Brake/Traction Control/Low Tire P lights

M

MX7

Member
Here we go again!

This will be a lengthy post. Thanks to all for reading it through.

2005 BMW Z4 3.0i automatic. Purchased off lease in 2008. Car has 36K miles because it’s rarely driven. It also has a history of error codes.

I own a Creator 310+ scanner (I believe I have the model correct).

During our ownership the car would kill batteries approx annually. I was always unsure whether the error codes were related to low battery or were real. A year or two ago I found the light inside the center console stayed on when closed. Thrilled to have finally identified the battery killer(s) I pulled the bulbs.

I also had a trifecta of dash lights and addressed that by replacing the yaw sensor. When I pulled the pass seat the carpet was very wet. Yaw sensor was sourced from the UK (I believe it was used) and cleared the codes. This was about 18 mo ago.

Car has been used sparingly but has been error free. Maybe 3-500 miles in 18 mo.

The car hadn’t been started in two (maybe 3?) months, so fired it up yesterday. It started without hesitation, but, threw a bunch of dash lights (all yellow): BRAKE, DTC light (triangle in circle) and Low Tire Pressure.

I cleared the codes and restarted the car. The lights returned. Read the codes which I’ve listed below. I’m also getting the yellow oil can light when I turn the car off. Checked the oil and it’s full. The brake pedal seems low, but the fluid in the reservoir looks full. I also have not (yet) checked the tire pressure, nor have I checked the carpet to see if it’s wet. Those are first on the list for tomorrow. Appreciate any ideas/suggestions based on the codes I’m seeing.

299A DME:CAN fault management EGS
29B5 DME: secondary air system
5E38 Rotation Rate Sensor
30 K-Bus or control unit for instrument cluster basis (gateway)
OE power window open circuit jam protection… pass side
OD same as OE - driver side (Note: both windows seem to be working fine)
38 wiper pump or washer fluid empty (Note: seems to be working fine).
 
Took the car for a long drive today to give the battery a good charge. Car is running exceptionally well. Carpet under the pass seat is a little damp - but I don’t think this is causing any issues (it’s certainly not “wet” - and I wrapped the yaw sensor in plastic when installing). If I clear the codes they reappear a few seconds after restart.

Anyone have any ideas on what’s throwing the dash lights?
 
If it includes the tyre pressure light it is not the yaw sensor.
Probably one of the wheel sensors.
Not rear left if the Speedo is working.

When the ignition is switched off the system resets. it takes about 2-300 yards of wheel rotation before the system realises a wheel sensor is misbehaving.
 
Nay, I disagree. Those three lights are (most commonly) either the yaw sensor or the steering angle sensor, and you have code 5E38 which is the yaw sensor.
The wheel speed sensors trip the ABS light as well, for four lights in total.
 
Zedebee said:
Nay, I disagree. Those three lights are (most commonly) either the yaw sensor or the steering angle sensor, and you have code 5E38 which is the yaw sensor.
The wheel speed sensors trip the ABS light as well, for four lights in total.
Click to expand...
The yaw sensor has absolutely no input from the tyre pressure. So pump those up, reset and see what you’re left with
 
I will double check the tire pressure and attempt to reset. Note that the lights come on almost immediately after reset BEFORE taking the car out of park. I do not have an ABS light.
 
enuff_zed said:
Zedebee said:
Nay, I disagree. Those three lights are (most commonly) either the yaw sensor or the steering angle sensor, and you have code 5E38 which is the yaw sensor.
The wheel speed sensors trip the ABS light as well, for four lights in total.
Click to expand...
The yaw sensor has absolutely no input from the tyre pressure. So pump those up, reset and see what you’re left with
Click to expand...

The yaw sensor has absolutely no input from the tyre pressure, nor does the steering angle sensor, but it is the classic trifecta nonetheless. I will donate a tenner to the forum if OP can get just the TPMS light to go off by pumping up the tyres and resetting.
 
Keep your money.

Slightly adjusted the pressure (left front was a little high). Could not reset the dash light.

Went in with the (Creator 310+) code reader. This is what I see:

5E5E Initialize run flat indicator
5E38 Rotation rate sensor
- note that the two above are under the “ABS” menu section of the reader. I do not have n ABS lightning. Interestingly there’s a “Steering Angle Sensor” section of the reader that has no faults.

I also have:
93E7 Undervoltage (airbag section I believe)
30 KBus, OD, OE and 38 wiper motor remain.

The “under voltage” makes me think maybe I should pull the battery and give it a good charge before doing anything? It is a year old and since I’ve pulled the bulbs in the center console it stopped the battery drain.

The 5E38 code is pretty persistent. Is this the yaw sensor I replaced 18 months ago, the steering angle sensor on the steering column, or ?

