ABS and Brake lights, and power steering?

FunkyGBrown

Member
 Kent
Hi all,

Have a bit of a strange one.. and typically it's 2 weeks before MOT is due.

I pulled off the drive yesterday and after about 30 seconds of driving the amber ABS light flashed up along with the red exclamation mark in brackets.

No difference in braking, however the steering got noticeably heavier once the lights appeared. Everything was fine when pulling away.

I pulled in and turned the engine off, then back on and pulled away. No dashboard lights, Steering seemed fine, but after about a minute the same lights appeared with the same effect on the steering.

My first suspicion was the EPS, however plugged the code reader in I'm able to communicate with the EPS with and without the warning lights present. The only error code I have on the EPS is '611E Vehicle Speed'. This code cannot be cleared, but is present both before and after the warning lights and the introduced stiffness in steering.

On the ABS I have 2 codes:
'5D92 Wheel speed sensor, pulse gear, front left'
'5DA2 Wheel speed sensor, Pulse gear, front right'

I took both sensors out and gave them a spritz with contact cleaner. Sadly no joy, and I get the same lights and effect on steering.

It's strange to me that both sensors have failed at the same time? Could it be an issue further up the chain? Also the effect on the steering is very odd, and in researching the issue I'm unable to find anything similar.

Does anyone have any thoughts on potential fixes? My only idea so far is to order a pair of new wheel speed sensors, and cross my fingers!

Thank you,
 
I’ve had sensors fail within days of each other so it’s possible that two have gone in sequence
 
I'd think you would need to swap those sensors out to eradicate them before you can go any further, or you'll never quite be able to trust the results.
All the codes and symptoms you have would quite naturally be linked to them.
 
Thanks both - I'll try a replacement and see where that gets me.

I see they both have different part numbers (34526792896, 34526792897) But Autodoc gives me the same sensor for both. Are they interchangeable do you know?
 
Got the sensors and attempted the job today. The bolt securing the sensor was seized even after a soak in penetrating fluid. I was hopeful when it started turning but quickly realised it was turning because it was being stripped!

I've aborted for now as the heavens have opened up. Any ideas on how I can get this bolt out? The 5mm allen bit has no grip on it now. This is just the first side, so I anticipate the second side will be the same.
 

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Hi. Presumably it’s not done up THAT tight if you had the sensors out last week. You could try cutting a slot in the top of the hex and twisting it out with a broad screwdriver. But make sure your new sensors come with new hexes.
 
Hi. Presumably it’s not done up THAT tight if you had the sensors out last week. You could try cutting a slot in the top of the hex and twisting it out with a broad screwdriver. But make sure your new sensors come with new hexes.
I had them out and cleaned them at the blue socket end, this end remained in as I didn't have a 5mm allen socket to hand.

They also didn't come with new hex bolts. But it looks like I can pick these up separately.

I'll give the monkey grips a try first as I have a pair of these... Somewhere :LOL:
 
I had them out and cleaned them at the blue socket end, this end remained in as I didn't have a 5mm allen socket to hand.

They also didn't come with new hex bolts. But it looks like I can pick these up separately.

I'll give the monkey grips a try first as I have a pair of these... Somewhere :LOL:
It’s the sensor end that will go bad, not the connection. Make sure you give the holes a good clean too, before you put the new sensors in.
 
You won’t enjoy reading this, but it’s a T30 torx (at least it is on mine) not a 5mm Allen, which is probably why you stripped the head. Very easy mistake to make.
 
You won’t enjoy reading this, but it’s a T30 torx (at least it is on mine) not a 5mm Allen, which is probably why you stripped the head. Very easy mistake to make.
The reference video I watched was a 5mm allen, so either the bolts are different per car or it's a lesson in checking before proceeding. :LOL:
 
I’ve had 5mm Allen key ones in fact.
Looking at the photo you need a new bolt anyway, so hacksaw the head off, remove the sensor then mole grips on the bolt. If the bolt is corroded to the brass liner then you may need to cut that off the bolt too
 
Managed to use a bolt removal socket to get it out, then pull the old gunked up sensor out.

NEw one plugged in just waiting for the bolts to arrive and weather to clear up so I can get onto the other side :driving: Although now the drivers door has decided to not open from the outside. :ROFLMAO:
 
Left side done. Took for a test drive and no warning light has come up. Plugged the code reader in and no more error codes. It seems replacing the left side has fixed both codes? Very odd but no complaints from me.

Still having issues with the door. If I push the door in it opens, but the outside handle doesn't do anything. MOT is due - is this a fix before or just give the heads up to the tester?
 
Sounds like a stretched or broken Bowden cable. I’ve never done it but there should be a how-to on here. Always best to fix things before MoT in my experience.
 
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