Graham Rudd Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 After a spirited blast trying to race a bike from a set of lights (I lost) I had to brake HARD to make my turn off. Imagine my suprise when I manged to lock the wheels up, no sign of the ABS kicking in. After getting down to a sensible speed I noticed, not suprisingly, the ABS warning light was on. The next shock came when I tried to accelerate and the engine just died on me. Luckily I realised immediately what was going on and turned off the RLTC which was obviously getting garbage signals from the ABS sensors. I've noticed though that the ABS warning light now always seems to be on whenever the weather is hot! I can live without the ABS unit, but not the RLTC. Has anyone got any idea what could be causing it to only fail when the sun is shining!? Thanks Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 I suppose you have done the simple things like checking the connectors behind the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 As a guess, I'd say that one of your wheels speed sensors is up the swanny Use the diagnostics on the RLTC and check the reading from each wheel. If they are the same as the little round things, (good tech description), Ford use, they may just need cleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 The sensors are buried deep in side the hub and very well sealed so not much chance of muck in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Rudd Posted September 4, 2002 Author Share Posted September 4, 2002 I've checked the connections behind the dash Phil, all *seem* to be fine. Another development though, also had the brake warning light come on now. Definately seems to be an electrical problem somewhere, and it definately seems to be heat related. Matt, checking the sensors... sounds a bit mechanical to me, I don't do mechanical! I will make a point of carrying my laptop to work with me now though on the offchance that the ABS light is on for the journey home so I can grab a look at the wheel speed trace. [OT] I know its been a long time coming Phil, but I'll have a new version of the TC software for you to have a play with very shortly. (my workload has eased up a little so I've had a chance to play) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 When you say heat related is that just hot weather or a combination of ambient heat and heat generated by use? Does it happen form cold or only after a bit of use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Rudd Posted September 4, 2002 Author Share Posted September 4, 2002 I'm pretty sure its ambient heat. Never happens on a morning, and I've seen it quite a lot of times now leaving work if I leave the car in direct sunlight during the day. I've tried leaving it in the shade as a test a few times and haven't seen the warning light come on. The incident with the ABS cutting out on me whilst actually driving is the only time its ever happened mid-journey. But I will have been piling an AWFUL lot of heat into the vicinity of the wheels. Its been happening for a long time, but the mid-journey one has prompted me to try to get it sorted! I just don't fancy paying for a garage to find an electrical problem though, god knows how long it could drag out for and I don't want to remortgage the house just to have ABS Cheers Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 From what you describe it may be an ABS ECU fault as cabin temps get pretty high in the sun and heat form the engine will heat the area behind the dash after a while. I will have a look a round I may have a spare you could use to check for ECU faults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 If you just plug in that plug thing, (god, I'm on form with the tecky descriptions tonight!), you can watch the led pulse on each wheel. If I remember rightly, in the wet setting, you can monitor RPM, then dry gives you a wheel, 10% gives you another wheel and so on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 Originally posted by Terminator I will have a look a round I may have a spare you could use to check for ECU faults. Like ya do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted September 4, 2002 Share Posted September 4, 2002 Originally posted by Matt Harwood If you just plug in that plug thing, (god, I'm on form with the tecky descriptions tonight!), LMAO Nice one Matt! Gaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich J Posted September 5, 2002 Share Posted September 5, 2002 As it's affecting both the ABS and the RLTC I would suspect its a problem at the ABS Sensor end (or wiring to it), if it was just the ECU you would expect the RLTC to still work as it is taking the sgnal from the sensors not from the ECU. It could also be the connector on the ECU depending on how the ECU sensors are wired up. Like it has been said check the ABS signals with the diagnostic light on the RLTC, if it's just one sensor thats out I would suspect it's downstream from the ECU if it's all of them it's more likely to be the ECU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 Graham I had a similar problem with the ABS warning light, it turned out to be one of the ABS sensors that needed to be replaced. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Rudd Posted September 8, 2002 Author Share Posted September 8, 2002 It looks like it might well be a dodgy ABS sensor. Its the near side front wheel sensor that seems to be acting up. I don't suppose anyone would have a part number for it? I guess I should have a look at it to see if their is anything obviously wrong, but my innate incompetence at mechanical tasks is putting me off. I figure I'll just pay someone to stick a new one one Cheers Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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