awillemsen

Active Member
Done a search, but couldn't find anything...

Occasionally, when I turn ignition on, I get "ABS Failure" message on dash, which goes away after a second or two. Then, on starting and driving away, the ABS, T/C and Handbrake lights all stay on (not blinking). Stopping and restarting the engine fixes both the message and the lights. Car drives the same whether the lights are on or off, so I'm guessing it's electrical rather than mechanical.

Accumulator is new, and I'm assuming battery is fine (I usually get traction failure or gearbox fault messages if it's on it's way out).

Any help appreciated.
 
I would start with the main fuse box. Dicky connections and corrosion and known issues.
 
Diagnostics. Guessing is fruitless.

I take your point. Trouble is, I don't have any diagnostic equipment. And I've been in the situation with another car that had an intermittent warning light - I took it in and paid for a diagnostic, only to find out that no fault codes have been stored (and, of course, the problem didn't occur at the garage...).
 
I would start with the main fuse box. Dicky connections and corrosion and known issues.

Checked the main fuse box. Live connection is clean as a whistle. Pulled all relays and fuses - no sign of burning, and all connections are clean. In fact, inside the box looks good as new.
 
Had the same problem on mine,still drove fine and eventually bit the bullet and replaced the ABS/TC ECU. Problem sorted,it may be the same thing.Do you know anyone nearby with a p38 of same year/spec that you can swap it out to try it?
 
Checked the main fuse box. Live connection is clean as a whistle. Pulled all relays and fuses - no sign of burning, and all connections are clean. In fact, inside the box looks good as new.

Either you get it on diagnostics or gamble on replacing the ABS ECU. My mate failed like that:(
 
Either you get it on diagnostics or gamble on replacing the ABS ECU. My mate failed like that:(

Seeing as my relationship with our P38 looks like it's going to be a long one, I'm saving up for a diagnostic tool. My father-in-law has a Disco 3, so it would be good to get a tool to do both (and share the cost). I can't afford an MSV-2 system, so I'm leaning toward a Hawkeye. Or is a Nanocom the better bet for the P38 and forget the Disco?
 
Seeing as my relationship with our P38 looks like it's going to be a long one, I'm saving up for a diagnostic tool. My father-in-law has a Disco 3, so it would be good to get a tool to do both (and share the cost). I can't afford an MSV-2 system, so I'm leaning toward a Hawkeye. Or is a Nanocom the better bet for the P38 and forget the Disco?

From what I've heard the Nanocom is the better bet for the P38, wouldn't be at all surprised if the Disco isn't added at some point.
 
I´d check the ABS-sensors to see if they´re fully seated. They should be pushed all the way to the reluctor teeth. Mine had a similar behaviour after I changed the front wheel hub assemblies and didn´t seat the sensors properly.

Regards
Per
 
Done a search, but couldn't find anything...

Occasionally, when I turn ignition on, I get "ABS Failure" message on dash, which goes away after a second or two. Then, on starting and driving away, the ABS, T/C and Handbrake lights all stay on (not blinking). Stopping and restarting the engine fixes both the message and the lights. Car drives the same whether the lights are on or off, so I'm guessing it's electrical rather than mechanical.

Accumulator is new, and I'm assuming battery is fine (I usually get traction failure or gearbox fault messages if it's on it's way out).

Any help appreciated.

worth a try!
my dads 2000 dhse had same symptoms with the warnings but he also lost his brake lights? and it turned out to be the switch on the brake pedal,replaced very cheap and all sorted! hth
 

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