a bit if i force it with a screwdrive from behind but doesn't come out. What is a sensor nomial resistence, i've mesured mines and have about 1000 ohm, and when i spin the wheel it varries from 1000 to 1150 (aprox). Are they dirty ? (at this resistance, it seems to me the variation is to small)

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Dave on Mar 27^th, 2005, 1:53pm

Well, our passenger side sensor came out straight away, no problems. The other one needed a little persuasion with a screwdriver. It didn't seem to be helping at first but it was moving little by little so persevere very carefully and it should come. Don't force it though or hub damage may result! Use the screwdriver on both sides of the sensor, not just one.

Sorry but don't know the resistance values of the sensors. Clean them first then see if the warning light goes out before going any further.

Cheers

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Snoopy on Mar 27^th, 2005, 3:13pm

Just one tip , Make sure the sensor ring at the back of the hub is clean. It is magnetic, and does attract small metalic objects as I have found out .

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Richard on Mar 27^th, 2005, 9:48pm

Snoopy, What's the best way to clean this ?.

Regards
Richard

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Snoopy on Mar 27^th, 2005, 11:15pm

Hose pipe held in place .Round the back. Not too strong a jet though. MAybe a toothbrush as well it is very awkward but I do it perhaps once every three months to keep it clean .
More in the winter

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Richard on Mar 28^th, 2005, 1:43am

Cheers.

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 2^nd, 2005, 12:15pm

Does any ABS sensor from other cars fit onto a scorpio ? from a siera, mondeo or something like that ?? because i still can get mine out and i think i'm going to make them thousand pieces. The cheapest sensor at a ford dealer is about 130 euro without VAT, knowing that i make 150 $ per mounth.....so it's a bit to high for me.

Title: Re: ABS and TCS warning lights on
Post by nick on Apr 2^nd, 2005, 4:29pm

I looked everywhere, mine went when i brayed seven shaded out or the stut, when the pich bolt snapped.

I souldnt get it out and ended up chiseling it out, took ages, b****r of a job.

new one was only £70 from dealer, oh joy.

Now one on the estate is acting up, and its bound to be the front one, plus 2 new tyres, plus 2 on the saloon, plus a set of discs, shockers, bush kit.

AHhhh im all depressed now, and we had just went 2-1 up.

Right im going to york, forget about cars and just drink,

Nic