Help please: ABS DSC BRAKE all 3 lights, sensor replaced still faulty issue

[DavyBoy]

Hello all

First off I am new to this forum, so thanks for your patience and great to see a site with genuine posts.

I have purchased a 4.6is which I love but of course there are a few issues.  All suggestions are welcome, in an ideal world there would be a trustworthy mechanic based in London on this forum that could have a look and potentially carry out the work as a homer?

The main ones are:
DSC ABS BRAKE lights all 3 are yellow (usually 9 out of 10 car runs it is this way and even when it isn't this way its only for about 5 minutes before the lights come back on), local garage told me the code reader points to drivers side wheel sensor which after being quoted £150-200? I did it myself and swapped out for a Delphi ABS Sensor.  Started the car, the lights went off then seconds later they came back on again.  The car sometimes feels as though it has a "drag" holding feel to it when driving and if I take my foot off the accelerator I cant help thinking it slows down sooner than it should. 
Any ideas?

Reverse works then "falls out" but put it into gear again and then it will reverse again but just for a few seconds.  The code reader said Reverse Solenoid?  Could this be related to the ABS issue above?

I hope to keep this car, I just cant afford stupid repair bills.

Thank you

[henrym3]

Hi and welcome, plenty of knowledgeable people on here, had a similar problem with the warning lights, although didn't have the reverse problem. My suggestion for the lights would be the ABS module being faulty. It doesn't tend to throw up any of it's own fault codes it tends to blame everything else. Also is a known weak area. You can remove it yourself and send it of for repair. My first repair was £150 and second was £35 first was it not taking in info from f/l wheel sensor and second r/l wheel sensor. Needless to say I wasted my money replacing two sensors that had no faults. The g/b fault I will leave to more clued up people in that field. Good luck. Great vehicle.

[DavyBoy]

Hi

Thanks for your response, much appreciated.
Did you use any online instructions or video for the ABS Module removal / replace?  How long did it take you?
Where did you have it repaired?

Thanks lad

[henrym3]

The ABS module is behind the left headlight and is secured be 6 torx screws. Awkward and a bit of an arm twist to get at, probably easier to move the headlight out as far as it will go without removing the bumper. You can undo and shift the power steering reservoir out of the way a bit to ease access.
If not sure where it is, look where all the brake pipes go to/come out of and the module is screwed onto the front of it and has a large plug on it. Once unscrewed it simply lifts out and can be sent off.  Don't know what your DIY skills are but they will have to be reasonable or you will need to be willing to learn. Of course if you have deep pockets stuffed with £20 notes your in a good place.
I got mine repaired at Auto Tec in Poole Dorset but there must be someone nearer to you. If you want their address I can supply it.

[henrym3]

[quote="henrym3"]
The ABS module is behind the left headlight and is secured be 6 torx screws. Awkward and a bit of an arm twist to get at, probably easier to move the headlight out as far as it will go without removing the bumper. You can undo and shift the power steering reservoir out of the way a bit to ease access.
If not sure where it is, look where all the brake pipes go to/come out of and the module is screwed onto the front of it and has a large plug on it. Once unscrewed it simply lifts out and can be sent off.  Don't know what your DIY skills are but they will have to be reasonable or you will need to be willing to learn. Of course if you have deep pockets stuffed with £20 notes your in a good place.
I got mine repaired at Auto Tec in Poole Dorset but there must be someone nearer to you. If you want their address I can supply it.
[/quote]

I just took this picture and if you look at where the white dot is you can see one of the screws just above it



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DavyBoy]

Thanks very much for the advice and picture.

Does anyone have a trusted source and a good price for the ABS repair?  Is it the whole abs module or the pump behind it etc?

Thanks

[henrym3]

Not the pump, just the module which is the black plastic bit about the size of a fag packet.

[themoog]

Interesting.. My old E39 had similar problems which turned out to be the abs module. I paid £195 for a used one which sorted it.
As for the holding back or slowing down sooner than it should - mine does that sometimes. We have  two identical X5's so i can compare. Hers seems to be slightly 'keener' at light accelerator movements compared to mine.
I put a new intake vanos solenoid in and cam sensor which seemed to make a difference but i think it also may have something to do with the transmission but not sure what yet.
Also, when mine is started first thing in the morning mine has a vibration that the other does not have. Maybe engine mount?
When the weather is a bit better I will replace my transmission fluid, diff and trans box fluids to see if that makes any difference.

[henrym3]

Thinking about your first post and g/b problems. At the time of my wheel sensor/ABS module problem I did on a couple of occasions get the dreaded Trans Failsafe warning. These went away with the ABS module repair. I believe it's to do with input speed to box and output speed being massively different. I just mention this as it would probably be best to sort the warning lights problem before throwing money at the g/b. BTW how many miles on it?

[DavyBoy]

Hi
So I had changed the speed sensor as you know, went for a good 40 minutes of town driving and the lights stayed on.
Parked it up a couple of days, then started it, lights went off, drove it a mile, lights came back on.
Parked it up a couple of days, then starte dit, no lights for the whole 30 minute journey, great.
Today, decided maybe its ready for using for work? started, no lights, drove it about 20 minutes then the lights came on again?
I am assuming this is all pointing to the ABS module?

132k miles.

Thanks guys

[henrym3]

That would be my suggestion, however before you do that remove the throttle body plug and throttle body and clean thoroughly with carb cleaner or similar use contact cleaner on the plug. I suggest this as it's cheap and you've got nothing to loose