lights just came on!

[tcscotland]

Hi,

Whilst driving to work, the abs light and the traction control light came on in the dash.

It still drove ok, and when i turned the engine off and back on again, its fine. (this seems to be a tried and tested method of fixing anything in my book!!)

Just wondering if it could be something more sinister? more to the point, will i die if i take the car to pv without getting it looked at

Cheers

[phatsam7]

duno but my vec did that once. the traction control light was on (the traction control was actually off and wouldnt turn back on) but then killed the car, turned it back on again and it hasnt done it since

[Chikin]

it happened in mine a couple of years ago and hasnt came back on since. Could just be dirt in the sensor.

I wouldnt worry about it. My abs light comes on all the time, I just ignore it lol

[Mattman]

I am sure someone posted on here they drove their Vectra around for months and months with the abs and traction control light on with no problems, don't remember who it was or what thread tho as it was a while ago.

[IainL]

It will be that the ABS rings, located just behind the CV joints are corroded or one of the teeth are missing. Normal braking will still be available.

The TC and ABS use the same rings to work out when traction is lost.

As they went off when you turned the engine off and then on, my money lies on that as the source of the problem.

My TC light comes on and sticks on sometimes on the Vec, I just turn the engine off and on again and it goes away. If its a long journey, and the light annoys you, just stick some black tape over the bit of the clocks screen that the light is on.

A wire brush to clean off some of the corrosion on the ABS rings may help things, but they will need replaced in time.

[Ian T]

Good advice above. :)

Also check to make sure that the cables from the ABS wheel sensors (that look at the rings) are in good condition, secured properly and plugged in fully.

Agree it's going to be a wheel sensor issue. :)

Ian.

[tcscotland]

nice one ta. Now that you mention it, for a while, often when i press the brake pedal i hear a slight whirring, like a little electric motor, and i also feel vibration on the pedal. Doesn't happen all the time tho

[IainL]

Thats more likely to be that the discs or pads are becoming worn

[Ian T]

The ABS goes through a test sequence every time you start the engine and drive away - pretty much as soon as you've moved about 5 metres, if you gently apply the brakes, you'll feel or hear a slight clicky buzz as the ABS tests its motor and valves. If it does that during normal braking, it's telling you that one of the wheel sensors is operating intermittently and therefore it thinks that wheel is locked, thus invoking the ABS.

Ian.

[IainL]

My Vec and Astra do that just after I have reversed out the drive - I've been wondering what that single click was for years lol!

[Bicco]

Has the vec still got the old teethed ABS sensors then? The Mk4 has a speed sensor (Controling ABS and traction control) and a wheel hub combined in one silly expensive part. This put the light on for us, went away when the ignition was reset, but got more frequent until it got replaced.

[IainL]

Yes they still have the teeth type system.

My Coupe has this 'ESP' system - I've no idea how that works lol