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Getting desperate!!

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
Jamo96
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Getting desperate!!

Post by Jamo96 » Fri May 04, 2018 7:36 pm

So, long story, It all started with an amber traction control light and handbrake light, I plugged it into my code reader and the reader didn’t throw up any errors even though there’s lights on the dash so went round and checked each wheel speed sensor and physically they all looked fine, unplugged them to clean them etc, went to start car back up see if the lights had gone and now I’ve also got a bloody abs light and also airbag by the looks of it?? The zeds been off road for a month now looking sorry for itself so any help is very much appreciated
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Smartbear
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Post by Smartbear » Fri May 04, 2018 7:41 pm

Hi, how old is your battery?
Rob
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skelters
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Post by skelters » Fri May 04, 2018 7:47 pm

Might be worth posting the exact codes from the code reader for some of the resident experts to look at and advise.
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Jamo96
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Post by Jamo96 » Fri May 04, 2018 8:16 pm

skelters wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:47 pm Might be worth posting the exact codes from the code reader for some of the resident experts to look at and advise.
The reader didn’t show any codes, that’s the issue mate
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Jamo96
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Post by Jamo96 » Fri May 04, 2018 8:24 pm

Smartbear wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:41 pm Hi, how old is your battery?
Rob
Can’t find any paperwork saying that it’s been done so I’d probably say quite a while, I know that older battery’s can cause electrical gremlins but with with the wheel speed sensor being intermittent first of all I wasn’t 100% sure
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Post by skelters » Fri May 04, 2018 8:26 pm

Smartbear wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:41 pm Hi, how old is your battery?
Rob
What code reader are you using?

Anyone close by with Carly?

Get the battery checked first.

Alternator?

ABS Pump?
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Post by buzyg » Fri May 04, 2018 8:30 pm

Smartbear wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 7:41 pm Hi, how old is your battery?
Rob
Worth considering for sure. Try the tyre pressure reset too. Unlikely but easy.
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Post by IAmOrion » Sat May 05, 2018 3:26 am

Have you checked the DSC Pressure Sensors? They wont show up in the normal trouble code location as they DON'T trigger the EML (Engine Management Light). What reader do you have? I literally had the same problem a week or so ago, It was my pressure sensor, I replaced them both for good measure for £54 for 2. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BMW- ... 1220138731

Carly won't work (at least I don't think) - ideally you want a C110 or C310/C310+. Or you could use ISTA/D with a K+DCan cable.

On the C310 I believe it's under Chassis > ABS > DSC (something like that, I can check tomorrow and make a quick video of what to check for you)

I suspect it'll be those sensors if you've not already tested them.
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In my case it was sensor 2 (the bottom one in the pic). It should read the same as the first - eg around -0.5 bar when OFF the brake pedal. I was pressing and releasing the brake pedal in the video. It also went too high when pressing the pedal as also seen in the video (Again, pay attention to sensor 2 - eg, the bottom reading)

I'm in Cambridge (CB22) if you or anyone ever wants to do a check via ISTA (I realise for you OP that's a bloody long journey from Swindon :rofl: )
Last edited by IAmOrion on Sat May 05, 2018 10:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Ewazix » Sat May 05, 2018 7:42 am

A lot of BMW's have difficult problems with abs warnings caused by dirty or corroded reluctor rings (a toothed band the drive shaft speed sensor reads from). Worth considering, but the lack of codes seems odd :?

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Post by abar121 » Sat May 05, 2018 9:56 am

As above, get ISTA running to get the error codes. That's the only way I was able to get the codes on my E85.
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Post by MACK » Sat May 05, 2018 10:12 am

If you cant get a code reader to read it or use Bmws software INSTA or INPA see if a local garage will do quick scan for a small fee to identify the fault. the fact you've got warning lights on means the car knows something wrong and there will be a code stored.
My moneys on the usual brake pressure sensors but you also need to know which one it is. dead easy to fit yourself though.
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Post by ferry » Sat May 05, 2018 12:23 pm

IAmOrion wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 3:26 am Have you checked the DSC Pressure Sensors?
This.

But the airbag light wouldn't come on?

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Post by IAmOrion » Sat May 05, 2018 12:28 pm

ferry wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 12:23 pm
IAmOrion wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 3:26 am Have you checked the DSC Pressure Sensors?
This.

But the airbag light wouldn't come on?
I suspect that’s just a coincidence. 2 things have coincided but not directly related.

Here’s where to look for DSC Errors. (The errors shown are “stored” codes as my error is fixed but made this video to show you (OP) where to look.)



Remember, these errors will NOT show up in the standard trouble code / EML error location so most OBD2 tools or apps like Torque, Carly etc will NOT show these when you query your trouble codes
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Post by Jamo96 » Sat May 05, 2018 1:37 pm

IAmOrion wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 3:26 am Have you checked the DSC Pressure Sensors? They wont show up in the normal trouble code location as they DON'T trigger the EML (Engine Management Light). What reader do you have? I literally had the same problem a week or so ago, It was my pressure sensor, I replaced them both for good measure for £54 for 2. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BMW- ... 1220138731

Carly won't work (at least I don't think) - ideally you want a C110 or C310/C310+. Or you could use ISTA/D with a K+DCan cable.

On the C310 I believe it's under Chassis > ABS > DSC (something like that, I can check tomorrow and make a quick video of what to check for you)

I suspect it'll be those sensors if you've not already tested them.

IMG_0580.jpg

IMG_0579.jpg



In my case it was sensor 2 (the bottom one in the pic). It should read the same as the first - eg around -0.5 bar when OFF the brake pedal. I was pressing and releasing the brake pedal in the video. It also went too high when pressing the pedal as also seen in the video (Again, pay attention to sensor 2 - eg, the bottom reading)

I'm in Cambridge (CB22) if you or anyone ever wants to do a check via ISTA (I realise for you OP that's a bloody long journey from Swindon :rofl: )
Cheers for the information man I borrowed a reader from a friend, think it was just a £30 eBay one so yeah maybe it doesn’t read the codes, I think replacing the pressure sensors could be a good shout, if they’re only £50 odd then I think I’ll start with that and see where it takes me next! I did have a leak in passenger footwell so maybe the wtaer damaged airbag wiring in some way so that’s why hat light was thrown up??
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IAmOrion
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Post by IAmOrion » Sat May 05, 2018 1:54 pm

Jamo96 wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 1:37 pm Cheers for the information man I borrowed a reader from a friend, think it was just a £30 eBay one so yeah maybe it doesn’t read the codes, I think replacing the pressure sensors could be a good shout, if they’re only £50 odd then I think I’ll start with that and see where it takes me next! I did have a leak in passenger footwell so maybe the wtaer damaged airbag wiring in some way so that’s why hat light was thrown up??
No worries :) - most generic readers only ever read DTC / EML codes - so only codes that make the engine management light come on.

DSC is a separate module and doesn’t store it’s errors amongst the other EML errors. You need a BMW specific reader to probe other modules. (See my other video in the post using the C310+)

I would definitely recommend replacing the pressure sensors, as I said, it’s £54 (£26.95 each) and its only a 10min job.

Make sure you got a 27mm spanner handy (that’s all you need). If you get someone (or use a heavy brick) to hold the brakes on / pedal down you can get them swapped really quick and not need to even bleed the brakes

As for the air bag light, from what I’ve read around the forum the air bag light can be a pain and trigger just because it can lol. There’s a connection under the seats for air bag stuff - and I don’t know which direction the connections travel but I guess it could be possible your damp got into something and triggered it
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