ASC indicator

[rjlance]

I have a 1994 325i. The ASC indicator came on randomly while driving. I have never seen it before unless my tires were spinning. It stayed on and hitting the button didn't make it go out. Shut off the car, restarted and it was gone. However came back on in about 10 minutes while driving normally on dry pavement. The manual say the car can be drivin but there is a "fault" in the system.

Anybody familiar with this problem. Am due for a fluid change so I will be having my mechanic check it out.

Thanks

[billnicholas39]

I have a 94 325i, same problem. Goes on randomly - either when it would normally kick in or sometimes with completely stable driving. Button will not turn it on or off regardless of whether it actually is on. I don't really bother or notice a difference, I drive with traction off anyways, but I'm familiar with it and would be curious to see what the end result of your findings are.

[UnderCoverGuy11]

I read somewhere this is supposed to be a problem with the wheel speed sensor, I never had the problem but maybe this will give you a start.

[flyfishvt]

The ASC light can be set off for a variety of reasons. I would check/clean the connection on the ASC actuator plug and get some carb cleaner on the ASC throttle body. It could also be a faulty TPS on the ASC throttle body since it has its own TPS. Check your tires too. Uneven wear can cause it to go on. If you have one or more tires that are worn a lot more than the others then that may be the issue.

If its only the ASC light and not both the ASC and ABS lights then it probably isnt the wheel speed sensor. Generally if one of those sensors is bad it will set off both lights and they will stay on. The same applies to wheel bearings. A bad wheel bearing can set off the ABS and ASC lights.

I would try and find a shop that can scan your ABS system and see if it recorded a code. Anything that sets off the ASC light will be part of the ABS system.

[rjlance]

Flyfishvt,

Thanks for your reply. I don't think it is the tires and I am not seeing an ABS indicator. So it's probably the reasons you listed related to the connections or throttle body. I have an excellent BMW mechnaic who does all of my work. I am due for a fluid change/check up. I will have him check it out.

BTW - We have a car in common. I also own a 97 Vert.

Will report back when corrected.

[flyfishvt]

Flyfishvt,

Thanks for your reply. I don't think it is the tires and I am not seeing an ABS indicator. So it's probably the reasons you listed related to the connections or throttle body. I have an excellent BMW mechnaic who does all of my work. I am due for a fluid change/check up. I will have him check it out.

BTW - We have a car in common. I also own a 97 Vert.

Will report back when corrected.

Well....we need pics...

BTW - I grew up in Westboro. Not exactly next door to Lynfield but a lot closer than VT is.

I did some testing last summer when someone reported a simlilar issue. I found there are very few things that can cause JUST the ASC light to go on. Because the ASC and ABS are so intertwined almost everything that goes wrong will set off both lights. I'm betting on a dirty connector to the actuator.

[rjlance]

I will try to dig out a pic I have of both cars. They are both Boston Green. I call them the twins. People see me driving the sedan and say "I could have sworn that you drove a convertible"..........

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/picture.php?pictureid=11622&albumid=2190&dl=1324945606&thumb=1

Here they are. Not sure how to make this pic bigger.

[rjlance]

Here is the latest. BOTH the ASC+T actuator and the module are NG. The cost for new parts is $958 for the module and something like $500 for the actuator and cable. Picked up used parts on E-Bay. $75 for the actuator and cable and $58 for the module. Should be installed this week.

Will advise........Hopefully that is it.

[rjlance]

Can't install the new/used module. Got an error that indicates that this unit came from a car with an Auto tranny. I have a stick. More reasearch with the dealer and another expert leads me to believe that ANY new or used control module would have to be re-programed by a dealer to match the car it goes into. That is what the dealer and 1 expert told me.

Any opinions ?

Don't want to enter dealership hell with my '94. Would just as soon live with the "problem".

[flyfishvt]

I don't think it matters if the ABS module came from a stick or auto. Ive swapped them before and never had an issue. Do you have the correct module? It should be a brown label module. I have one that came from a 94 or 95. It should work if you need it. $55 shipped.

I can get you the part numbers off it if you need it.

[Nomade30]

Delete it and get a limited slip.

[rjlance]

Flyfishvt - I may be interested. Sent you an e-mail. Please get back to me.

Thanks

[rjlance]

Finally fixed. The module does not need to be re-programmed. Thanks to help from Flyfishvt a module from a '94 325i stick shift was located and installed. No faults and no indicator light (so far). The key, it seems, to installing a used module is to get as close to the type of BMW your drive. We installed one that came out of a 325i auto tranny and we got a transmission fault. I also passed on a couple of modules that came out of M3's.
Re: part numbers. The part # in my car ended in 662 with a brown label. That is also the part number of the replacement module. If you check "realoem" it will list a part # ending in 023 and has a gold label. 023 is the superceding part#. I believe either will work. The key is having the right model/tranny.