ABS and Traction Control Light intermottent fault

[Chazzy]

Hi All

I have a 2000 VW Golf V6 4 Motion of which the ABS and Traction Control light keep coming on (at the same time) Intermittently. I've taken it to my local Specialist (when the fault was present as if I turn the Engine off it resets itself) and they said that it's the Accellerator Sensor but their computer was very basic so I then took it to the main dealer and they said the same thing, but also said that they have never known a fault like this before and feel that i should leave it with them for a couple of days for full diagnostics....ouch!. I'm in two minds as to let my local specialist change the sensor and hope that fixes it but if it doesn't i'll have to then send to the main dealer paying two bills. Or maybe just take it straight to the main dealer and pay the price!

Has anyone come across a problem like this before? I'm thinking it could be a loose wire in the ECU or something? If so then changing the sensor would not solve it?

Any response to this will be greatly appreciated as i have sold this car and the new owner is picking i up in a couple of weeks provided I solve this problem.

Regards

Chazzy

[mrflakey]

Hi there,

I have a 2001 vw golf 4 motion with exactly the same problem. It's doing my head in!!! I have tried 5 times to fix the fault. REplaced sway sensor, air mass sensor, reset ecu untold times and rerouted the wiring loom (allegedlly by guy at garage whilst under warranty) I have been told that the problem cannot be fied but i'm sure it can, the garage gave up n the end. If you get to t bottom of this please let me know!!!

Mny thanks,

Tim

[Chazzy]

Hi Tim.

It's going in on Friday to the main dealer for full dignostics. I replaced the accellerator sensor to no avail.

Did you get the error code pointing to replace the accellerator sensor?
I find that the light rarely comes on when I drive to work in the morning (10 miles) but always comes on on the way home? Do you find that?
Is there anything you can do to force the light on? I can't.
Have you tested whether your ABS or Traction Control work with the lighs on? I know my ABS doesn't and havent been able to test the TC.

I'm now even more concerened of the prospect of the main dealer not knowing how to fix it :mad: . Was your dealer a main VW dealer?

I used to swear by VW......... Not any more!

Regards

Chazzy

[mrflakey]

Hi Chazzy,

The vw dealer had it twice, the first time they just reset the ecu and chucked it back to me, the lights came back on within 3 days. The second time they replaced a sway sensor (whatever the hell that is!) and once again assuming they reset the ecu for good measure the lights came back on about 3 days later. At one time the engine light came on as well so I took it back in and they replaced the maf sensor which was a seperate issue.
I actually bought the car 2nd hand from a ford dealer so they didn't have the diagnostic equipment and kept shipping it off down the rd to vag.
The last time i took it into the ford dealer (under warranty) they wanted to use their own guy who cleaned the throttle cable and fiddled with the wiring loom which had, as expected, no effect whatsover.


My lights are random as anything. Sometimes they will come on as soon as i start the engine, sometimes 5 miles into a journey and sometime not for ages, but they always come on eventually. As i'm sure you have I have tried numerous combinations of starting the car with the brakes pushed down, with juice without etc etc, but it seems totally random. One thing i have discovered which is probably not recommended is that once the lights are on and getting on my nerves if i turn the ignition off briefly whilst driving and turn back on they will go out for 20-30 mins.

I have just got in touch with an independant mech, who is apparently very good and deals with a lot of german stuff. He will be looking at the car next week some time so i will keep you posted.

By the way, as far as i can tell vag don't know their arses from their elbows!!

Good luck!

[carelectrician.co.uk]

Hi fellas, sounds interesting, any of you near me www.car-electrician.co.uk (http://www.car-electrician.co.uk) I've had problems like this with the plug connection on the ABS ecu (on the modulator), with yaw sensors (sway sensor under steering column), are there any fault codes being found? Regards, Phil

[Chazzy]

Hi Phil

Thanks for your respnse. I'm Ipswich way. The fault code I am getting is 01279 which I was reliably informed that it was the ACC PEDAL ELECTRONIC MODULE 1J2721503J which i have had replaced but has not cured the problem.

Any help you can provide us will be greatly appreciated!!!!

Regards

Chazzy

[carelectrician.co.uk]

01279 is code for the G force longitudinal sensor. This sensor measures acceleration and braking forces. It is below the steering column. It incorporates the yaw sensor which measures sideways movement. Maybe you aready had this replaced but was it programmed on level ground at the same time as replacement?
Phil

[Chazzy]

Phil

Thanks for your response. I had the accellerator sensor replaced on level gound but it was not a case of reprogramming it i don't think as it was just a new pedal which a plastic box at the top. However from the records the Yaw sensor was replaced on the service before last by the main VAG dealer so I would have thought it would have been callaborated properly. There is no reason though as to why it was replaced? The last service did show the intermittent fault but they didn't investigate. Is the sensor that you are talking about different to the Yaw and accellerator module previously mentioned?

The light often comes on when I am cruising down a straight road i.e not cornering or braking? If the callaboration was out then i would have thought that the lights would come on if i was cornering or braking? I obviously bow to your greater knowledge on this matter.

