Unlucky?

First post here, I'm a former air-cooled vw driver, got my first water-cooled last week though.

Picked up a 1999 Mk4 Gti Golf, spent the weekend cleaning it up, putting in new filters, cleaned the MAF sensor, changing oil & polishing it up for rego check today. On the way to the workshop the ABS light came on, with the flashing warning sign in the centre of the cluster (to my understanding its common for the wheel speed sensors to set this off) I did a quick google to see if it was actually an issue, and tested the brakes out, which the ABS seemed to still be working. The mechanic went to do the brake test but said he can't pass it with the ABS light on, and he has kept the car there until he can get it sorted (apparently he isn't allowed to let me drive away in a "defected" car)

Has anyone had this issue before with the ABS light & warning light?

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Originally Posted by mickayton

First post here, I'm a former air-cooled vw driver, got my first water-cooled last week though.

Picked up a 1999 Mk4 Gti Golf, spent the weekend cleaning it up, putting in new filters, cleaned the MAF sensor, changing oil & polishing it up for rego check today. On the way to the workshop the ABS light came on, with the flashing warning sign in the centre of the cluster (to my understanding its common for the wheel speed sensors to set this off) I did a quick google to see if it was actually an issue, and tested the brakes out, which the ABS seemed to still be working. The mechanic went to do the brake test but said he can't pass it with the ABS light on, and he has kept the car there until he can get it sorted (apparently he isn't allowed to let me drive away in a "defected" car)

Has anyone had this issue before with the ABS light & warning light?

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You need to scan the ABS computer and find out why the light is on. Pointless guessing.

You say the ABS is working, did you stand on the brakes and get hammering through the pedal? That shouldn't happen with an ABS fault light on.

Gavin

Yeah the ABS seemed to be engaging? Jumped on the brakehard and it stopped well and I could definitely feel the shudder in the pedal.

Can you id the light that was on? Maybe it's the fluid level or worn pads? The ABS can't work if a sensor is toast, it doesn't know which wheel is locked. This doesn't stop the brakes from working though, without ABS.

Gavin

It was definitely the ABS light, i'll let the mechanic know all of those things though! Cheers

Getting it scanned is good advice, because it could be a lot of things but I doubt a wheel sensor would set both lights off. The MkIV (beetles anyway!) ABS modules are pretty sensitive to voltage changes. One thing to check are the fuses on top of the battery. The two (30A) furthest on the right are for the ABS pump and the ABS system. Maybe something was inadvertently bumped while you were doing the service. It's worth checking they are okay. And next to it (on the beetles anyway) there is a (3 or 6 pin) plug that runs direct to the ABS module. Some guys have reported success with ABS light problems just by disconnecting and reconnecting that plug.

Hopefully the scan points him in the right direction. Unfortunately I can't check the fuses as the car is still at the shop, as he couldn't let me take it because of his duty of care.

I'd say he can't stop you looking at your car. He has effectively kidnapped it.

Gavin

Ummm..... Tell him to read up on roadworthy requirements. Not certain about up in NSW but in Vic, ABS doesn't need to function. Aslong as the vehicle passes the brake test, then it is roadworthy.

He was a good sport about it, just likes to play it safe I guess. I've been trying to find a guideline on what actually is a pass/ fail for roadworthy. Seems like its a bunch of closely kept secrets.