How long for dash alerts about ABS to clear on 2001 C5?

[nicko252]

I have had a dash alert about ABS/traction control on my 2001 C5, so I've cleaned the wheel sensors as a first measure in case that is the cause. Not having a code reader/clearer I'm wondering how far it needs to be driven, or how many starts etc it takes for the dash alerts to clear themselves if I've actually manged to fix the problem? Or is it something more subtle like the number of times the engine has to get up to temp, rather than just starts? Cheers.

[SwissTony]

It's an instant thing. The ABS runs its self-test and the light goes out if there's no faults. You appear to have a faulty sensor.

Ideally you need to get it on a Lexia diagnostics kit, it will tell you which sensor and what the issue is. There's a list of forum members who have them, and are happy to help do that for you somewhere on the forum.

[myglaren]

This is the link to the list and map.
Unfortunately no-one with such a thing in Kiwiland
Closest is in Kangerooland, not a lot of help.

[nicko252]

Thanks for your reply. You are 100% about it clearing immediately if the original cause is fixed? It's just I saw a lot of mentions of vehicles needing to be driven for a while before that happens. These were on discussions of cleaning wheel sensors etc, so referred to other brands not necessarily Citoren. So perhaps Citroens don't have that process as part of their fault code clearing, while other makes do. But you're definitely sure that's the case with C5s? Cheers.

[SwissTony]

Thanks for your reply. You are 100% about it clearing immediately if the original cause is fixed?

Yes, I've had 3 MK1 C5s..

[PaulC5]

Have you checked the battery voltage, if low it can give an ESP/ASR fault message. I had it on our C5 when the battery was down to 12.1 volts after changing the fuel filter which needed the engine turning over a lot to prime the filter. After charging the battery it did not come back.

[SwissTony]

Have you checked the battery voltage, if low it can give an ESP/ASR fault message. I had it on our C5 when the battery was down to 12.1 volts after changing the fuel filter which needed the engine turning over a lot to prime the filter. After charging the battery it did not come back.

A good point Paul, one of mine was especially good at giving light and warnings when the battery was low.

[moizeau]

Interesting about it going out straight away. I would have thought it would a least have to be driven for the car to decide that the wheel sensors were working correctly. My 407 threw an ABS light about 6 months ago after a sharp corner on gravel. I turned the engine off, restarted, ABS light was still on. I did the 70 mile drive with it on. Stopped, turned off, half an hour later did the drive home, ABS light still on. Got home, erased it is Diag, it's never come on since. I presumed it needed a certain number of starts or drives to auto erase but was impatient.

[aspire_helen]

When replacing a wheel sensor, for example, the car needs to get up to 20km/hr (from memory) before it will clear the dash warning indication (assuming that corrected the fault). But, you do not know the fault??
I assume your 2001 C5 has the Teves/ATE Mk60 ABS, with or without ESP (enabled on higher spec models). You can find info on the Mk60 on line. ABS ECUs are clever things. They have memory and hate being ignored!! Even if it allows you to clear (erase) some faults, whether "temporary" or "permanent" , and you think it has gone away, the controller stores it up for later.
Typically, if you erase too many times, or ignore faults for too long, it will give you a permanent fault which must be investigated. I suggest you need to get the fault read by a suitable diagnostics, not necessarily Lexia.
I am currently investigating my failed ABS-ESP (2001 C5, 195,000miles) with the usual dash brakes / ABS / ESP faulty etc warnings. Even Lexia can be no more precise that "Permanent Fault - Electrovalve Internal" . NB previously it was a "Temporary Fault.....but then I ignored she-who-must-be-obeyed too many times. For example. A week or so ago, I erased the fault and drove 200miles without problem. I stopped briefly in a car park, restarted the engine and the fault re-appeared before I left the car park. I erased the fault again, and a few days later it reappeared, but only after 5 miles and 2 engine re-starts. Lexia still permits me to erase it (and rerun global test resulting in ABS "no faults"), although during one Lexia session it did reappear of its own accord while Lexia was doing something else.
Interestingly, ATE make new Mk60s, but not sadly in C5 configuration. They are the go-to choice of ABS module for retro-fitting ABS into track cars eg commonly BMWs.