Shiester ABS light coming on

[SnowSurfLax]

My ABS light has decided to come on and stay on. Seems to have come on during the cold weather here.

OM doesn't say much (naturally) and as far as I can figure the system is either malfunctioning or I need a brake job.

Any insight? I know it's fine if I just leave it like that, but I know the wife is going to at some point get panicked and freak out on me so I'll have to get it fixed. I'm sure the system is expensive to fix and I'm not layin down that kind of money.

Anyone's experience with these would be appreciated.

[fueler]

does the light say "ABS" or "BRAKE" on it? what cold weather are you talking about?? 70 degrees is cold for you?? You are a true San Diegan

[SnowSurfLax]

Nope, the yellow "ABS" light. And I meant cold, when it was low 40's and low 30's last night when I was up in the mountains.

I know cold. 9 years old, I walked a mile to school in -10 F for a month.

That's why I live in SD now

[Buzzman]

Not to sound too condescending, but have you checked the brake fluid level?Low fluid will trigger the light, and disable the ABS system.

[99QX4]

does the light say "ABS" or "BRAKE" on it? what cold weather are you talking about?? 70 degrees is cold for you?? You are a true San Diegan

That has happened to me before too...it was a while ago but i think they might have hooked up the scanner to it to either clear the light (given there was no problem) or to find the problem.

[SnowSurfLax]

Oh, I should check the fluid level. Duh.

I'll do that once I get it back from my wife. Asked her if it came on yesterday and she didn't remember it coming on. I believe her since she freaks out whenever the gas light comes on.

I probably do need new brakes though. I seem to run through front brakes about once a year. What does everyone recommend? I want something that grabs hard and last a long time.

[fueler]

Low brake fluid would trigger the red "BRAKE" light, the one that lights up with the e-brake. Also, low fluid is a symptom of low brake pads (if there are no leaks) ABS light is different.... your ABS is disabled... theres a sensor at each wheel and if any of the wiring gets messed up, itll trigger the ABS light You might have to go to a dealer or nissan specialist for this one. Z-whizz on ruffin road comes to mind. I wonder if its possible to read a code with a OBD2 scanner for an ABS light?

[SnowSurfLax]

Well, no light today. Seems it hasn't come on since christmas. Maybe my QX was just being festive?

Braking is just fine. No idea why the light popped on. Thinking a loose wire in there somewhere.

[03Chillinkoot]

could also just be the abs sensor getting dirty. that happened to my dads company delivery car abs light came on for a bit and eventually shut off, hasent been on since but its a vw beetle, those electrical systems have a mind of there own

[fueler]

speaking of mind of its own, BMWs are pieces of junk my buddy has a 1998 540 that the taillights do what they want, whenever they want. We were standing near the car, and the brake lights were going on and off erratically, as if someone was pumping the brakes, but there was nobody inside. My friend said it was a safety feature (haha) and then admitted that his car has electrical gremlins. Another friend has a 1997 328 piece of crap and the interior lights light up during braking. She changed out the radio and the AC no longer works as a result. Her dad is a BMW tech and he can't even figure out the problems.

[SnowSurfLax]

Yeah, might be the sensor. Though how does one clean an ABS sensor?

Bimmers blow. They started going the way of Benzitos in the mid 90's. Consumer Reports used to say the 5 series BMW's were one of the best cars ever made, but they haven't said that in about 10 years.

Wouldn't mind getting my hands on the last decent year M5. Those things still SGHA.

[nissandoms47]

Yeah you can't read the ABS computer with an OBD2 scanner. But ive had the ABS light come on once in my QX4 when it was cold, but I was driving on a very salty icey snowy road and the Sensor just got clogged up. Just go to the car wash and use the pressure gun and spray into your wheels and try and clean all the crap out of your brakes.

[Buzzman]

BMWs are pieces of junk

When did this start to happen? I've always wanted a 3 series Bimmer, and now I'm not so sure.Every car magazine I buy that does a comparison test ends up rating the BMW's first.I knew Benz was having it's problems, but I wasn't aware that Bimmers were that bad. That's sad.

[SnowSurfLax]

Consumer Reports. That's where I get my reliability info.

C&D always loves Bimmers because they drive so well. Doesn't mean they are keeping up the quality control.

[SnowSurfLax]

But to continue the saga...

Still seems to come on when cold. Last night, it was chilly and driving along the highway and ran over the lane markers and the light came on. I'll have to try the car wash method and see if that works.

Got an oil change and the shop told me my right front strut is leaking oil. Also found grease on my 1 year old front left axle. I watched him wipe it away to find the tear in the boot, but...

No tear or hole or nothing. Now I have to check it next Sat to see if there's more grease.

Anyone think the lube guy got sloppy and got some grease on the boot? Or does it look different? Never actually lubed my own car before, so not sure. Any input would be great.

[SnowSurfLax]

D'oh!

It finally crapped on me. Stopping at a light I felt the ABS engage and shake the front end as it did it's thing. Did it again at the next light for a split second before cutting out and the ABS light came on and has stayed on full time since.

Breaking out the FSM and looking at it myself, not pretty.

I already know the answer, but hoping for a different one. Can I get these parts anywhere else besides the stealership?

[Silverhorn]

Hey guys,

Sorry to revive an old thread, but there never was a solution to this one. I'm having this same issue. Mine are on full time now. Is the only fix to replace the sensor? IF so, where is the best place to pick them up?

[x2002Qx4x]

I just spent three days getting it out, it took a lot of drilling.

1. Drilled out original hex bolt hole to make the hole in the sensor bigger (i had broken off the bolt when removing it)
2. Knocked off bottom part of sensor below the hole with drilling and hammering.
3. Drilled through plastic part of sensor with a screw, tried to punch it out from where the bottom part of the sensor originally way. Ended up breaking off the sensor with vice grips, now it's flush with the wheel hub.
4. Continuously drilled screws into four sides of the broken off sensor and used a screwdriver and hammer to pound it into the outside of the sensor, separating it from the metal
5. After all that, there wasn't much left of the sensor and I pulled out the rest of it with needle nose pliers after spraying PB blaster on what was left.
6. Used a magnet to pull out the tip of the old sensor, as well as any metal shavings that got in the hole
7. Put in new sensor and tapped new hole with 8mm metal drill bit and 8mm tap, installed new bolt (M8 1.25mm)

It took a day for the system to reset itself and the light to go off, but it did. I suppose you could just disconnect the battery, but I just let it go off on its own. After 220,000 miles, it was basically welded to the hub, so I had the same problems as most but was able to get it off without removing the wheel or rotor.