Help - Trifecta warning lights!

[javis20]

Need some help. My son 2003 Z4 E85 has the three lights of death. Tire Pressure light, Auto Stability light (triangle) and DSC Brake warning.

I already checked brake fluid, it's topped up. Standard OBD2 reader finds no codes and I tested the anti lock brakes and they work fine. I also removed and re-seated the connector at the antilock brake unit. Battery was tested and it's 12.45vdc volts with car off and 14.5 with the car running. Tire pressures are perfect, but I cannot initialize them, so the tire pressure light refuses to extinguish.

I downloaded the INPA software, but have not been able to get it to connect. So I need to do this the hard way. Any suggestion as too what the problem might be...

John

 

[johnpaul7287]

Hi John,

I'm not incredibly knowledgeable on the issue, however, I was recently faced with the same issue. I believe the system had malfunctioned as I had recently driven through extremely snowy conditions for several hours, getting stuck a few times; the next time I turned the car on, all three lights were on. If this happens to be similar to your circumstances, I left the car alone for a few days to ensure enough time for any snow that may have been caught inside of sensors to melt, and drove in standard conditions for about 30 seconds and the lights were gone. Just note that I had also scanned with an OBD2 and found no codes when I had the problem.

If this is not the case for you, I did some outside research and found that frequent issues had to do with the following: wheel speed sensors, TPMS sensors, and the yaw sensor located under the seat. If it happens to be none of these, you're looking at a more serious problem such as the ABS pump.

I have located a flowchart on resolving the issue if I haven't helped you at all and would be happy to send you the link but I'm not sure if it's allowed since I just joined the forum to reply to you, and, the flowchart is on a different website. Best of luck to you.

 

[obewan]

I just joined the forum to reply to you

What a great gesture
Now that you're here ............................

Sorry I can't help OP, my guess would have been the battery

 

[Marlon]

These three?

 

[Lance]

When I had these lights appear (I'm 99% sure it was that combination) mine was a brake pressure switch.

I got a replacement from a breakers and fitted it in 5 minutes. Lights went out and never appeared again, must be 6 months ago.

 

[javis20]

These three?
warning lights.jpg

This is my exact problem...

 

[javis20]

Is there a w way to test the brake pressure switch without INPA?

 

[Marlon]

These three?
warning lights.jpg

This is my exact problem...

Not much help to you, but these popped up on my 3.0si after a spirited drive during a Scotland holiday. All I can say is that they disappeared after five minutes and haven't come back since, so dirt on a wheel sensor perhaps - who knows?

 

[patriot66]

These three?
warning lights.jpg

This is my exact problem...

Not much help to you, but these popped up on my 3.0si after a spirited drive during a Scotland holiday. All I can say is that they disappeared after five minutes and haven't come back since, so dirt on a wheel sensor perhaps - who knows?

I removed my wheel speed sensors and they were absolutely caked in mud and grit ! You need to use a stiff brush/air line on the back of them first so that you can then soak the Allen bolt in GT85 etc before carefully undoing it and withdrawing the sensor from its orifice. I used an old tooth brush and warm soapy water to clean them up before replacing them. They've been absolutely fine since although that was a couple of years ago so I might check them again soon.

 

[Marlon]

This is my exact problem...

Not much help to you, but these popped up on my 3.0si after a spirited drive during a Scotland holiday. All I can say is that they disappeared after five minutes and haven't come back since, so dirt on a wheel sensor perhaps - who knows?

I removed my wheel speed sensors and they were absolutely caked in mud and grit ! You need to use a stiff brush/air line on the back of them first so that you can then soak the Allen bolt in GT85 etc before carefully undoing it and withdrawing the sensor from its orifice. I used an old tooth brush and warm soapy water to clean them up before replacing them. They've been absolutely fine since although that was a couple of years ago so I might check them again soon.

Great advice Simon, cheers fella

 

[javis20]

If it was the wheel speed sensors the antilock brakes wouldn't work.

I just got my INPA working, so i will try to scan ans see what i find. Unfortunately software is in german.

 

[road warrior]

I think it will be the wheel speed sensor, usually dirt but if it's not used often it could also be rust or a combination of things. For me it went away by simply being used.

 

[javis20]

Is the speed sensor the same as the antilock wheel sensor. Or, is this 2 different items?

 

[patriot66]

Is the speed sensor the same as the antilock wheel sensor. Or, is this 2 different items?

Yes, same thing. Listed on RealOEM as 'Pulse Generator, ABS'

 

[javis20]

Got INPA working and found the following codes;

9 Keine ASC2-Botschaft Error Frequency 0 Sporadischer Fehler Errorcode 09 00 91

4 Grad-Differenz der Schleifer zu Gross (Abgleichbetrieb) Error frequency 31 Errorcode 04 3f 19

Two other errors were present, windshield washer pump and the other was hall effect sensor for the seat position.

I cleared the codes and the trifecta lights disappeared. I was now able to train the tpms system. Not sure what caused the problem and maybe it will come back.

Sorry the codes are not in english, but I have the INPA Fxx V2 software and to my knowledge there is no english version.