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Author Topic: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead  (Read 1623 times)

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MaxRevs

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Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« on: 01 July 2011, 20:36:58 »
A weird and disconcerting thing happened today. Doing 70mph and the ABS and traction control lights came on and the speedo needle fell to zero!

It stayed like this for about 5 miles until I came to a halt, then everything worked OK, but by the time I parked-up half-a-mile later the error condition had returned.

I returned to the car two hours later, started engine and all was back to normal*. By the time I'd got out of the car park the warning lights were back on along with dead speedo.

Throughout this worrying intermittency the braking and engine performance seemed unaffected.

*I should say at this stage that "normal" has lately been with the orange 'engine' light showing. My usual mechanics say this is a 'cat error' caused by a knackered No. 6 cylinder not burning the mixture efficiently.


2.6 CD Omega estate with 182K miles.

Any idea what this problem might be? And what's the likelihood of it causing a breakdown as we've a long journey to do this weekend?

Thanks for any advice you might be able to share.
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Jimbob

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #1 on: 01 July 2011, 20:42:14 »
That is almost certainly your ABS unit packing up.

The symptoms you describe are as bad as it gets...

No Abs / TC / Speedo / Poss Power steering too.

You need to either replace it, or get it refurbed.

Not too sure on your usual mechanics advice on the other issue either, guessing thats actually just the precat codes 3.2s and some 2.6's get as they age.
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #2 on: 01 July 2011, 21:04:18 »
Yeh, ABS ecu packing up....nothing to urgent to worry about but idealy nees fixing when convenient.

As for the fault light, read the fault codes using the pedal test.
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Lazydocker

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #3 on: 01 July 2011, 21:06:02 »
Quote
That is almost certainly your ABS unit packing up.

The symptoms you describe are as bad as it gets...

No Abs / TC / Speedo / Poss Power steering too.

You need to either replace it, or get it refurbed.

Not too sure on your usual mechanics advice on the other issue either, guessing thats actually just the precat codes 3.2s and some 2.6's get as they age.

2nded ;) ;)

And that bit sounds like he's talking crap... The Pre-cat codes have nothing to do with 1 cylinder, it's just general efficiency of the cat... Check the Maintenance guides for a solution ;) ;)
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MaxRevs

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #4 on: 01 July 2011, 22:22:29 »
Thanks for quick and knowledgeable replies. If the ABS unit does fail, will the brakes still work properly (apart from ABS unit)?
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Jimbob

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #5 on: 01 July 2011, 22:23:42 »
Yes, they will be fine
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MaxRevs

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #6 on: 02 July 2011, 01:38:54 »
Thanks for the advice, I'm very grateful.  [smiley=thumbup.gif]
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MutantCav

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #7 on: 02 July 2011, 08:14:12 »
Likelihood of your car breaking down is about the same as it was before the lights came on and speedo died :y As you will have no TC or ABS you just need to be a touch more careful with hard acceleration or breaking but thats all...while the speedo is working its worth looking to see the revs at certain speeds so you can judge your speed via the revs when the speedo fails...but ABS/TC ECU is your problem...and as said precats, often the solution is to bypass the sensor wiring or something like that I believe :y
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Chris_H

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #8 on: 02 July 2011, 10:27:05 »
Quote
Likelihood of your car breaking down is about the same as it was before the lights came on and speedo died :y As you will have no TC or ABS you just need to be a touch more careful with hard acceleration or breaking but thats all...while the speedo is working its worth looking to see the revs at certain speeds so you can judge your speed via the revs when the speedo fails...but ABS/TC ECU is your problem...and as said precats, often the solution is to bypass the sensor wiring or something like that I believe :y
Sat nav can give you a close approximation of speed if you have one.

Other issues connected to ABS ECU failure are power steering may be heavier as it can't do speed-related sensitivity (it seems to remember what mode it was in when the ABS last gave out pulses), radio might be a funny volume 'cos it doesn't know if you're going over 50mph, might be able to set the alarm whilst moving as I think there is a link to the immobiliser lockout.  I imagine the cruise control won't work either though I don't recall trying it.
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TheBoy

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #9 on: 02 July 2011, 13:51:00 »
The brakes will work, but with no ABS obviously. More concerning is the steering going heavy - we're all used to powersteering now, and are too much of weaklings to not have it ;D
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TheBoy

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #10 on: 02 July 2011, 13:51:25 »
Also you need a new mechanic.
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RolandL

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Re: Multiple warning lights & speedo goes dead
« Reply #11 on: 02 July 2011, 21:34:24 »
Had the same issue with mine, finally got round to getting it fixed.  Sent part off to BBA-reman http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/DetailedProduct.aspx?DetailedProduct=782

Very helpful, extremely efficiant, cost £144 to have ABS/ECU unit refurbished. All fine now.   :y

Mine was off a 2.5 not sure if unit is same on a 2.6

There is a How to in maintenace section on removing unit.
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