Best Regards

Chazzy

[carelectrician.co.uk]

Hi, the accelerator pedal sensor doesn't need programming. The yaw sensor does need centralizing. The g force sensor is part of the yaw sensor usually, some cars like audi tt have separate g sensor. Either way they are below steering column and both must be set on level ground with steering dead straight or otherwise when you are driving in a straight line the ABS/TC light will come on and throw up fault code 01279!!

[mrflakey]

Nice one guys.
:beerchug:

[Chazzy]

Well, VW have done there diagnostics and have pin pointed in to be the Longitudinal Accellerator Sensor (anyone now what that is? Is it the sway sensor or Gforce sensor that you guys have previously mentioned?) which they are replacing tomorrow for £240 ouch.....the part is £85. The error their computer is getting is "Implausible & sporadic reading". They are farely sure that this will resolve the issue but can't answer the fact of why it is intermittent and why it tends to come on more when it is warmer? To me this points to a loose wire issue but I'm in there hands.

I'll let you know how this goes.

Regards

Chazzy

[devonutopia]

Are there any faults being dragged up with regards to ABS sensor units? When an ABS sensor/sender fails or becomes intermittent, it usually kills the ABS entirely and the traction control, as it can no longer tell how fast the car is going at that wheel. Amazing how one sensor can kill two of the cars safety systems.....

[Ftagi]

Hi guys, thought I might just add a little to this.
I have a golf v6 4motion, 2000/x. I bought it 10 months ago from a small dealer. My ABS/TC lights came on the very first day I bought it. It was fine when I test drove it! Took it back to the dealer who over the forth coming weeks had it in 4 different garages a total of 9 times! One of which was Western Volkswagen a main dealer in Edinburgh. They changed the alternator, replaced the battery, rear screen wash pump, reset the ECU and to my shock they finally gave up and told me they couldn't fix it! This is a main VW dealer!!! I know exactly how to get the lights on, I just accelerate hard past 3000rpm and on they come on. When the lights are on it's difficult to tell if my TC works because the 4WD is that good, but my ABS does give me a few suprises from time to time. I too pull over just to restart the engine just to get a break from seeing them on the dash, they are doing my head in. Now of course the EPC light is coming on now and again. I feel like trading the car in to a VW dealer and see how they like it. How did you guys get on with yours?

[Eshrules]

Hi guys, thought I might just add a little to this.
I have a golf v6 4motion, 2000/x. I bought it 10 months ago from a small dealer. My ABS/TC lights came on the very first day I bought it. It was fine when I test drove it! Took it back to the dealer who over the forth coming weeks had it in 4 different garages a total of 9 times! One of which was Western Volkswagen a main dealer in Edinburgh. They changed the alternator, replaced the battery, rear screen wash pump, reset the ECU and to my shock they finally gave up and told me they couldn't fix it! This is a main VW dealer!!! I know exactly how to get the lights on, I just accelerate hard past 3000rpm and on they come on. When the lights are on it's difficult to tell if my TC works because the 4WD is that good, but my ABS does give me a few suprises from time to time. I too pull over just to restart the engine just to get a break from seeing them on the dash, they are doing my head in. Now of course the EPC light is coming on now and again. I feel like trading the car in to a VW dealer and see how they like it. How did you guys get on with yours?


from what you have told me..... i take it this was under warranty? if a fault cannot be rectified under warranty, they have to offer you a refund or alternative car of same or greater value. i wouldnt let something like that lie, if you paid for a car which has proven to be unfit for its purpose, they are in breach of the sale of goods act. contact your local trading standards and get them reported!:beerchug:

[Ftagi]

Thanks for replying ESHRULES. The warranty was only for 3 months but the fault was from day 1. I have not been in contact with them for about 7 months now but they have failed to repair the car so I am going to give them a call and ask for a refund. Firstly I will call trading standards to get some advice. Thanks for opening my eyes.

Ftagi.
I will let you know how I get on.

[Eshrules]

Thanks for replying ESHRULES. The warranty was only for 3 months but the fault was from day 1. I have not been in contact with them for about 7 months now but they have failed to repair the car so I am going to give them a call and ask for a refund. Firstly I will call trading standards to get some advice. Thanks for opening my eyes.

Ftagi.
I will let you know how I get on.

i wouldnt expect a refund, my brother has had the same trouble with a gearbox from day one too, but the trouble you will have is the fact you have not been in touch for so long, they could argue that they rectified the initial fault etc. IMO if you can get it repaired once and for all, id go for it, refund is highly unlikely to occur im afraid, good look though and keep us all posted!:beerchug:

[Ftagi]

I did phone the dealer the day after I posted the above thread and he told me to come in the next day which I did. He gave me a cheque for 5000 pound. originally 7500 but with 10 months + 7k miles later. Still not a fare deal but the EPC fault came up in the last month and I had not serviced the car since I bought it so I just accepted the money, cut my losses and moved on. Cheque cleared ok a few days later. It must be said that the dealer was ok from day one. I won't buy another mark IV golf again that's for sure. Sometimes modern cars have too many warning lights for their own good! Maybe a Suburu Impreza WRX or a BMW 3 series next.

