Xantia Abs Problem

[xantiamiddridge]

For some time ABS warning light has come on (sometimes) when the car is out in rain. The light goes off when the car is eventually dry.

I've checked the resistance of each of the sensors, which all seem OK, and the connectors appear clean.

Have tried spraying water at sensors and wiring to replicate fault, but no success.

According to various web articles people report little joy with dealerships - stories of diagnosing fault code indicating a particular sensor, but problem remains when replacing the suspect sensor.

Any one advise any symptoms I can measure, or a way of permanently defeating the ABS (but safely!!). Is it just a case of removing ABS fuses/relays etc.

I assume car will fail MOT with warning light on. Seems I need to take the bulb out !!

Any advice

[pork_pie]

[url="http://www.carelect.demon.co.uk/xantind.html"]http://www.carelect.demon.co.uk/xantind.html[/url]

Check this link out.

From what you described, its a sensor problem

If its the ECU however - your guaranteed a 4 figure sum on the invoice unless you consider a reconditioned unit. One question - would you?!

[hertsnminds]

A car will fail the MOT with the ABS warning light on, it will also fail if the light or the ABS system has been disabled as this is specified safety equipment in the manufacturers homologation papers (all the the legal stuff which let's them sell that spec of vehicle in the UK).

If you modify the vehicle from the manufacturers spec you will have to get it re-certified and tell your insurance company of the mods you have made. If you do not do either of these things you will be driving an unroadworthy vehicle with NO insurance.

I had a BX where the ABS warning light came on, having fixed the sensor I was told it was the ABS control unit. so both parts of the system had to be replaced. I was covered by a 3rd party warranty but they claimed that the 2nd fix (for the control unit) was a 2nd repair, even though the 1st repair had not fixed the problem.

If you do have to pay for a new control unit your best bet is to search the scrap dealers as new units are expensive.

Ian
Orange 03 Senso (Pluriel)

[pork_pie]

Yes an ABS ECU costs at least 1500-2000 pound.

Ruddy scandalous.

[DickieG]

The best thing to do is to get the 'fault codes' read by someone who has the appropriate tool, not a 'Gunsons' one! This could be done at a local garage or even me if you live near Heathrow, you do not have to have it done by a dealer. This will save you wasting money replacing correctly working parts.

If the ECU is at fault then it will cost around £150 for a refubished item and hopefully less from a breakers, but then the problem you have is that you won't know whether your 'new' item works,. Faulty ABS may be the reason the car was scrapped, so what I would do if taking that route is to look for a crashed Xantia in the hope that the car was working correctly until it was reduced to 'Kit-form'.

[PhilW]

3 or 4 years ago we had the same prob on our L reg TD. Took it to local independent for him to check. As he plugged in his machine I said that I hoped it would not be the ECU because I had heard they were very expensive. The fault code said nearside front sensor faulty and he replaced it (£75 rings a bell but I may be wrong). He also said that he had yet to have to replace an ECU - it was almost invariably a sensor. As Dickie says above - get the fault codes read.
Garage I used was Eurocars in Loughborough - can recommend them if you are near