Lots of dash lights after disconnecting battery for a week!

[SteCav]

Hi all,

So, a couple weeks ago I disconnected the battery to remove the steering column to send the power steering motor to ECU testing and to also replace a roof hose on the hydraulic motor (snagged when relocating to the boot).

The battery was disconnected for around 8 days in total, I read somewhere not to reconnect without the airbag / steering wheel being disconnected.

Upon putting it all back together... I have lots of warning lights.

Triangle with arrow, Orange exclamation in circle, tyre pressure light and the airbag light!

I've left it for a week, driven it 10 miles or so, tried a steering angle reset too.

I've disconnected the negative to try a reset. Also checked connectors are all back in place.

Looking around, this points to ABS sensor or valves affecting traction control...

Has something coindentally gone wrong whilst I was working on it? Or is this due to power loss for 8 days?

Side note, car now pulls to the right since putting back together, not sure if that would cause issues with traction control.

I have a cheap code reader, but it doesn't read any faults.

Any help appreciated.

Hopefully nothing, but fear it could be something big

Steve

 

[skelters]

Check on the Carly thread to see if anyone is close that can read and reset the codes.

Airbag light will probably just need reset.

Possibly the ABS pump for the rest?

Need to get the codes read first though.

 

[SteCav]

Check on the Carly thread to see if anyone is close that can read and reset the codes.

Airbag light will probably just need reset.

Possibly the ABS pump for the rest?

Need to get the codes read first though.

Thanks for the reply, appreciated.

Will the standard Carly Scanner do the trick?

Steve

 

[skelters]

Probably.

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

I read somewhere not to reconnect without the airbag / steering wheel being disconnected.

Is this what you meant to say, or a typo? Don't reconnect the battery with the airbag unplugged; plug it in first.

 

[SteCav]

Is this what you meant to say, or a typo? Don't reconnect the battery with the airbag unplugged; plug it in first.
2008 3.0si E85

Sorry, a typo! Thanks for spotting.

I left the battery disconnected whilst the steering column was out and the airbag disconnected.

Once all back in place (8 days), I connected the battery then.

Steve

 

[enuff_zed]

Hi. I just had mine disconnected for about the same amount of time while I too sorted the EPS motor.
Back together and not a single light.
So most likely to be something you've done?
Did you take the whole steering column out? If so, you're working very close to the ABS unit connectors in the engine bay, so worth checking those haven't been knocked.
And as already advised, check the codes and try a reset.
However, that doesn't explain the airbag light? Double check you definitely got all the steering wheel connectors back on correctly, plus the one under the seat.
NB. Don't forget you'll need to disconnect the battery again before you tinker with those connectors.

 

[SteCav]

Hi. I just had mine disconnected for about the same amount of time while I too sorted the EPS motor.
Back together and not a single light.
So most likely to be something you've done?
Did you take the whole steering column out? If so, you're working very close to the ABS unit connectors in the engine bay, so worth checking those haven't been knocked.
And as already advised, check the codes and try a reset.
However, that doesn't explain the airbag light? Double check you definitely got all the steering wheel connectors back on correctly, plus the one under the seat.
NB. Don't forget you'll need to disconnect the battery again before you tinker with those connectors.

Hi!

Thanks for the reply.

I did indeed have the whole column out, I didn't remove the seat though, so connectors under there are not disturbed.

Based on you having no issues without power, it sounds like I may well have disturbed something...

I'll take the plastics off and see if I can spot any loose connectors, or that I've not disturbed any.

Now you mention it, reattaching the steering column... I did have my extention bars for bolt between the connectors ABS unit...so it is possible I've disturbed one.

Thanks for your input.

Steve

 

[enuff_zed]

Hi. I just had mine disconnected for about the same amount of time while I too sorted the EPS motor.
Back together and not a single light.
So most likely to be something you've done?
Did you take the whole steering column out? If so, you're working very close to the ABS unit connectors in the engine bay, so worth checking those haven't been knocked.
And as already advised, check the codes and try a reset.
However, that doesn't explain the airbag light? Double check you definitely got all the steering wheel connectors back on correctly, plus the one under the seat.
NB. Don't forget you'll need to disconnect the battery again before you tinker with those connectors.

Hi!

Thanks for the reply.

I did indeed have the whole column out, I didn't remove the seat though, so connectors under there are not disturbed.

Based on you having no issues without power, it sounds like I may well have disturbed something...

I'll take the plastics off and see if I can spot any loose connectors, or that I've not disturbed any.

