ABS Warning light help please

I'm having a bit of trouble with the supra, the engine warning light (red triangle) and ABS light never go out when I start the car, and there is no power steering assistance. After about 5 mins the traction control light starts blinking too.

I've topped up the coolant (remember someone maybe saying this led to funky lights) also checked the battery and alternator and all was fine. I think the battery is loosing charge somewhere though, this maybe connected. Checked for error codes too and the orange engine light just blinks regularly so no error codes stored.

I'm up in dundee so my options of good places to take the car are limited and I'm wary of driving it too far untill I know whats up so I've been trying to diagnose it before I decide what to do. Can anyone shed any light on this, I've tried searching and quite a few people have had similar problems but no clear solutions. The car is TT6 btw and I've not had anything done that could have triggered this.

Scott M had a similar issue (http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=179709) he mentioned a thread by Ian C about how to check ABS error codes, how would I go about this?

FuR had something similar too (http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=50396&highlight=abs+light+power+steering) I PM'd him a while ago but not had a responce yet.

The intermittent/flickering light is the exclamation mark one, and it's caused by brake fluid not being topped up, rather than coolant, so it won't be that.

If the ABS light is on then you've got a failure in that system. The brakes will still work, so the car is safe to drive, but you'll have no ABS function. There is a way to diagnose ABS faults which I'll dig up the details on in a bit.

Don't worry about the trac light yet, that flashes at the slightest provocation so it might be stroppy just because the ABS is down.

-Ian

OK:

1. Turn your ignition *on*

2. In the diagnostics port, unplug the short connector from the bottom right (it's a bit of metal that joins two pins)

3. Use a jumper wire on pins TC and E1

4. Your ABS warning light will now behave like the check engine light, as in:

• If system is functioning properly, ABS light will flash 2 times per second.
  
• If a malfunction is detected, 4 seconds will elapse, then ABS light will begin flashing 2-digit DTC.
  
• ABS light will flash first digit of DTC, followed by a 1.5-second pause, then second digit of DTC.
  
• If 2 or more DTCs are stored, a 2.5-second pause will separate DTCs.
  
• After all DTCs are flashed, there will be a 4-second pause, then all DTCs will repeat."
  

('DTC' being the error code)

-Ian

ABS light displays DTCs. Each DTC will light a warning light

when a problem occurs. Supra uses 3 warning lights; ABS

light, TRAC light and TRAC OFF light. After each Code number

the light sequence for that code will be shown. For example;

Code 11 - On/Off/On, (On/Off/On sequence means ABS light On,

TRAC light Off and TRAC OFF light On).

Code 11 - On/Off/On

Open or short in solenoid relay circuit. Check actuator

wiring harness, solenoid relay, solenoid relay wiring harness, and

solenoid relay connector.

Code 12 - On/Off/On

Short to voltage in solenoid relay circuit. Check actuator

wiring harness, solenoid relay, solenoid relay wiring harness, and

solenoid relay connector.

Code 13 - On/Off/On

Open or short in pump motor relay circuit. Check actuator

wiring harness, pump motor relay, wiring harness, and pump motor

connector.

Code 14 - On/Off/On

Short to voltage in pump motor relay circuit. Check actuator

wiring harness, pump motor relay, wiring harness and pump motor

connector.

Code 15 - On/On/On

Open or short in TRAC solenoid relay.

Code 16 - On/Off/On

Short to voltage in TRAC solenoid relay circuit.

Code 17 - On/On/Off

Open or short in TRAC motor relay circuit.

Code 18 - Off/On/On

Short to voltage in TRAC motor relay circuit.

Code 21 - On/Off/On

Open or short circuit in solenoid for right front wheel.

Check actuator solenoid, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 22 - On/Off/On

Open or short circuit in solenoid for left front wheel. Check

actuator solenoid, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 23 - On/Off/On

Open or short circuit in solenoid for right rear wheel. Check

actuator solenoid, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 24 - On/Off/On

Open or short circuit in solenoid for left rear wheel. Check

actuator solenoid, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 25 - On/On/On

Open or short in TRAC SMC actuator solenoid circuit.

Code 27 - On/On/On

Open or short in TRAC SRC actuator solenoid circuit.

