Got in the car the other morning and turned the key to start position, while turning the car over the yellow ABS light appeared on the dash. I stayed on for about 2 seconds and promty dissapeared when the engine was running.

Over the following days I have nioticed that this light would only come on when the car had been left over night in the cold. When the engine is turned off and back on the light is off and remains off while driving.

Is this a real problem or another sofware issue?

Some members may not be suprised to see me post yet another thread regarding b----y Warning lights.

The car is a 2.0 petrol 2002 Octavia Estate.

Oh yes the car in now out of the 3 year manufacturer's warrenty (Nov 05).

I would be grtaeful for any advise, I have searched priovious posts without any luck.

CIVI

I'm not sure, but I recently had my braking light circuit fail.

It turned out to be the brake pedal switch.

I was prompted by a warning light on the dash, I pretty sure it was the ABS light.

The dealer said that if any part of the circuit fails, then this light comes on.

However, I have replaced failed brakelights without seeing any dash warning before.

Anyway, put your foot on the brake and see if your lights are working.

I think it may be doing what it should. According to the Owner's Manual: The ABS warning light should come on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on. If the ABS warning light does not go off after a few seconds, if it does not come on at all, or comes on when driving, the system is not operating correctly.

The ABS system carries out an automatic test procedure once the car has reached a speed of about 20kph (13mph) at which time a pump noise may be audible for about one second during this check. My car does this after a cold start at the beginning of the day but I can't say I have particularly noticed it at other times. Have a listen and it may help to reassure you that your ABS is functioning correctly. Failing that, find a quiet road, bury the brake pedal at speed, and see what happens!

Yeah, I used to hear a "clunk" from the front of my previous car (Audi A3) (sounds a bit like a catflap shutting!) when setting off in the mornings, usually after a couple of slow 1st gear corners, and just as you're about to get into 2nd. I was told it was the ABS system engaging - I think the story was that under that speed the ABS wasn't engaged, which kind of makes sense.

I'm not sure if I've heard the same clunk on my 2004 Octy Mk1 though, but if I did hear it I would have ignored it anyway, as I'm used to hearing it from the A3.

I do the same ABS test too - if roads are damp and a bit oily, it's a good time to engage the ABS really easily. Many people aren't familiar with the juddering of the pedal when ABS engages, so it's good to do this to get a feeling of how the system gives you feedback through the pedal.