Now you mention it, reattaching the steering column... I did have my extention bars for bolt between the connectors ABS unit...so it is possible I've disturbed one.

Thanks for your input.

Steve

Probably doesn't help to mention that I got the motor out without touching the column................ but I'm in smug mode. :wink:
I hope your issue is as simple as a dislodged connector.
But the airbag light? Hmmm. Not so simple. Definitely get the steering wheel back off and check those connectors too.

 

[SteCav]

Probably doesn't help to mention that I got the motor out without touching the column................ but I'm in smug mode. :wink:
I hope your issue is as simple as a dislodged connector.
But the airbag light? Hmmm. Not so simple. Definitely get the steering wheel back off and check those connectors too.

Good effort, I didn't realise that was possible!

You must be a contortionist.

I've just ordered a C410 scanner that will hopefully give me more insight than the basic one I have. Will report back.

I've already checked the connectors for the airbag as I had to reposition the steering wheel.

I miss the lack of electronics on my MX5 :lol:

Steve

 

[enuff_zed]

You must be a contortionist.

Nah, but when you're the thin guy with small hands on a Tornado Squadron you tend to get practiced at fiddly jobs.
(And before anyone chips in, the 'thin guy' bit was pre-millennial :roll: )

 

[SteCav]

Nah, but when you're the thin guy with small hands on a Tornado Squadron you tend to get practiced at fiddly jobs.
(And before anyone chips in, the 'thin guy' bit was pre-millennial :roll: )

Ha, I bet. Quite the achievement.

The last job I did in the car was relocate the roof motor... snagging a hydraulic cable on the way. My neighbours find me being fully in the boot of the Z4 quite hilarious.

I hope something breaks with easier access next time.

 

[SteCav]

Update.

My Connect C410 scanner came yesterday.

Code the airbag:
1. 93E7 Undervaultage
2. 98D4 Resistance,firing circuit,front airbag,right(E85),or passenger airbag(E6x),stage 2,too low

Cleared these codes and it hasn't come back since.

The others lights (Triangle, orange exclamation, tyre sensor) I got the following:

5E40 Steering Angle Implausible

I cleared this code, all lights gone for a few mins... but it came back on a short drive when steering.

Live data shows an angle for the steering wheel, but upon turning the numbers change... then jump and stay at -325 degrees.

I did unscrew the sensor and give it a spray of contact cleaner before refitting the column. Although not previously caused an issue, it did show up on a scan from a snap in tool when investigating another issue. Wish I hadn't have touched it now!

So, the DIY calibration didn't do anything (left to right lock x 5). I've found a BMW indy garage near work, hopefully they can recalibrate the angle sensor and that's that.

Will update further next week/when I can get it booked in.

Steve

 

[skelters]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130939

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xon9SFHV-DA

Is the battery fully charged?

 

[SteCav]

viewtopic.php?t=130939

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xon9SFHV-DA

Is the battery fully charged?

The topic you've linked is a good reference, perfectly matches what I'm seeing, so thanks for that link.

I don't have access to INPA, but those instructions I'm sure will be worth passing to the garage.

P.s. the YouTube link states the video is not available.

Thanks again for the link to the topic above.

Steve

 

[SteCav]

Is the battery fully charged?

Missed this question.

Battery is ok, 4 weeks old and car driven to work once or twice a week between having it apart! Replaced the battery to see if it fixed another electrical issue after seeing the previous owner had put in a low capacity (wrong) battery.

Steve

 

[skelters]

Should have been this one...

[youtube]bBccBQUC7fc[/youtube]

 

[SteCav]

Should have been this one

Thank you, much appreciated.

I'll report back.

 

[SteCav]

Update

Thanks guys for pointing me in the right direction.

As per the previous update the code for the airbag:
1. 93E7 Undervaultage
2. 98D4 Resistance,firing circuit,front airbag,right(E85),or passenger airbag(E6x),stage 2,too low

Cleared these codes and it hasn't come back since.

5E40 Steering Angle Implausible.

Using INPA I could see that the steering angle was set to +162/600 when the steering wheel was straight. I could see that turning the steering wheel lock to lock caused the sensor to read the angle as +750/600... resulting in the implausible steering angle.

I somehow managed to reset the Steering Angle Sensor using a combination of INPA and Tool32... the lights have gone, the live data shows the angle at 0.

The car no longer pulls to the right after realigning the steering wheel too.

It's been a pain, but I now have an error free dash and it's MOT ready.

Thanks all,
Steve

 

[enuff_zed]

Good news. The forum strikes again