ABS light...doesn't come on for a few miles/minutes

[Bimmerfanatik]

What parts in the system can cause the light to come on after a few miles? I've never troubleshooted (troubleshot?) an ABS car. Won't come on until I've driven a few miles or minutes.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Also flickers, never really on constant. Anyone? What does that light cover?

[fretburnr]

dont know if this will help or not, but at one point my left front abs sensor wire was rubbing away on the tire at full left lock; after a few days, and driving in the wet, it would short and i'd get an abs light. Check this out, you may need a new abs wire.

FWIW, mine wasn't too horrible so i cleaned it up, wrapped it solidly (shrink tape) and kept it out of the tire's way... works fine

[Bimmerfanatik]

dont know if this will help or not, but at one point my left front abs sensor wire was rubbing away on the tire at full left lock; after a few days, and driving in the wet, it would short and i'd get an abs light. Check this out, you may need a new abs wire.

FWIW, mine wasn't too horrible so i cleaned it up, wrapped it solidly (shrink tape) and kept it out of the tire's way... works fine

Thanks man, I'm gonna check that out. I appreciate it!

[Bimmerfanatik]

Strangely, the light will flicker even at idle, without the car moving.

I'm rather surprised no one has any familiarity with such a problem...

[Charlie]

Unhook the relay, clean the connections and make sure it has a good connection. That's the easy part. Are other lights flickering as well? If so, check the voltage regulator on the alternator. Hopefully you have a bosch, which would make it a cheap and easy replacement. The valeo is 5x the cost and a PITA to replace.

Otherwise, you're checking the Si board for loose connections. A serious pain in the ass.

Does the ABS still work?

-Charlie

[Bimmerfanatik]

Unhook the relay, clean the connections and make sure it has a good connection. That's the easy part. Are other lights flickering as well? If so, check the voltage regulator on the alternator. Hopefully you have a bosch, which would make it a cheap and easy replacement. The valeo is 5x the cost and a PITA to replace.

Otherwise, you're checking the Si board for loose connections. A serious pain in the ass.

Does the ABS still work?

-Charlie

<--first ABS car, so bear with me. Where's the relay? I'll clean that first.

Nothing else flickers. Everythign electronic is right on par...cept the ambient temp. sensor is wacky, the OBC jumps all over the place.

ABS works, at the very least when it light is off, but I think it works when the light is on too...I'll confirm tomorrow. Got enough fucking rain.

Thanks Charlie.