I am trying to find information on an intermittent issue I have had for the past three years. My issue is I get sensor alarms pop up on the dash suggesting certain items are not available. These are always the same and they are Stop/Start function, park assist, front assist and tyre pressure sensor. I have taken the car to my local dealer a total of six time now, the first four times they couldn't diagnose the fault (nothing stored in the system apparently) but eventually said it was the battery. I had this replaced (£350.00 a year ago) but it did not resolve the issue. They have had the car for the last two weeks and have now told me that I need a replacement ABS system (£1450.00). Although I have twice requested a phone call for the technician to explain what tests were carried out, what the results were and why they have concluded that I need to replace the entire ABS system as of yet no one has had the courtesy to call. I honestly don't think they have a clue what the problem is so I would be extremely grateful if anyone else has any suggestions. Regards

Honestly, ABS Sounds about right.

 

One time when I "accidentally" skidded on an icy car park in winter, the same happened to me. I had an ABS Brake light pop up, aswell as parkpilot off, start/stop off, front assist off and the tyres. I would hazard thats a pretty strong indication its something ABS wise, possibly sensor. 

 

I wouldnt have said that that warrants a full ABS Replacement, but im no trained mechanic or auto electrician - but imo theyre close to it.

17 hours ago, lewiswal47 said:

Honestly, ABS Sounds about right.

 

One time when I "accidentally" skidded on an icy car park in winter, the same happened to me. I had an ABS Brake light pop up, aswell as parkpilot off, start/stop off, front assist off and the tyres. I would hazard thats a pretty strong indication its something ABS wise, possibly sensor. 

 

I wouldnt have said that that warrants a full ABS Replacement, but im no trained mechanic or auto electrician - but imo theyre close to it.

lewiswal47, thank you for your post. It is looking more and more like it is ABS related. The dealer called today with more information and apparently I need a new pump. I'm still not totally sure that this will resolve the issue.

 

It probably wont but they wont tell you that, they will be making excuses as to why you cannot have your car back while they scratch their heads and hopefully then find and replace the £4 wheel speed sensor on the quiet.

2 hours ago, GavinR said:

lewiswal47, thank you for your post. It is looking more and more like it is ABS related. The dealer called today with more information and apparently I need a new pump. I'm still not totally sure that this will resolve the issue.

 

as JR said under me, Definitely worth trying the sensors before ANYTHING. I imagine when I skidded the sensors just went into overload hence why it threw hands - perhaps the same with you. Faulty sensor could be over/under reading and setting off some sort of safety thing. 

Precisely, all it takes is for the hall sensor magnet to crack, any anomolous reading is ignored, with only 3 working sensors all of the related systems stop functioning and for reasons that I cannot understand a fault code comes up as no communications with ABS controller, probably just another crap description for something completely different.

 

Mine started playing up after I clipped a kerb.

Edited 12 July, 20232 yr by J.R.

I am being told by the dealer that I have a faulty ABS pump, apparently it's not releasing the pressure when the ignition is switched off thus resulting in the alarms hence the £1400.00 for fitting a new pump. 🤔

 

I haven't clipped a curb nor anything similar to initiate a sensor issue I have just had here fault codes intermittently for the last three years. It has never stored the faults in the system apparently.

Edited 13 July, 20232 yr by GavinR
Added to

Your money your choice, its a lot to spend to realise that your instinct was correct.

 

On 11/07/2023 at 14:11, GavinR said:

I honestly don't think they have a clue what the problem is so I would be extremely grateful

 

9 hours ago, GavinR said:

I am being told by the dealer that I have a faulty ABS pump, apparently it's not releasing the pressure when the ignition is switched off

On some cars you ( A Garage ) can run a test sequence on the ABS Unit which will move all the parts to free up any stuck parts.

Normally done at the same time as changing the brake fluid.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

1 hour ago, AGFalco said:

On some cars you ( A Garage ) can run a test sequence on the ABS Unit which will move all the parts to free up any stuck parts.

Normally done at the same time as changing the brake fluid.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Many thanks AGFalco, I will contact the garage and ask if this is possible on the Fabia. Would cost less than replacing the pump. 👍

If you are facing a bill like that you should invest in VCDS and then you will never have to believe the guff that a garage tells you, if you are someone who has all their repairs done by a garage its imperative that you should take control of the diagnostic process and not be either deliberately milked or finance the parts cannon because they cant diagnose a fault.

 

I reckon it will pay for itself 5 times over on this problem alone and save you a fortune in the long term.

On 13/07/2023 at 20:16, GavinR said:

I will contact the garage and ask if this is possible on the Fabia.

Some garages might say no just because they won't want to do it, rather than because it is not posable.

 

Look here noting that VCDS is being used :-

 

 

Thanks. AG Falco

I have run tests with a VCDS and spoken to ECU Testing and it looks like a sensor switch within the actual ABS unit itself so the unit has to be swapped out.

 

Many thanks for all the help on this I appreciate it.

 

Just need to decide if it's worth spending the money. 🤔

I'm guessing that by the way that you have worded this, that  ECU Testing can not repair this unit with that fault and return it to you working?

 

Or can you not live without having your car on the road?

I'm sure ECU would be perfectly capable but I am relying on the fault finding process of the dealer so if they replace it and it does not resolve the problem I feel I have a better case for them to continue with the diagnostics at no cost to me. Also I don't have the facility to remove the unit myself so would have to pay a garage to do it plus the cost to recon the unit so I would be looking at 2/3rds the cost anyway with no clear options if it doesn't fix the issue. Plus we only have the one car so it's not convenient for it to be off the road for too long. All a bit of a pain in the a*** really.