Code 31 - On/Off/On

Malfunction of right front wheel speed sensor signal. Check

speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 32 - On/Off/On

Malfunction of left front wheel speed sensor signal. Check

speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 33 - On/Off/On

Malfunction of speed sensor signal for right rear wheel.

Check speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 34 - On/Off/On

Malfunction of speed sensor signal for left rear wheel. Check

speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 35 - On/Off/On

Open in left front wheel or right rear speed sensor circuit.

Check speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 36 - On/Off/On

Open in right front wheel or left rear speed sensor circuit.

Check speed sensor, sensor rotor, wiring harness, and connector.

Code 41 - On/Off/On

Battery voltage is abnormally high or low. Check battery and

voltage regulator.

Code 44 - On/Off/Off

Open or short in lateral acceleration sensor. Check sensor,

wiring harness, and connector.

Code 51 - On/Off/On

Actuator pump motor is locked or pump motor circuit is open.

Check pump motor, pump motor relay, vehicle battery, actuator wiring

harness, connectors, actuator pump motor circuit, and actuator ground

bolt.

Code 55 - Off/On/On

Brake fluid level is low in reservoir.

Code 58 - Off/On/On

Open circuit in TRAC pump motor circuit.

Code 61 - Off/On/On

Abnormal TRAC ECU communication.

Code 62 - On/On/On

Wheel speed sensor malfunction.

ABS Light Always On

Malfunction of ABS ECU. Inspect ABS ECU connector for

security and undamaged terminals. If connector is okay, replace ABS ECU.

CLEARING DTCS

NOTE: DTCs can also be cleared by removing ECU-B fuse but other memory systems will be cleared.

• Remove short connector from DLC1.
  
• Using a jumper wire, jumper DLC1 or DLC2 terminals Tc and E1
  
• Turn ignition on.
  
• With vehicle stopped, depress brake pedal 8 or more times within 3 seconds.
  
• DTCs are now erased. Ensure ABS light blinks 2 times per second.
  
• Reconnect short connector.
  

And for the more advanced testing of speed sensors:

SPEED SENSOR DIAGNOSTICS

NOTE: While diagnosing speed sensors, brake system functions as a conventional system.

1) Ensure battery voltage exists. Turn ignition on. Ensure ABS light illuminates, then goes out after about 3 seconds. If ABS light does not illuminate, check fuse, bulb and wiring harness.

2) Turn ignition off. DO NOT remove short pin from DLC1. Using a jumper wire, jumper terminals Ts and E1 of DLC1. Engage parking brake. Start engine. Ensure ABS light blinks 4 times per second.

3) Drive vehicle straight ahead above 28 MPH for several seconds. Stop vehicle. Jumper terminals Tc and E1 of DLC1. If a malfunction is detected, 4 seconds will elapse and ABS light will begin to flash a 2-digit DTC. First number of blinks will equal first digit in a DTC. After a 1.5-second pause, second number of blinks will equal second digit in a DTC.

4) If 2 or more DTCs are stored, there will be a 2.5-second pause between each DTC. After all DTCs are flashed, there will be a 4 second pause and all DTCs will repeat.

5) Record DTCs. Turn ignition off. Repair as necessary. Remove jumper wire from DLC1. Clear DTCs.

Code 71

Low voltage of right front speed sensor signal. Inspect right front speed sensor and sensor installation.

Code 72

Low voltage of left front speed sensor signal. Inspect left front speed sensor and sensor installation.

Code 73

Low voltage of right rear speed sensor signal. Inspect right rear speed sensor and sensor installation.

Code 74

Low voltage of left rear speed sensor signal. Inspect left rear speed sensor and sensor installation.

Code 75

Abnormal signal from right front speed sensor. Inspect right front sensor rotor.

Code 76

Abnormal signal from left front speed sensor. Inspect left front sensor rotor.

Code 77

Abnormal signal from right rear speed sensor. Inspect right rear sensor rotor.

Code 78

Abnormal signal from left rear speed sensor. Inspect left rear sensor rotor.

ABS Light Blinks 4 Times A Second

All speed sensors and sensor rotors are normal.

Thanks Ian. I'll have a look at the brake fluid reservoir tonight, the MIL (! red triangle) isn't flashing though, just on full time.