Comments appreciated.
 
Rotation sensor is the yaw sensor. This ‘usually’ presents abs, traction control and amber handbrake light. In your case this may include the tyre pressure light it seems.
93e7 is ‘usually’ the centre airbag module (SIM85) and it relates not to the battery voltage per se, but is often seen as advanced warning that the ‘step up transformer’ within the module is about to fail, giving a 97e8 code. I am no expert in electronics but have seen three do this in the last couple of months. I think your code means that something within the SIM85 is not getting the ‘stepped up’ voltage it needs. This appears to be brought on by multiple jump starts of he car.
I have also noted several times that a fault in the SIM85 can cause spurious errors within other modules linked on the Kbus.
 
Zedebee said:
enuff_zed said:
Zedebee said:
Nay, I disagree. Those three lights are (most commonly) either the yaw sensor or the steering angle sensor, and you have code 5E38 which is the yaw sensor.
The wheel speed sensors trip the ABS light as well, for four lights in total.
Click to expand...
The yaw sensor has absolutely no input from the tyre pressure. So pump those up, reset and see what you’re left with
Click to expand...

The yaw sensor has absolutely no input from the tyre pressure, nor does the steering angle sensor, but it is the classic trifecta nonetheless. I will donate a tenner to the forum if OP can get just the TPMS light to go off by pumping up the tyres and resetting.
Click to expand...
The dsc system takes inputs from abs sensors, yaw sensor, steering angle sensor and the DME. It dies Nr seem to care what the tyre pressures are though.
 
It sounds like I should replace the yaw sensor (again). Easy job - but have to source one. They are relatively cheap on eBay ($100) vs new ($1000) but certainly a pita to have to keep replacing them.

Water is getting in where the passenger side window meets the conv roof. Assuming I need to replace the seal, is it a press fit or is it glued? If glued, what do I use? Do I simply grab hold of it and pull it off? I’m hoping it comes off in one piece vs lots of little pieces!
 
MX7 said:
It sounds like I should replace the yaw sensor (again). Easy job - but have to source one. They are relatively cheap on eBay ($100) vs new ($1000) but certainly a pita to have to keep replacing them.

Water is getting in where the passenger side window meets the conv roof. Assuming I need to replace the seal, is it a press fit or is it glued? If glued, what do I use? Do I simply grab hold of it and pull it off? I’m hoping it comes off in one piece vs lots of little pieces!
Click to expand...
Try adjusting the window glass first. Rear bottom edge of the door is a grommet. Under that is a 10mm bolt. Loosen it and push it as far outboard as you can before tightening again. This tips the top of the glass inwards
 
Thanks! Will definitely try that.

I see used yaw sensors about 30-40% less if you search for one for a mini cooper. The p/n appears to be the same. Any reason NOT to buy one that came out of a mini?
 
Saturday afternoon update:

The carpet was damp on the top, but when I pulled it back - the insulation was SOAKED. I was literally ringing it out. While I’m drying it out (shop vac blowing air while carpet is propped up) I replaced the sensor.

The casing of the old one was dry. Decided to pop it open. No signs of anything charred and no signs of moisture at all inside. Looks bone dry (see photos).

I probably won’t test it until tomorrow or Monday, but I’m hoping this was the issue. Yes, the insulation was soaked. And the yaw sensor I installed 18 months ago I sourced used. Two possible reasons for it to fail.


Oh - and thanks so much to enuff_zed for the window adjustment. When I loosened the bolt I found the window adjusted all the way away from the roof. I adjusted it so that it’s as tight to the car as it will go. Hopefully this will minimize the water getting in the car.
 
It’s getting late so I put the seat back in the car and connected the battery. Upon startup I did not get any of the dash lights! Rain tomorrow so I’ll pull the seat on Monday and continue the drying process while I continue working on the conv roof issue.
 
It seems I'm having the same problem you had. I have the TPMS, ABS (which turns on and off), the triangle with the arrow, and the brake light. I also have the code for the steering wheel angle sensor. Did replacing the yaw sensor solve your problem?
 
It did - but my car seems to throw codes whenever the battery is low. If your YAW sensor is toast see if the carpet under the passenger seat (right side in the US) is wet. Someone on here helped me adjust the window angle so that it would seal tighter eliminating that problem. Otherwise you’ll need to keep replacing the se sensor (which BTW is easy. Hardest part is drying out the carpet).
 
I'd start by checking the health of your battery. As MX7 says these cars throw random faults whenever the battery is dying.

When my battery wouldn't start the car I got it going with a jumper pack only to get the 3 lights for ABS, tyre pressure and Traction Control. They stayed on after I fitted a new battery so I took it to Ross at RBM and he reset the steering angle sensor and cleared the codes which got rid of the lights. :D
 
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