A Class intermittent warning lamps=ABS & SRS

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Went to customer last night that is having probs with her A140 manual, Y reg where ABS & SRS warning lamps on dash are lighting on & off intermittently. (only done 97k miles).

There appears to be no pattern or duration consistency with these problem warning lamps that go on & off for no valid reason.

Could it be computer or relay faults perhaps?
Bad earth?

And will, or can the ABS lamp prevent car from passing the M.O.T. even though the rolling road test is passed?

Customer woman driver has had car for a few years & has been told by stealers that whole braking system will have to be changed along with air bag(s) totalling a massive £2,000 plus job!
(What a bunch of jokers they are).

Finally, need an indy in the Uckfield area for her, as she last used one in Rottingdean nr Brighton (25 miles away) that cost her over a £1,000 inc a major service that sounds a bit like a rip off to me.

Any help or suggestions gratefully recieved thanks.

Keith.

 

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Just got off phone to someone who recently had similar with Y-Reg A class.

Very helpful guy is Martin Skinner at www.prestigecarservicing.com

If steering wheel can be pulled towards driver 1/8 th inch or more (should not be any play at all), then contact between airbag & ABS contact is broken resulting in lights coming on independantly of each or together at same time.

Whole steering shaft has to be removed & new sensor(s) fitted in steering wheel for around £500-1000 by an independant depending on problems found, but if result is found to be steering rack as well then another £1,000 on top should not be sniffed at.
If MB dealer does it you'd be looking at around double that.

If ABS is lit while on MOT test then car will definately FAIL!

If SRS lights it won't stop car from passing though, - funny that I thought!

Hope it helps,
Keith.

 

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Hello Keith, if you have not seen it yourself, could it be the ABS- ESP lamps coming on, this could make it just a simple sensor fault or maybe brake switch like on other models.

Malcolm

 

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Thanks Malcolm,

Thats a good point, and I would go for that by taking to perhaps a Bosch specialist who knows how to remove the steering wheel, to change the sensor without going to all that trouble or expense.

As Martin said, "at the end of the day these small cars are made to a price in order to be compettitively priced against Ford & Vauxhall etc, and not made to the same high standards as found on larger models", so even though mileage is relatively low, this sort of problem is becoming quite common on these smaller budget priced cars.

I will be sending her 1 of my old copy MBOA mags & details of Milton Keynes phone number so she can talk to them about it, if only to enlighten her further on the differing actions open to her.
Keith.