Traction control & ABS light on, wont change out of second

[Monty84]

ABS Traction control light randomly came on yesterday afternoon, I found that when I drove the car with these lights on, it wouldn't change on the auto box out of 2nd.  put it in manual, and could shift up and down.  drove home in manual parked up and had my tea.  say after an hour later, got in the car to run an errand, everything normal and ok, drove around 15 miles in two journeys.  just as I approached home the lights came back on and misbehaving gearbox again.

I'm thinking dodgy or failing ABS wheel speed sensor, am I on the right route, I have the odb plug and BM software but cant get it installed presently on my laptop, issues with drivers on windows 7.

Supposed to be going to Wembley on Saturday which is a 100 mile journey, could do with getting this resolved for the weekend, what's your advice?  I will look for a ABS sensor as soon as I have posted this,
it appears to be a simple bolt on off and plug and play.

[davesavage257]

Had a similar problem with mine, it was a front abs sensor, intermittent fault, used the scanner and it showed front right. Swapped right and left sensors, cleared fault, drove it until fault reappeared, a couple of days IIRC, gave me time to get a new sensor. Plugged scanner in, showed fault on front left, changed sensor for new, all sorted.

Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto

[shadrack]

Sounds like an abs sensor. You can test for a faulty one with a multimeter from the abs plug under bonnet.

when you find which fit a genuine one. The cheap sensors are shite.

be careful removing the sensor as they get siezed in and if you snap it then youll have a job!

Once swapped its just drive no coding etc

[Monty84]

Cheers for your help, ordered a spare front and back to be sure, pretty certain its front passenger side as got some vibration, suspect front bushes on this side in particular are worn.