abs light on

[pot3]

I have a 1998 535i with the ABS light on. I can not get the 20 pin port to clear the codes using 3 different scanners. They come up with communication error. Is there another obd2 port somewhere else? Or can anyone help me why I can't scan?

[AG72]

hello, if you have an obd2 port it should be in the small trey on the left of the steering wheel

[shogun]

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-5-Series-E39/88-ELEC-Reading_Fault_Codes/88-ELEC-Reading_Fault_Codes.htm

[E39 Newbie]

I have a 1998 535i with the ABS light on. I can not get the 20 pin port to clear the codes using 3 different scanners. They come up with communication error. Is there another obd2 port somewhere else? Or can anyone help me why I can't scan?

So, you have an OBD II scanner with the round 20-pin connector, but they won't connect to the ABS system. Is that correct?

I don't think a regular OBD scanner can do this. They are mostly for emissions errors. You'll need a better scan tool, like INPA, or PASoft, or similar.

[E0339]

I have a 1998 535i with the ABS light on. I can not get the 20 pin port to clear the codes using 3 different scanners. They come up with communication error. Is there another obd2 port somewhere else? Or can anyone help me why I can't scan?

Are you able to access the engine control module using one of your scan tools?

[pot3]

nope not there already checked just blank cubbie hole

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have tried 3 different scanners with the 20 to 16 adaptor one being a pro BMW mechanic. Connects scans but ends with communication error. Not able to erase codes so I do not know what is wrong. ? fuses. electronics somewhere? I can not put on the road.

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not sure as all the scans end with communication error and also unable to erase fault codes.

[sienayr]

You can't use an OBD adapter to read ABS module through the 20 pin ADS connector. You need an old laptop with a physical serial port (USB serial port adapter doesn't work with any ADS connection), an ADS cable, and an older version of INPA (don't remember the version) to clear and read ABS codes on that vintage of vehicle. I have that set up for my '99 e36 M3 and it works great, but I was lucky as I had an old Dell laptop with a serial port that made a perfect diag computer. You may be able to find some machines out on ebay for this purpose, maybe even some that are already set up with the software.

[jicaino]

Turn key to ignition 2 and leave it there for a solid minute. Then remove key from the lock. Turn again and start the engine and see if it cleared the code. If not time to go fishing for fuses and or other mishaps related to the data buses.

[Chedley]

Well, that key trick is for resetting adaptations on the engine module ECU, no effect whatsover on the ABS. But try it anyway if you want.

And no, it is not a bad fuse either.

You need a BMW specific scanner -such as INPA or PaSoft- to access the ABS and a few other bmw specific modules.
Most obd2 scanners cannot access it, no matter how expensive or sophisticated they are.

I advise INPA -a free software- on a Windows laptop. Download it and install it from first post of: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/mikes-easy-bmw-tools-package.879366/
You will need also an INPA cable "K+DCAN cable with a switch" to connect the Windows laptop to the obd port on the car.

[sienayr]

I advise INPA -a free software- on a Windows laptop. Download it and install it from first post of: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/mikes-easy-bmw-tools-package.879366/
You will need also an INPA cable "K+DCAN cable with a switch" to connect the Windows laptop to the obd port on the car.

This is incorrect, as stated above he needs an old laptop with a physical serial port, and an ADS cable. A K+DCAN cable will not work on a '98 with a 20 pin ADS connector, at least not to access the ABS module. You also can't use a USB serial port emulator with an ADS cable on a laptop with no serial port.

[Chedley]

Well, there are 20-pin-ADS to 16-pin-obd adapters, that make INPA connect to these older models cars.

[sienayr]

Those adapters won’t work. You must have a laptop with a physical serial port and an ADS cable. At least for ABS module and airbag modules, probably some others. They don’t communicate through the OBD port pins. Early OBDII ports only met the basic requirements of OBDII standards. Eventually OBD and the rest of the car’s system access were consolidated and the ADS port was deprecated and the 16 pin OBD port became the standard interface to all systems (K+DCAN)

[jicaino]

Well, that key trick is for resetting adaptations on the engine module ECU, no effect whatsover on the ABS. But try it anyway if you want.

And no, it is not a bad fuse either.

You need a BMW specific scanner -such as INPA or PaSoft- to access the ABS and a few other bmw specific modules.
Most obd2 scanners cannot access it, no matter how expensive or sophisticated they are.

I advise INPA -a free software- on a Windows laptop. Download it and install it from first post of: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/mikes-easy-bmw-tools-package.879366/
You will need also an INPA cable "K+DCAN cable with a switch" to connect the Windows laptop to the obd port on the car.

Well, no. Leaving the key in ignition 2 for over a minute erases all non active error messages, even CELs. For resetting the DME adaptations plus the EGS (if present) "learned" stuff you depress the gas pedal, insert key, turn to ign2, leave it there 30 seconds, turn to ign 0, remove the key and your foot from the gas pedal and then start as normal.
I have a bunch of "el cheapo" scanners and they all connect to the ABS module. I've only had issues with some eBay "K+D cables" and virtual machines. I've used Creader C-310, Autel, Autech, Schwaben, X-Diag, and even some ELM327 dongles and they've all connected to both my '97 and my '99, and the '97 only has the round 20 pin port under the hood (EU cars didn't have the OBD port under the dash until about early '99). Since this is a EU pre-OBD under dash car, I believe maybe you are not familiar with those and it might be the reason why you're suggesting things that in my experience aren't correct.
But anyway, sometimes a disturbed data line or a TX error sends the ABS module or the bus into crankypants mode.


This is incorrect, as stated above he needs an old laptop with a physical serial port, and an ADS cable. A K+DCAN cable will not work on a '98 with a 20 pin ADS connector, at least not to access the ABS module. You also can't use a USB serial port emulator with an ADS cable on a laptop with no serial port.
There's no ADS connector in a '98 Euro E39. It's just the same but you don't have the 16-pin connector. You only need to bridge the 2 lines on some cables (pins 7&8 on one of those typical blue VAG cables ocnverted with a transistor and a resistor) Also the 20 to 16 pin cables work most of the time if it's good. I've only encountered 2 or 3 really crappy ones in over 15 years of E39 ownership.

[jicaino]

I mean, they're not like E36 at least the ones I've seen, that pin is unpopulated in the 20 pin round connector under the hood. I've only seen from 10/96 cars on so I cannot vouch for very early production cars, but I seem to recall having read about the E39 being the first car that came with the older round connector but with the new K+D lines.

Also, a cheap or substandard scanner or cable may result in the ABS not erasing codes on very early production cars, but you can always at least communicate with the module and read errors.