Help ABS TC Handbske warning lights on ?

Hi

Any Help/Advice appreciated please

Started car tuesday to go & collect child from party and the abs traction control & handbrake warning lights remained on from starting ? I have now lost most of my braking having to coast home in low range so knew I could stop car.

The brake fluid does look a little dark & is now showing 'overfull' where it wasn't before. We have checked all the wheel bearings in case it was someting like that but no they are fine all, the pads & discs are all in good order it appears to ?

Wondered if it is another common ailment with the p38 ?!

Its a 1995 4.6 hse by the way.

We have only had it since beginning of february and have already had to replace battery

I thought I would ask you good people first before I see if a specialist can take a look in case it is something (non electric) that we can do ourselves.

Thanks in advance

Sam

Check if the electric pump runs to pressurise the braking system when you switch the ignition on. Bonnet up, it's located on the left as you look from the front between the fuse box and brake modulator.
If the pump does not run it will most likely be the pressure switch or the pump itself.

Check MF3 40 amp and relay 17 black one.

^^^^as the two above...

Thank you I will get them all checked & report back once done
Cheers
Sam

Hi
Hubby finished his block of night shifts this morning so sent him out to check your recommendations.
The amp & relay are working but the pump is not working l :Cry:
Next bit :- has anyone changed one ? Are they straighforward ? do we have to have it 'pluged-in' after or will lights go out once new pump is on and system works again please ?
I believe its welcome to p38 club !!! Had just over 1 month already had to have new battery and now this :Cry:

Thank you for you help though - really appreciated
Cheers
Sam

I believe you should just get away with plug n play....

Download RAVE from the How To Section (Wammers Compressor post has a linky) dead simple to do...

I changed one on my Classic...real simple just make sure you depressurise the system using the RAVE guidelines and you'll be fine.

Only a Battery in one month of ownership?? you have been lucky...you must have one of those rare ones where thing actually work

MrsChris said:

Hi
Hubby finished his block of night shifts this morning so sent him out to check your recommendations.
The amp & relay are working but the pump is not working l :Cry:
Next bit :- has anyone changed one ? Are they straighforward ? do we have to have it 'pluged-in' after or will lights go out once new pump is on and system works again please ?
I believe its welcome to p38 club !!! Had just over 1 month already had to have new battery and now this :Cry:

Thank you for you help though - really appreciated
Cheers
Sam

Click to expand...

It may not be the pump, just the pressure switch. Are you sure the relay is good.
A new pump or pressure switch will need you to remortgage the house, try Emmotts for a secondhand one.

Hmmm... I get this periodically, but the 3 lights tend to go out after 30 seconds or so.. Maybe need to check up some of this..

Relay is good can feel it clicking in & have tried with another so thts been ruled out. Is the pressure switch on the back of the pump/block with the sphere on ?
How would we test the switch ?

Have found pump £80 + vat from Island 4x4 in Kent and on the picture it looks like the switch is also on there. Emmotts not listing one at present.

Have read about de-pressurising system so have that info now too thanks.

Ok I now understand p38 are unique !!!!

Thanks
Sam

TCubed said:

Hmmm... I get this periodically, but the 3 lights tend to go out after 30 seconds or so.. Maybe need to check up some of this..

Click to expand...

The lights go out when the car reaches 7mph.

MrsChris said:

Relay is good can feel it clicking in & have tried with another so thts been ruled out. Is the pressure switch on the back of the pump/block with the sphere on ?
How would we test the switch ?

Have found pump £80 + vat from Island 4x4 in Kent and on the picture it looks like the switch is also on there. Emmotts not listing one at present.

Have read about de-pressurising system so have that info now too thanks.

Ok I now understand p38 are unique !!!!

Thanks
Sam

Click to expand...

If you can get the complete pump and pressure switch for £80, that's a bargain IMO. It would be a good idea to replace the "sphere" and bleed the brakes while you are at it. No diagnostics needed, if you fix the problem the lights will go out as normal.

Datatek said:

The lights go out when the car reaches 7mph.

Click to expand...

True, although doesn't quite explain why it's sometimes all 3 and sometimes just ABS. Still, I checked out the brake accessories back in the summer and they all seemed fine so hopefully not worried

Ok thanks Datatek
No all 3 lights stay on when over 7mph and virtual if not total loss of brakes - not great feeling and no warning leading up to it either
Ok will go pump route & might change fluid as well so all we can do is done & fingersd crossed we can have trouble free motoring again - for a while at least !!

Follow the brake bleed procedure in RAVE to the letter....the system is a b!tch to bleed so do not stray from the written procedure in any way!

MrsChris said:

Ok thanks Datatek
No all 3 lights stay on when over 7mph and virtual if not total loss of brakes - not great feeling and no warning leading up to it either
Ok will go pump route & might change fluid as well so all we can do is done & fingersd crossed we can have trouble free motoring again - for a while at least !!

Click to expand...

And replace the sphere while you are at it as if that has failed the pump runs too often so may be the cause of your problem.

Brilliant thanks guys - will report back when project undertaken probably next weekend- ish now as Hubby back to the grind wednesday !!
Fingers crossed

Ok so this morning discover that place in kent only sells the shere(accumalator) not pump. Found a tested one on e... for £76 + £10 courier. Cheapest option by far at moment next one listed is £135 + £12 courier - still not bad price suppose.

Will keep posted

Ok have got 2nd hand pump delivered today, came with accumalator & pressure switch. Quick question someone mentioned that you need to replace the black R17 relay when you replace the pump ?
Any views on that because we would need to buy that relay
(£46) too before we started this repair process !
Thank you for you info & patience

The relay has been known to stick closed causing the pump to burn out hence why it is prudent to change it out.

Where from?? No idea it ain't a special relay, so get one that matches the pin out no doubt!

Now wait for someone to tell me I'm wrong and it needs to be handmade in Peru by dwarves....