VW Polo with ABS light coming on intermittently

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 14:18

My gf's Polo (one of those 4-wheeled things) has an ABS light that keeps coming on intermittently. I tried cleaning the ABS sensors, no change.

She took it to a garage today, they told her it's likely to be the ABS module which costs around $1200 to fix

Wouldn't mind but the car is a POS, keep trying to get her to flick it and buy another but too late now, not gonna get a good price on it with a fault light on

So anyone got any ideas? Finding it would be a good start, apparently attached to the ABS pump but where do I find that? Could it be fuses, loose wires, etc? How do you reset the unit, can it be done by disconnecting the battery or does it need one of those fancy computery things?

I am vaguely handy with things mechanical so would like to give it a crack first before she shells out on it, would keep me in the good books for months

**bogan** · 4th May 2011, 14:28

not flashing a fault code is it?

**george formby** · 4th May 2011, 14:32

Start with your connections. I have an old Passat (black crosses on the doors) & the oil light comes on intermittently. After much fannying about I traced it back to the sensor connection. Squirt of CRC fixes it.

I should imagine they use a standard sensor (Bosch?) which you may be able to source a lot cheaper than a VW dealer will gouge you too.

Best of luck.

**marie_speeds** · 4th May 2011, 14:32

A friend had a similar fault and from what I recall they took to an autoelectrical guy who put a scan tool on it and then just reset a fault in the computer and it didn't happen again. Maybe worth a try to save yourself some dollars?

**superman** · 4th May 2011, 14:35

Originally Posted by cbfb

My gf's Polo

A girl in a VW Polo?! Surely that's a highly rare occurence.

**sgtp** · 4th May 2011, 14:46

I suspect that the sensor that the ABS uses to check the speed of the wheel is built into the wheel bearing, atleast that was the way it was on my buick. When the sensor is crapping out, you get the light. Normally, a competent shop that has a scanner can hook up their computer to the car and tell you what wheel bearing is bad. I replaced a wheel bearing that had quite a bit of play in it, and when doing so, the ABS light issue went away with it.

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 14:48

Thanks all!

Originally Posted by bogan

not flashing a fault code is it?

I believe it was giving a fault code when they tested it, something along the lines of the ABS module was stuffed. Don't know what the exact code was. Would it be worth finding out (doesnt mean a lot to me)?

Originally Posted by george formby

Start with your connections. I have an old Passat (black crosses on the doors) & the oil light comes on intermittently. After much fannying about I traced it back to the sensor connection. Squirt of CRC fixes it.

I should imagine they use a standard sensor (Bosch?) which you may be able to source a lot cheaper than a VW dealer will gouge you too.

Best of luck.

Did CRC the sensors, with it being intermittent hard to tell if it made much difference. Apparently it's the control module that's stuffed though. I would test the cnxns to that but don't know where the hell it is

Originally Posted by marie_speeds

A friend had a similar fault and from what I recall they took to an autoelectrical guy who put a scan tool on it and then just reset a fault in the computer and it didn't happen again. Maybe worth a try to save yourself some dollars?

I *think* they have tried this already. I was going to have a poke around/CRC of the wires and maybe change the fuses then get them to reset it (or do it myself if possible).

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 14:49

Originally Posted by sgtp

I suspect that the sensor that the ABS uses to check the speed of the wheel is built into the wheel bearing, atleast that was the way it was on my buick. When the sensor is crapping out, you get the light. Normally, a competent shop that has a scanner can hook up their computer to the car and tell you what wheel bearing is bad. I replaced a wheel bearing that had quite a bit of play in it, and when doing so, the ABS light issue went away with it.

I don't think it is the sensors that are faulty, the auto electrician seemed to think the fault diagnostic scanner was indicating a fault with the ABS control module itself.

**Brett** · 4th May 2011, 14:53

Is it an ex-Singapore or Malaysian import? If so, wiring is probably screwed from humidity and causing your issue.

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 15:03

Originally Posted by Brett

Is it an ex-Singapore or Malaysian import? If so, wiring is probably screwed from humidity and causing your issue.

Dunno where the frickin thing is from to be honest but funny you should say that cause I've read more than one web page that mentioned Polos and wiring that goes wrong due to damp.

If only I could find the bloody control unit I would give it a thoroughly good soaking with CRC. Done that with the sensors already but not solved the issue.

**george formby** · 4th May 2011, 15:20

Damp, damp you say?

My Passat is a twat when it rains, takes 2 or 3 goes to get it started. Done the leads, distributor, plugs the lot, still a twat.

I've yet to have the joys of owning a car with modern electrickery gubbins, still with windy down windows, tape deck & no cup holders.

Take the bulb out of the warning light... Oh, can't get into the dash? bugger.

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 15:29

Originally Posted by george formby

Damp, damp you say?

My Passat is a twat when it rains, takes 2 or 3 goes to get it started. Done the leads, distributor, plugs the lot, still a twat.

I've yet to have the joys of owning a car with modern electrickery gubbins, still with windy down windows, tape deck & no cup holders.

Take the bulb out of the warning light... Oh, can't get into the dash? bugger.

Mate give me windy windows any day, the more electrickery involved the more bloody asprin i need.

Yeah the driver's automagic window is buggered too, makes it great fun at carpark ticket gates.

Just spoke to the missus again, apparently it's the "front left module"??? Thought there was only one... Doesn't help when she's relaying the info, not the most mechanically minded.

**george formby** · 4th May 2011, 15:34

Originally Posted by cbfb

Mate give me windy windows any day, the more electrickery involved the more bloody asprin i need.

Yeah the driver's automagic window is buggered too, makes it great fun at carpark ticket gates.

Just spoke to the missus again, apparently it's the "front left module"??? Thought there was only one... Doesn't help when she's relaying the info, not the most mechanically minded.

Probably just a worn switch on the window. Some of them can be re-nippled with a bit of solder, well fords can.

**marie_speeds** · 4th May 2011, 15:46

I had an ABS fault on my Honda Accord Wagon that I used to own...was there constantly and luckily under warranty so it got replaced. Picked up car and drove away from mechanics went to stop at lights and sitting there at red light the brake pedal sunk slowly to the floor. Turned around and went straight back.... diagnosed that master cylinder needs replacing...again very lucky it was under warranty! So I hope nothing like this happens to your GF's car.

**cbfb** · 4th May 2011, 15:49

Originally Posted by george formby

Probably just a worn switch on the window. Some of them can be re-nippled with a bit of solder, well fords can.

Ssshhhh I told her it would cost at least a grand in parts

Originally Posted by marie_speeds

I had an ABS fault on my Honda Accord Wagon that I used to own...was there constantly and luckily under warranty so it got replaced. Picked up car and drove away from mechanics went to stop at lights and sitting there at red light the brake pedal sunk slowly to the floor. Turned around and went straight back.... diagnosed that master cylinder needs replacing...again very lucky it was under warranty! So I hope nothing like this happens to your GF's car.

Same here! Brakes are solid though, bled and tested fine. Just the frikin electronics playing up I think, better off without them