Abs warning light

[citroenxm]

Chris

Over active ABS sensor...the effect of "being on ice" when the light is out is caused by a Gap between sensor and ABS teeth being TOO BIG!!!

When the light is on, ABS is disabled, and so braking is as a car without ABS and all references to the Sensors and ABS teeth is completely ignored...

Have you had a front sensor fitted lately?? Or replaced the ABS ring on a CV joint?

[c.morewood]

Yes Paul, I just cleaned it today .. awaiting the arrival of a replacement.. Thanks for the info.

[citroenxm]

Be sure the heat shield retaining part is not between the sensor and hub and between the bolt head and sensor..


the gap should be no bigger then well a wisker of a gap... virtually touching but not ifcthat makes sense..

[RichardW]

Over active ABS also caused by a broken ring. If I were you Chris, I'd take the fuse out for the time being - being able to stop, albeit with the risk of a lock up, is better than not being able to stop...

[c.morewood]

Good idea Richard.. I'm pretty sure the ring isn't broken.. I had a good look at it this morning.. cleaning out some of the rusty spots on it just to make sure that wasn't the problem..
I'll give another go with the sensor bolt tomorrow and if that doesn't work .. out comes the fuse for a couple of days.

[Hell Razor5543]

On Gracie both rings were cracked and loose enough to cause the ABS an issue. However, when you looked at them it was not initially obvious that they had cracked, until I then touched them and found they could move.

[c.morewood]

I've been hammering lightly the affected one, using a srewdriver to drive out the bits of rust between the castellations.. I'm sure it would have been obvious if the ring was broken.
Fuse removed predictable braking restored.

Kenny, how did you get on?

[citroenxm]

Are you certain its a front ring? is it possibly a rear one causeing grief or have you had a lexia reading to see whats going on?

[KennyW]

Chris,

After threatening the car with a lexia session and a drive through to RICHARDW , it showed an intermittent fault at driver's side front sensor.

The light has never reappeared and ever since.

This side I changed the CV joint and new ABS sensor cable.

So I have no idea what has happened, will check further when weather improves.

Kenny

[Mandrake]

Kenny, are you sure the new CV joint has the same outer diameter as the original ?

I believe there are a couple of different diameters for Xantias. Anything that causes the gap between the sensor and the teeth on the reluctor ring to be too great can cause the symptoms you're seeing because there is not enough signal output from the sensor at low road speeds when the gap is too large.

The gap should be enough to slide a piece of writing paper into and no more. As Paul mentioned already another possible cause of a larger than normal gap is getting the heat shield on the wrong side of the sensor flange.

[KennyW]

Simon,

Yes it is the correct CV joint as it has been fitted for at least 9 or 10 months with no problems. I bought the wrong one at first which caused the light to be permenantly on.

Last night the light camne back on, I have a new ABS sensor which I'll fit today and see what happens. I think there maybe a small break in the wiring inside but it will be difficult to confirm.

I will report back after replacing same.

Otherwise, it might be the ring has broken but there is a 2 year warranty with the CV joint so hopefully no problems in replacing joint.I still have the receipt.

Kenny

[KennyW]

Well, I had a better look today and firstly I've made a mistake. I replaced the nearside CV joint in the summer, the problems are on the offside. I've replaced the ABS sensor but I'll probably change this CV joint so that should cure the problem.

Kenny