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Thread: Lateral acceleration sensor failure

  1. #1
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    Lateral acceleration sensor failure

    so today i'm driving on the highway at about 70mph and all of a sudden my back wheels lock, i skid a few feet and my ABS and traction control light turn on. I immediately take the car to my mechanic and asked him to check it out... he just called me and said i need a new lateral acceleration sensor.
    Has anybody ever replaced one of these before?...he said it would run we between 300-400 total. anybody know where this sensor is located?
    2009 Z4 35i DKG
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  2. #2
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    Not sure, but I think it is under the driver's seat.

  3. #3
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    Cool Sorry to hear that.

    Ask him for the BMW part number so you can check it out.
    Why would you let someone else when you can DIY!!!!!!!

  4. #4
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    Not sure on BMWs but on many passenger cars the lateral accelerometer is in a cluster with the yaw sensor under the console. Manufacturers try to place them near the center of mass os the vehicle.

    1997,,1.9L,,18" TSWs,,Alpine/Infinity/Polk sound,,Fogged airbox,,Magnaflow 14815,,Slotsanvents rotors,,Dark sunglasses,,Big smile

  5. #5
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    Since I don't know I did spend some time searching. Closest I could find is the location of the "transverse" acceleration sensor which was confirmed to be under the driver seat carpet:

    http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=280947

    Lateral sensor may indeed be packed in there with it although realoem simply shows one "accerating sensor" piece
    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...04&hg=34&fg=20

    So, yeah, if he can give a part number that may help.

  6. #6
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    There are 2. One under each seat under the carpet. Pretty easy to access but the part is fairly expensive. I have both a left and right sensor available out of P99 but they are for the single stage systems on early 99s. Your car has the later 2 stage air bag system. The sensors are different for the two systems.

    It seems pretty odd that your back wheels lock up from a sensor failure. I guess anything is possible but none the less very odd.
    Dan "PbFut" Rose

  7. #7
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    thanks for the responses... i never heard of this sensor before and don't like to be clueless when talking to my mechanic
    2009 Z4 35i DKG
    VRSF DPS
    VRSF 7" FMIC
    MHD Flasher

    2000m roadster R.I.P.
    2001 z3 3.0 R.I.P.
    2002 slk32 AMG sold

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by PbFut View Post
    There are 2. One under each seat under the carpet. Pretty easy to access but the part is fairly expensive. I have both a left and right sensor available out of P99 but they are for the single stage systems on early 99s. Your car has the later 2 stage air bag system. The sensors are different for the two systems.

    It seems pretty odd that your back wheels lock up from a sensor failure. I guess anything is possible but none the less very odd.
    I had my ABS and orange brake light come on recently. After getting my codes checked I was told my lateral acceleration sensor had gone bad.
    After taking out both seats, i only saw the sensor under the driver seat (which i believe is the black one bottom left in the attached photo).

    I replaced the mentioned sensor, but no change. Where is the other sensor you mentioned?
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #9
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    The green piece behind the rail is the airbag sensor. There are two, and likely what Dan was talking about above, since his 99 doesn't have DSC. The DSC sensors are the two in the triangular area. I believe the bigger box is the rotation sensor, and the smaller disc thing on the side is that lateral sensor.

    It is very likely the codes will have to be manually cleared after replacing the sensor. Codes for safety devices are usually latching so that an intermittent device doesn't catch you out by failing at the wrong time.
    Last edited by rf900rkw; 09-18-2012 at 09:58 PM.


    /.randy

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    The green piece behind the rail is the airbag sensor. There are two, and likely what Dan was talking about above, since his 99 doesn't have DSC. The DSC sensors are the two in the triangular area. I believe the bigger box is the rotation sensor, and the smaller disc thing on the side is that lateral sensor.

    It is very likely the codes will have to be manually cleared after replacing the sensor. Codes for safety devices are usually latching so that an intermittent device doesn't catch you out by failing at the wrong time.
    Would you happen to know if there is a way to check if the sensor I pulled out is in fact the bad one (by checking resistance with a multimeter, etc)?

    I could have sworn that I read somewhere that there were two lateral acceleration sensors, one for each axis, but have not been able to confirm that.

  11. #11
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    I know of no test for the components. There is a lateral accel and a rotational accel sensor. Those are the two there. I've had to replace both in my wife's car over the course of two years. First one, then the ABS module, then the other.


