Q45 (G50) Traction Control Problem (TCS Lights)

[twistedsymphony]

I have a 1995 Q45 everything worked great until this spring, the "TCS off" and "slip" lights started to come on...

The problem:
When I first start the car the lights will be off I can drive for a few minutes, during which time I can hear what I assume is the TCS pump turn on every 30 seconds or so... after a few minutes the lights come on and I stop hearing the pump turn on.

When this first started happening on cold days it wouldn't come on, and on the warmer days it would.. the warmer the day the less driving time I'd have before the lights came on.


What I've done so far:
I checked the blink code and its an 18 (abnormal oil pressure) and I've read lots of threads that said to replace the TCS relays under the battery tray I've replaced both relays and and the code still remains. Now that the summer is here I barely get 2 minutes of driving before the lights come on.


I saw someone mention flushing the fluid, but I have no idea what fluid they were talking about or how to go about flushing it. Based on the behavior I think a problem with the fluid is probable.

I'd like to fix this without having to go through the very expensive process of replacing the pump and actuator.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Zer0_KooL]

Do you here the ABS making a buzzing sound? I had the sam exact problem, all I did was swap out my ABS relay and problem solved.

[twistedsymphony]

I suppose it could be the abs module, I'll give it a try.

[elwesso]

That sounds like the TCS actuator. The TCS actuator is the little brake reservoir looking thing on the passenger side near the battery. The TCS system is pretty solid other than the TCS actuator and the relays, and almost always when the car makes a buzzing sound like that it's the actuator. A used one is probably a good bet, new ones are $$$$$$$

[twistedsymphony]

I swapped out the relay that Zer0_KooL suggested and I used a small pump to drain the reservoir and fill it with fresh fluid (the old fluid was nasty, looked like rusty water)... took the car for a drive and the lights came on after 3 miles... just like it always has.

So I found an actuator assembly on eBay for a reasonable price and bought it. Hopefully that will solve my issues.

[B52]

I have the same problem and the car was practically standing.
Lights TCS and SLIP.

Alternastor regenerated, the battery is good.
I checked the codes snap under the rear parcel shelf in the boot code No. 13
Substitution are relays and see if something is moving.
Too bad the car has only 88,000 miles.
In the middle it looks almost perfect.