Have you any thoughts on the PS pump? The pulley was squeaking but I had it in a garage a while ago and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, could really only hear it when doing low speeds / stopped. Full lock didn't make any difference. I can't tell if there is only a small ammount of assistance or none at all, from another thread it was suggested part of the problem could be a faulty de-limiter, I take it these just plug in somewhere so I could remove it and see what that does?

Thanks Ian. I'll have a look at the brake fluid reservoir tonight, the MIL (! red triangle) isn't flashing though, just on full time.

It won't be the brake fluid, as the ABS light is coming on - you have a fault in your ABS system. If you can't diagnose it with the above, don't come back

Have you any thoughts on the PS pump? The pulley was squeaking but I had it in a garage a while ago and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, could really only hear it when doing low speeds / stopped. Full lock didn't make any difference. I can't tell if there is only a small ammount of assistance or none at all, from another thread it was suggested part of the problem could be a faulty de-limiter, I take it these just plug in somewhere so I could remove it and see what that does?

A squeaking pump is either a loose belt (old and stretched), or the pump bearings are on their way out. Check the tension of the belt for the former, check for metal filings dust behind the pulley wheel for the latter. Both will get noticeably worse before complete failure, so not a high stress problem

-Ian

Wow, thanks for that ABS info Ian, I'll have to give that a go tomorrow lunch time.

You're too helpfull Ian! My ABS is playing up, it's a broken speed sensor loom that is the problem on mine.

mine did this only it was the wire that bolts to the top of the alternater needed tightening as it only had like a on off conection abs light on power steering went but my engine reved its self could try it

Thanks w41k3r, I read your thread, had a look at mine but couldn't see if anything was loose so I bought a voltmeter to test it. The battery had actually run flat so I had that charged and tested them both, battery was 12.4V and the alternator was charging at 14.5V at 2000-2500rpm. So that rules that out, its funny its all the same symptoms though.

No doubt it will be something simple i missed the wire a few times before i sorted my problem, mine charged fine and started first time untill the last day when the wire got a real bad connection then it flatted the battery after that my bro who is a mechanic and allways says the worst like new battery, new alternator i wasn`t having it so searched and it was summet simple thankfully it was

my bro who is a mechanic and allways says the worst like new battery, new alternator

Ah, one of *those* mechanics

yeah ian c i call him doctor doom hes only 20 as well lol

With the engine off put enough pressure on the steering wheel to ALMOST start it turning, but not quite. Maintain that pressure and start the engine. Does the steering now turn? Yes = some PAS assistance. No = zero assistance, buy in bulk packs of spinach or get it fixed

Ah, one of *those* mechanics

lol

Ok, as per your first 2 posts Ian, I've checked for the ABS errors...

The ABS light is off, Trac light is on and Trac Off light blinks, so OFF,ON,ON.

I get 2 error codes 63 and 64, but they're not on the list

Please don't ban me!

With the engine off put enough pressure on the steering wheel to ALMOST start it turning, but not quite. Maintain that pressure and start the engine. Does the steering now turn? Yes = some PAS assistance. No = zero assistance, buy in bulk packs of spinach or get it fixed

Just tried this Chris, and I have some assistance, it starts squeaking when it does start to turn so I'm guessing its the bearing, there is some metal dust etc behing the pulley too, so that settles that one, Thanks!

Edit - Will this have damaged the pump? If its only giving partial assistance then surely its more than just the bearing now.

yeah ian c i call him doctor doom hes only 20 as well lol

Tell him swapping bits at random with expensive new ones does not a mechanic maketh

I can rebuild it if it's not too far gone. I keep most of the usual bits that go in stock.

Tell him swapping bits at random with expensive new ones does not a mechanic maketh

It makes for a good main agent's mechanic with a store full of bits to play with

I get 2 error codes 63 and 64, but they're not on the list

 

Aww how did you manage that

There isn't a 63 or 64 in ABS, TRAC, or main ECU error codes Are you sure that's what you saw?

It makes for a good main agent's mechanic with a store full of bits to play with

Yeah but they charge the customer for each bit they try!

Er, enough hijacking now

I can rebuild it if it's not too far gone. I keep most of the usual bits that go in stock.

I might give you a call about that Chris, cheers.