ABS/BAS/ASR - A Thousand Quid Plus !?!?!?

[gordonwd]

So I punted my E300TD into an independent Merc place. They stuck on the diagnostics, looked at the output and said "hmmm, can't apply voltage something or other, bad news, looks like the ABS unit is wrecked. Thousand quid plus mate. Maybe".

Now let's get some perspective here. This is the multiple ABS/BAS/ASR warning thing. It's come and gone and come again. Cruise control is fine. Everything else fine.

Am I right to be a tad suspicious ? Anyone else heard of a complete ABS unit failure ?

David

 

[Ian Brown]

So I punted my E300TD into an independent Merc place. They stuck on the diagnostics, looked at the output and said "hmmm, can't apply voltage something or other, bad news, looks like the ABS unit is wrecked. Thousand quid plus mate. Maybe".

Now let's get some perspective here. This is the multiple ABS/BAS/ASR warning thing. It's come and gone and come again. Cruise control is fine. Everything else fine.

Am I right to be a tad suspicious ? Anyone else heard of a complete ABS unit failure ?

David

Loads of posts on the forum and they give the same reply a faulty brake light switch @£12 do a search for ABS/BAS/ASR

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

As Ian says, more than likely the brake light switch. I had the same problem six months ago and new switch fixed it. Incidentally I assume your ABS still works, easy enough to try.

 

[gordonwd]

Yup - done all that. Service guy said "nope". Followed by "a thousand quid".

 

[television]

Yup - done all that. Service guy said "nope". Followed by "a thousand quid".

A lot of garge guys take the codes as gospel....No attempt to change it should be made until a voltage check shows that the ECU is getting 12 volts.

as said by others here if the system does not receive a stop light signal it triggers the ABS etc, the stop switch at £8.75 plus 10 mins to fit, its the most common fault here on this forum, the choice is yours.

Malcolm

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

If it turns out to be the ABS unit there must be plenty of servicable parts at Mercman or other breakers. It may be worth doing some homework on whats out there before parting with 1K plus. As Television says the unit needs to be checked out thoroughly before replacement so a second or even third opinion is a good idea.

 

[gordonwd]

So here's the bizarre thing. Thought I'd test the brakes this morning. Jumped on the pedal, wheels lock up, skidded to a halt.

Subsequently called in at the local paper shop to buy my morning paper. Back into the car, turned on the engine - bingo ! No warning.

This is an electrical problem innit ?


David

 

[jberks]

was the warning light on when you stepped on the pedal. When the light isn't on does the ABS work ok?
As above the most common fault is the switch, but sometimes the wheel sensors need a clean or replacement. What exactly is the garage looking to replace?

 

[gordonwd]

Yup - warning light on : no ABS capability.

Warning light off : all works fine.

 

[gordonwd]

Sorry JB - incomplete reply.

The garage chap is looking to replace the "ABS unit". To be fair to the guy, he did say he would need to spend a bit of quality time getting to the root of the problem.

David

 

[jberks]

Based on that, I'd be suspecting a sensor. If it works some of the time, whilst anything is possible, it's very unusual for it to be control units or pumps. In 2 years on this forum I don't think I've ever heard of either failing. Brake switch and wheel sensors are another matter. Certainly get a second opinion from an ABS specialist before shelling out.

 

[tjo]

hi gordonwd, u seem to have forgotten to tell every one you arrived in
garage at approx 4.30pm we finished at 5pm, we read fault codes, gave u our HONEST opinion as fault codes are not always straight forward, told you we had only ever fitted 1 ABS unit in last 15 yrs it was uncommon and would have to be checked over thourorly first, you also ommited the fact that we are curtious and polite 'mate' and charged you £0

 

[jberks]

Well it sounds like we're all saying the same thing then.
Indies are wonderful things. Try getting a dealer to check the fault codes at 4:30!

 

[Ian Brown]

Spend £12 and try a brake light switch, just in case yours is faulty. It's worth a try i have heard of the stoplights working but the ABS light remaining on and when you fit a new switch everything is back to normal.

 

[television]

As Ian says a few pounds spent on switch must be worth it, if it is not and it is the ECU intermitant that means it does not have any faulty parts, once again, the contacts in the holder must be cleaned,

Have any basic checks been made like making sure that the ECU is getting a full 12 volts in the fault condition.

I would have the engine running and someone looking at the Lamp (ABS) then go around the car tapping all the relays and fuse boxes and the cables to the wheel sensors.

if tapping the ECU quite hard brought up the fault, then it need soldering up.
The ECU company in the Midlands does this kind of work and they can check it on their Test bed.

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

I take your point about the switch guys but as TJO says he's checked the fault codes already and from memory the brake switch is quite blatant on the codes (and like us, its probably the first thing he looked for) I suspect is slightly, though hopefully not a lot, more involved.

 

[tjo]

hi jberks and thankyou, your absolutely right brake switch code is blatant,
very rarely do we see a code for these symptoms that we have'nt seen a hundred times before, there is barely a day goes by that we don't have a
210 in for ABS BAS ASR ESP etc but the codes we got from gordonwd's 210
where unusual, cant remember what exactly now, but mentioned hyd pump
unit fault, but at this point we cant confirm faulty ABS pump

 

[bundy]

sounds like an intermittant brake light switch to me!!!!

regards ted

 

[QUOMAN]

what ecu company in the midlands does abs ecu? if a solenoid sticks in the pump this would throw up a fault quite common,although not in mercs .we repair ecu`s,but only engine management pms and hfm there is a place in glasgow that repair

 

[gordonwd]

Hello TJO - small world.

For the record: You were indeed courteous and polite, charged me zero pounds (even after I suggested I should pay something) and did the diagnostics at ultra-short notice.

I apologise for the use of the term "mate" - you didn't use it at any stage.

Of course, I didn't at any stage give any indication of your identity. I also gave a pretty clear statement of the fact that you stated quite clearly you needed further time to isolate the problem properly.

From my perspective, I'm getting overwhelming opinions on this forum that the problem is most likely fixable with costs measured in tens of pounds. You see why I am confused. (perhaps "confused" would have been a better word than "suspicious").

By the way, my ABS has been fine for the last week or so........and then started warning me again this afternoon.

Sensors ?


David

hi gordonwd, u seem to have forgotten to tell every one you arrived in
garage at approx 4.30pm we finished at 5pm, we read fault codes, gave u our HONEST opinion as fault codes are not always straight forward, told you we had only ever fitted 1 ABS unit in last 15 yrs it was uncommon and would have to be checked over thourorly first, you also ommited the fact that we are curtious and polite 'mate' and charged you £0