TCS/ESP warning light came on for no reason

[stuartsjg]

Hi,

Yesterday morning when i started the car, the TCS/ESP warning light came on. I cannot reset by starting and stopping the engine or pressing the button.

Ive tested it as well as i can and the TCS is not working (wheels spin) but im not sure about the ABS. If i brake as hard as i can, i don't feel the ABS but i cant get the tyres to lock, the road i tested it on probs wasn't slippy enough.

Ive seen most posts suggests its an ABS pump or controller fault but i cant see how it would be fine one day and faulty the next.

The car is 6 months out of warranty and i will have owned it 3 years to the day next week. Currently still on seat finance and ive arranged to refinance the balloon payment with VW financial.

All but 1 service has been at the dealer (i think, will need to check!). If its an expensive fault and they are picky about dealer/seat contributions how would this go down if i wanted to sell the car back to them and buy another.

Seeing £1000ish estimates for a repair makes me think it cheaper to buy another car!

EDIT:
Service /other kay dates etc as follows:
Mar 08, registered new at dealer
31/10/2008 - appx 5Kmiles - Bought car at Specialist Cars Seat, Aberdeen (Dealer) on a 3yr PCP for £14k (had £18k sticker price!)
02/03/2009 - 09306 - dealer service
05/10/2009 - 19089 - dealer service
16/07/2010 - 28959 - dealer service
07/07/2011 - 39495 - Bosch service centre service (This garage is 400 yards from my work, as opposed to 16 miles to the dealer)

 

[rosco07]

A repair kit is now offered by Seat which makes the repair a bit cheaper at less than £500 as far as I am aware.

Still not cheap but better than £1k. You never know it may be something as simple as a speed sensor if you're lucky.

 

[stuartsjg]

Hopefully im lucky! Horrible time for car finances, needs new tyres on the front and road tax and now a thing fixed!

If its a speed sensor, can these be replaced DIY? (im an electrical engineer and handy so most car tasks are possible)

 

[Jimski]

Just to throw a thought in here......but are your brake lights working? In the ibiza, its a £6 switch that fails causing the same problems.


Jimski

 

[stuartsjg]

Hi Jimsky, I'll check that! Thanks, I like £6 switches I don't like £500 service kits and I hate a £1000 repair!

 

[Jimski]

No worries, keep me posted, im now the expert on this having had the same trouble and two days scratching my head!! Have you got anyone local to you with VAGCOM? Might be also worth another thread for someone to pinpoint the issue.

Jimski

 

[stuartsjg]

I've got myself, prob is I can't find the install disk and if I download from the web it's not compatible with the older unit I have! Will check the lights tomorrow


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=57.164505,-2.118664

 

[Scotty2hotty]

Take the car to your local garage. Mine are currently looking for a replacement abs module from the scrapyards locally. Probably will cost no more than £80 fitted. No harm in asking is they could do the same.

 

[stuartsjg]

Have checked and the passenger side and top bar brake lights come on but the drivers side doesn't. Bulb for the light is fine (Swapped with other working bulk).

I would have though they all run from the same circuit? Will check for volts at the light later.

What fuse are the brake lights on?



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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=57.238818,-2.348207

 

[stuartsjg]

Ok, false alarm on the brake lights, all are working. My colleague made a mistake and thought one wasnt lighting up!

Also today, whilst so far it was only the TCS/ESP light which was on, today after ive parked for a while, the orange ABS and red (!) warning lights flash together. They go off again once i start driving for about 20 yards...

Have dug out the trusty vag com lead and found the following:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 1K0-907-379-MK60-F.LBL
Part No SW: 1K0 907 379 AC HW: 1K0 907 379 AC
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0101
Coding: 0006786
Shop #: WSC 04941

1 Fault Found:
01435 - Brake Pressure Sensor 1 (G201)
012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monitoring the G201 sensor it reads a pretty steady 214.22Bar. It does fluctuate up and down by a bar or two when driving.

Speed sensors on all 4 wheels read ok, so too is the brake pedal, handbrake, esp switch, tyre pressure switch, etc.

Looking around on the web, the G201 sensor is fitted within the ABS module! It cant be replaced without removing and repairing/overhauling the module.

Some sites say you can take the electronics off without affecting the hydraulic control block and return this for repair for a few £100's.

Whats the experiences been here? It was dark so i was unable to check the brake fluid level, not sure if that was low? Wouldn't think this would register as an electrical fault tho.

Whats normal brake hydraulic pressure? 214bar sounds a bit high. I thought it was around the 80Bar/1200psi mark, although have seen 20-30 bar mentioned but this is perhaps unassisted brakes - no idea tho!

 

[stuartsjg]

Emailed dealer with the details from vag com so am booked into get it fixed for £122 parts, labour Inc vat. Happy for that!

They gave me "maximum good will discount" as I had all my warranty services with the dealer.

Happy enough with that!