ABS problem

[eurrofreak]

My abs and brake pad lights have been on for a while, when it was finally scanned at the stealership the tech told me it must be the plug on the computer since it came up with all kinds of codes at the same time. The scan was done through a friend so I have no specifics. I looked at the harness at the abs computer today and it doesn't seem like there is a problem. All the prongs look clean and it plugs in there real nice. It was also screwed in with a screw like it's suppose to be. My thought is the computer itself is bad, but how do I check that without putting in a proven good unit? The car is a '95 M3, so no traction control.

[eurrofreak]

I am sure there are people out there who have dealt with similar problems, come on.

[GacAttack]

Nope, this is the first time an ABS question has ever come up. Ever.

The answer: there is no other way. The dealership won't even test the ABS module (wanna guess how I know?).

A company called bba-reman sells reman'ed units for $250-ish. I think there's a search feature burried in the title bar that will help find some posts about it.

[joe91985]

get the codes for it some how and then report back... not to knock on you but people post on here all the time with issues that codes can be retrieved for and without them it's any body's guess on what the issue is. I have a hard time believing the control unit is bad. Please get the codes read and post them on here. Also if you go to a shop to have them read, tell them you want them to clear and re-test to see what codes are eliminated or not. Alot of times multiple codes will show because as one sensor gets a bad reading it throws off alot of others making diagnosing off codes difficult unless your playing with it yourself. I have access to alot of info and can look at testing procedures for the codes you get to help you determine what is going on. BMW has what is called a flow chart that will take you through a diagnosis procedure and will eliminate possible issues to give you an accurate answer. I'm done rambling.... get the codes, and come back

[eurrofreak]

I don't know if I will be able to get the car over there to test for free again, I will try. It was there for an engine code and the tech read those as well, but I didn't ask to have those codes. Like I said before though, the tech told us there were so many codes that it was an automatic sign to him that the connection is bad at the module.

[advane36m3]

Without the codes......how can we help? Is the ABS and brake pads light are still on?? Did they turn them off after the scan???

[eurrofreak]

They are still on, they didn't erase the codes, no point in erasing codes that will come back on right away.

[GacAttack]

Uh yea, the point is to see WHICH codes come back on again.

Ok, if you ask for help and then discard the help, just stop asking because people will have learned to stop giving-- to you at least.

[e30'd much?]

Go to Autozone, free code scan, then have them reset it and see what comes back...and don't be a pompous ass when people are trying to help you

[TheTunerSource]

This requires to check the CEL to make sure it is not sensor related.

[eurrofreak]

I am not being an ass at all. I wasn't trying to ba one while writing that as well, sorry if that's how I came across. My point is that my car has a problem that was obvious to the BMW tech that it was a bad connection. The connection was checked by me after that and seemed to be fine, so the next logical thing would be the module itself. Another BMW tech I have recently spoke to told me the only option at this point is to try a good module. My car is OBD1 so it can't be scanned by autozone.

[GacAttack]

Apology accepted.

[Speedsta]

get a meter and test whether you have power and ground at the module, and check your fuses, if youve got a bad fuse replace it and see if it blows again, if no power/ground at the module go back and check the fuse again


the only thing that has me is that your friend is telling you that the connection is bad causing the faults, typically if a connection is bad to a module or the module has died/gone stupid the GT1 wont even see it when you do a short test...

[ScotcH]

Since you have a 95, the system is pretty simple. The brake pad light is easy ... your pad sensor is dead (ie, broken wire), or your pads are worn (duh). This has absolutely nothing to do with the ABS ... it's just a ground that shorts and turns on the light when the pads get low. Replace the sensor and/or pads.

For the ABS: As suggested, check fuses and relays first. The next thing to do is get a front and rear wheel speed sensor and start swapping. You don't have to install them, just unplug the old one in the wheel well, and plug in the new one, then turn the ignition to on. If the ABS light goes out, you've found your problem. Repeat for all 4 sensors.

If that does not solve the issue, start chasing other problems, like wiring connections, and bad computer, or pump problems. The ABS computer does a self check each time you turn on the car, so the light will go out as soon as you solve the problem ... there is nothing to reset so it's easy to know when you've found it!

Also, the ABS was the same from 92-95, so any old e36 325 parts will work with your car.