Asr/abs

[Mike2006]

Hi,

Was driving to work this morning and the radio died, ASR and ABS lights came on in the dash flashing. Continued for about 10 seconds and reverted back to normal again. It then happened again about 10 mins later.
It is all clear again.

Road conditions were dry and journey time was about 45 mins in total.

Any ideas what the problem is??

 

[jberks]

What car have you got Mike?
Sounds like a power problem to me, low voltage causing the electronics to go haywire. depending on which car you have, could be the OVP relay. Check the battery and charging rate first.

 

[Mike2006]

W208 Clk230

Cheers jberks,

As from above - its a W208 CLK230.
I will check the voltages later this evening.
Is it ok to just measure the voltage directly at the battery?
I will check when running and not running.

It was the first really cold morning (2Degc) so maybe the extra load on everything was the reason it happened this morning.

Does my car have an OVP relay?
(What is an OVP relay?) How much does one cost?

Thanks again for the reply... Hoping it's not going to cost me too much!!

Mike.

 

[jberks]

The OVP is "over voltage protection" relay. They can get dry joints over time and start to cause odd electrical issues. I believe they are around £60 (don't quote me!) but they can be repaired quite easily if you're handy with a soldering iron (so I'm told).
I'm not sure if the 208 has one but I suspect the earlier - pre ESP ones do.
However I still suspect the battery. The thing I'm going on is that the radio cut out. Radios and the traction systems can be very touchy about low voltage, whereas lights just go a bit dim and you'd probably not notice.

 

[television]

The ignition switch could cause this problem and would give the effects that you had

 

[Mike2006]

Checks

Guys,

What checks apart from below should I carry out tonight?

1. Check battery voltage when car is not running.
2. Check battery voltage when car is running.

Ignition switch sounds expensive?

Mike.

 

[television]

Very hard to check the switch, batteries cant behave like it, the radio would be unaffected by the OVP relay

Is yours a metal key blade or plastic

 

[Mike2006]

Key

My key is a plastic 'fob' type key but it has a retractable metal key in case of battery failure on the central locking or the key itself.

Malcolm, are you saying that it is not likely to be a battery problem?

 

[television]

My key is a plastic 'fob' type key but it has a retractable metal key in case of battery failure on the central locking or the key itself.

Malcolm, are you saying that it is not likely to be a battery problem?

I have never heard of a battery doing this, in any case the car is running from the alternator

By all means check to see if you have a OVP relay, if you have one it will be near the battery with a fuse on top (possibly red) Though this if you have one could light up the ABS etc, the radio is not wired through it

By all means check the battery earth strap both ends and look for any corrosion

 

[Mike2006]

The battery is in the boot and is well protected from the elements. I will check it out later this evening.
Starting to get a bit worried now as there is no deifinite line of investigation for me to follow on it....

Mike.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

All modern alternators have the voltage regulator built in.............or are you talking about something else?
Why not find a Indy & get the fault codes read?

 

[BlackC55]

Ruel out the ovp as it does not have one.

I suspect a voltage problem. Check the voltage at the battery in the morning before you start and let us know what it is.

 

[Mike2006]

Voltage

I will do that.

Is it best to check it first thing in the morning beofre I start up or is it ok to check it this evening just after a drive home from work?

Really appreciate all the helpful replies.

Mike.

 

[Mike2006]

One other point,

The ASR and ABS lights were flashing on/off, not remaining on continuously. Does this have any significance?

Radio remained off until flashing lights (ASR&ABS) stopped.

Mike.

 

[BlackC55]

Check it first thing as the battery would have drained to its lowest point and be cold.

I have never seen flashing asr/abs lights ever.

 

[Mike2006]

Both lights were flashing simultaneously at a rate of approx 1Hz.

 

[television]

Though hard to measure with a digital meter can you check the running voltage to see if it is pulsing or fluctuating

 

[Mike2006]

Voltage

Ok Gents,

I have recorded the voltages and found the following:

1. Voltage first thing this morning @2DegC : 12.20V
2. Voltage after a 45 minute drive: 12.74
3. Voltage while running: 13.92


The lights came on again last night on the way home, just once.

When it happened, radio went, ABS and BAS/ASR light started flashing AND I lost power to the throttle (the car started 'jumping' at the same rate as the flashing lights!!)

This also happened the previous times but I hadn't taken notice because I was too busy looking at what lights had lit up....

It did not happen at all this morning on the 45 minute drive to work.

Has this brought any new ideas to the potential problem...

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[television]

Those readings show a perfect battery and alternator and conditions in general and still point to an ignition switch or poor connection somewhere

 

[BlackC55]

Check all the earth straps as you may have a loose one.