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GV / XL-7 ABS warning light
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:21 pm
by murcod
Does anyone know any common fixes for intermittant ABS warning lights on an XL-7?
We've recently had a bit of rain and it first started after driving in it- nothing deep just on bitumen roads. It also first occured after using the hand brake to slow down from around 5km/h (a long story to do with my other brake problem of a hideous banshee squeal from the front disc brakes.....
)
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:24 am
by Gwagensteve
This is not specifically a Suzui fix, but check the wheelspeed sensors are well grounded to their mounts. Corrosion between the sensor and the mount can cause a poor connection and all sorts of weirdness.
This is a well known problem in Minis.
Steve.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:32 pm
by ScrawnC
Also check if the speed sensors are clean of any metalic material. The sensors are basically just magnets so they tend to pick anything metal... as magnets do. Just carefully remove them and give them a wipe with a rag.
The brake squeal is more than likely glazed discs. Did someone fit new brake pads to unmachined discs? A quick skim will rid you of that problem.
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:51 am
by murcod
Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I'm guilty of fitting new pads without getting the discs machined- they've only done 50000km and are in fairly good nick. It's the first car I've ever had sqealing issues with after doing so. I've put some PBR "Brake Anti Squeal" on the pads yesterday- basically looked and smelt similar to "Quick Grip" glue!
I also removed the front ABS sensors and gave them a clean. They did have a build up of brake dust/ powdered metal on them. Not surprising given their location and reasonably strong magnetism. The front LHS one did have some corrosion between the sensor and hub so it's all been cleaned. I'll clean the rear sensors as well if the problem persists. I read in the service manual last night that using the handbrake while driving can cause the ABS light to activate
. However it did come back on later when I hadn't done that.
If the brakes start squealing again I'll just buy some new DBA slotted rotors. I can't be bothered wasting money on machining old rotors, especially when most of them don't have much "meat" to start with.