    /.randy

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    I know of no test for the components. There is a lateral accel and a rotational accel sensor. Those are the two there. I've had to replace both in my wife's car over the course of two years. First one, then the ABS module, then the other.
    Once you replaced the sensor did the DSC instantly work or did you have to go get the code manually cleared out?

    If you did have to clear it out, is it true I can do this with a small piece of wire by jumping two items in the engine bay?

  13. #13
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    It's been a while but I'm quite sure I had to manually clear the codes. It will take the same scanner that you used to pull the code; no shortcuts.


    /.randy

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    It's been a while but I'm quite sure I had to manually clear the codes. It will take the same scanner that you used to pull the code; no shortcuts.

    Turns out the code actually went away on its own. After driving around maybe 20 miles I had the DSC/orange brake light go off and what seems like the DSC start working again.

    I did run into a new issue though: While on the highway (using cruise control), the car would suddenly loose all acceleration (start coasting) and the DSC light would flash. The flashing would continue for about 5 seconds and then return to normal. This issue repeated itself several times, but I could not find anything in the manual about this
    Last edited by BlitzAction; 09-21-2012 at 01:59 PM.

  15. #15
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    Woo!

    Yay for me, I win today's crapshoot lottery.

    Screenshot (7058).png




    So which part number was this?

    Is it very destructive to pull the carpeting to access these sensors? I hope there's no water or corrosion under there.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  16. #16
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    Unbolt the drivers seat and prop it up. Pull the sill plate. Pick up the forward carpet and you'll see a triangular plastic box mounted to the seat support cross beam. Sensors are inside there.


    Been a while, but I believe this is the one you want.

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...&q=34526864094

    The good news is the E46 uses the same sensor, so there is a chance of finding one at a u-pull place.

    - - - Updated - - -

    According to my notes above, it's the other one,

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=CN33-USA-03-2000-Z3-BMW-Z3_25i&mg=34&sg=20&diagId=34_1143&q=37146781405


    /.randy

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    Unbolt the drivers seat and prop it up. Pull the sill plate. Pick up the forward carpet and you'll see a triangular plastic box mounted to the seat support cross beam. Sensors are inside there.


    Been a while, but I believe this is the one you want.

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...&q=34526864094

    The good news is the E46 uses the same sensor, so there is a chance of finding one at a u-pull place.

    - - - Updated - - -

    According to my notes above, it's the other one,

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...&q=37146781405
    I appreciate it. If it's the 2nd one, I can just get it off a Rolls Royce Phantom.



    ...



    However, E36 also has that one, any chance it's not that one because of that fact (no DSC on e36)?
    I guess I can easily verify by unplugging one and reading codes.


    - - - Updated - - -

    LOL.

    $500-1000 for the first one.
    Last edited by 328 Power 04; 06-18-2015 at 11:21 PM.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  18. #18
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    I think that may be also known as a YAW sensor. If it is, E46 shares it. Cross fingers it is not a blue tag. Those are the expensive ones on eBay. There is a guy at my local yard and that is all he pulls.

  19. #19
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    Yaw and rotation sensor are the same thing. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it's the expensive one. Only DSC cars use that. The lateral accel sensor was used many cars,


    /.randy

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wojtek79 View Post
    I think that may be also known as a YAW sensor. If it is, E46 shares it. Cross fingers it is not a blue tag. Those are the expensive ones on eBay. There is a guy at my local yard and that is all he pulls.
    According to RealOEM these are interchangeable... I hope so.

    I will be pulling it today.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  21. #21
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    Your code is for the lateral sensor, not the yaw.


    /.randy

  22. #22
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    Thick skull this morning. I better get my coffee.
    Thanks for the improved news.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  23. #23
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    [Edited confusing post, will update when I'm sure of what I'm talking about.]


    So yesterday I had a chance to see an E46 325i that I can pull parts from, it was wet in the driver's side carpet (puddle)... apparently the sensors I need are directly under the seat, which I can't move in a parts car without power.

    E46 location by the person's thumb (not the parts car, internet picture)
    27wvl1c.jpg
    Last edited by 328 Power 04; 06-21-2015 at 11:33 AM.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  24. #24
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    Post a picture of what you think you need. As far as a parts car being wet, was the window open and rain got in, or looks like flood?

  25. #25
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    This thread has some conflicting information, so I will update once I have the sensors out, and confirmed by pulling some and reading codes to which one responds.

    The original intention was to have sensors ready for when I pulled the seat, but not possible at this time.

    I will update with clarified information when I get to the job.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

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