Good luck to you all.

Ftagi.

[Eshrules]

I did phone the dealer the day after I posted the above thread and he told me to come in the next day which I did. He gave me a cheque for 5000 pound. originally 7500 but with 10 months + 7k miles later. Still not a fare deal but the EPC fault came up in the last month and I had not serviced the car since I bought it so I just accepted the money, cut my losses and moved on. Cheque cleared ok a few days later. It must be said that the dealer was ok from day one. I won't buy another mark IV golf again that's for sure. Sometimes modern cars have too many warning lights for their own good! Maybe a Suburu Impreza WRX or a BMW 3 series next.

Good luck to you all.

Ftagi.

ummm, just a quick point..... impreza WRX or 3 series will be even harder to solve problems?? little confused, you surely cant judge the entire mk4 range on one bad experience, ive had problems and a very bad experience with my supplying dealer, but i still love the car. impreza with the amount of electronics that car has, you may be stepping into (compared to the golf) a minefield.... but as always, good luck!! you will certainly need it :beerchug:

[Ftagi]

Thanks for your comments my friend and you are right. I can't condemn the whole mark IV golf range because every car has it's faults and I DO still think they are very good cars. I guess I just get bored of cars very easily and maybe something a little different for me now.

I must be honest though I have been put off the mark IV golf.

Thanks for everyones advice and safe motoring.

Ftagi.

[Kev2904]

guys a little of topic here, when you go and get bits put in it dosnt work do garages normally charge you for them not getting it right?

Just curious can you tell im new to this lol

[Ftagi]

If the car is under warranty when the fault appears, the garage you bought it from has to repair it regardless of time or money! If there is no warranty and the garage is not 100% of the fault, they will advise you of what they think it is and you will have to decide if the work is carried out or not and therefore pay.

What is the problem with your car?

[rasper05]

i have a v6 4motion golf and the abs light esp light came on for about 9 months drove me crazy i took it to vw about 6 times cahang ignition switch and sensor aftor sensor and then i paid £1300 to change the ecu and abs pump. I thought thats got to be the fault but no after nearly £2000 they told me they would keep the car and fix it and i would pay no more. After nearly 4 weeks with vw i got it back and finally its fixed.
They changed all the sensors, acceleration and had to rewire the whole system. I think theres a major fault in the wiring, the diagnostic computers cannot spot

[Kev2904]

If the car is under warranty when the fault appears, the garage you bought it from has to repair it regardless of time or money! If there is no warranty and the garage is not 100% of the fault, they will advise you of what they think it is and you will have to decide if the work is carried out or not and therefore pay.

What is the problem with your car?

Hi mate if you were asking me that question lol where do i start my thread is here rather than me hijacking this one;)

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum//showthread.php?t=5330

[Ysttonk]

Hi, I have had my 2000 4motion now for 2 years and the traction and abs lights have now come on.

the code reads 01279 SNS for lenghwist accel, electric.

Not a plausible signal

error occurs intermittent.

electrical prob in circuit.

I am curious if you got yours rectified and how much and any ideas on my one. Also when light comes on does it mean you have no TC or ABS.

One last thing I also have a knocking under the car when I go over bumps or rough road. I have had the Anti roll bar links changed but still no good. Any ideas?

[Ftagi]

Hi, I had mine in several garages (paid by the original garage I bought it from) and no one could fix it, even the audi dealer couldn't fix it with the computer. Some garages found various error codes but don't be fooled as this is the 'original' error just messing with the ecu and you will end up just paying hard earned cash to fix hoax errors. The lights never affected my ABS and TC, they still worked 100%.
In the end the garage I bought it from conceded they couldn't get it fixed and offered to disable the dash board lights!

You just have to live with it or get the lights disabled... if you want to keep your sanity!

I sold the car back to the garage and bought and Audi S4.

Hope this has helped, good luck.

Ps I never had any knocking noises.

[Ysttonk]

Great does not feel me with confidence!

I think I may have to stick with it with annoying lights!

Thanks

[chris audi a4]

hi i was just wondering if the problem was ever resolved as i am having the same issues

it has been back to main dealer and even they cant help me

any help would be very appreciated

many thanks

[abcjfk]

I have the same issue with my 2004 audi a3 2.0tdi auto.

The traction and abs light come on after 10 -15 min. To be fair, the lights seems to come on on the way home more than going to work.

Also, the steering wheel is off center. Is currently at 11AM. Would that make any difference if that makes the light come on.

If anyone can give me some advice, that will be really helpful.

Thanks

[katmart]

The steering wheel definately needs re aligning or at very least the sttering angle sensor calibrating in the 11 oclock position. The ecu will be seeing a mismatch in wheel speed sensors, thinking it is going around a corner all the time!