Intermittent Traction Control Light and ABS Light

steamship · #1 22nd December 2013, 07:09 PM

Recently, I've been having intermittent Traction Control and ABS lights come on in the dash. There doesn't appear to be any pattern as to when it happens. It occurs at slow and fast speeds. They may stay on for a second or two or upwards of an hour. It doesn't appear to have any adverse effect on the car.

I've done some searching here and one of the threads shows cleaning the ABS sensors, which I may tackle. I've only had a quick look at one of the wheels as I don't have any axle stands (will be borrowing some over Christmas) and found the ABS sensor. What else could be causing this to happen, and where else should I be looking once I have the car on stands?

I bought a cheap VCDS cable off eBay and there aren't any errors showing up regarding brakes or the like. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

ainarssems · #2 22nd December 2013, 08:30 PM

What about errors in other controllers. If instrument cluster have no communication with ABS controller it will put the lights on. If signal from MAF or throttle body or throttle position sensor is wrong ECU cannot calculate the load properly and will put the lights on.

steamship · #3 22nd December 2013, 09:31 PM

Since I got it serviced and the F125 switch and lambda sensors replaced in October, only one error has popped up (Address 35), and that seems random. I sometimes get another intermittent one in Address 37 and 56, but haven't noticed any difference in behaviour. This is a copy of the scan I did today:

Sunday,22,December,2013,14:16:53:32264
VCDS Version: Release 11.11.3
Data version: 20120401

Chassis Type: 4D - Audi A8 D2
Scan: 01 03 08 11 15 16 17 18 25 35 37 45 55 56 57 65 67 75 76 77
02

VIN: WAUZZZ4D92N002072
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: None
Part No: 4D0 907 558 AB
Component: 3.7L V8/5V G 0002
Coding: 11753
Shop #: WSC 23143
VCID: 6DDBD76D278ADF1
WAUZZZ4D92N002072 AUZ7Z0A1855153

No fault code found.
Readiness: 0110 1101

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 8D0-907-389.lbl
Part No: 4D0 907 389 E
Component: ABS/ESP allrad D56
Coding: 08397
Shop #: WSC 02313
VCID: 31630B1DFB327B1

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 4D0-820-043-MYX.lbl
Part No: 4D0 820 043 P
Component: A8-Klimavollautomat D11
Coding: 00081
Shop #: WSC 00315
VCID: 2953E37DD3E2031

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags Labels: 4D0-959-655-AI8.lbl
Part No: 4D0 959 655 T
Component: Airbag Front+Kopf 5001
Coding: 01417
Shop #: WSC 02335
VCID: 438F51D5518EF91

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels: 4D0-919-033-MYX.lbl
Part No: 4D0 919 035 AQ
Component: KOMBI+WEGFAHRS.VDO D37
Coding: 16483
Shop #: WSC 00209
VCID: 75EBFF0D4FDA171
WAUZZZ4D92N002072 AUZ7Z0A1855153

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 35: Centr. Locks Labels: 8D0-862-257.lbl
Part No: 8L0 862 257 P
Component: CV-Pump, Alarm, RC D17
Coding: 16203
Shop #: WSC 00315
VCID: 428154D14E94F09

1 Fault Found:
01134 - Alarm Horn (H12)
77-00 - Internal Supply Voltage

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 37: Navigation Labels: 4B0-035-192-RNSD-37.lbl
Part No: 4D0 035 192 N
Component: RNS 4.1 H05 BNO 0140
VCID: 2A511C71D6E4089

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 45: Inter. Monitor Labels: None
Part No: 4D0 951 177 B
Component: Innenraumueberw. D06
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 00000
VCID: 2855E679C8E83A9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio Labels: 4B0-035-192-RNSD-56.lbl
Part No: 4D0 035 192 N
Component: Radio BNO 0001
Coding: 00205
Shop #: WSC 02314
VCID: 2A511C71D6E4089

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 57: TV Tuner Labels: 4D0-919-146.clb
Part No: 4D0 919 146 B
Component: TV Tuner H06 0704
Coding: 0000030
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 2855E67998E83A9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 76: Park Assist Labels: 4D0-919-283.lbl
Part No: 4D0 919 283
Component: Parkingsystem A8 RDW D07
Coding: 01108
Shop #: WSC 00209
VCID: E8D5267988687A9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01V-927-156.lbl
Part No: 4D0 927 156 DT
Component: AG5 01V 3.7l5V RdW 1920
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 00000
VCID: 7EF9E0217AEC549

No fault code found.

End ---------------------------------------------------------------------

PsYcHe · #4 23rd December 2013, 10:13 AM

ABS Sensors, or possibly a failing wheel bearing too, putting the reluctor ring out of sync with the sensor.

steamship · #5 23rd December 2013, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

ABS Sensors, or possibly a failing wheel bearing too, putting the reluctor ring out of sync with the sensor.

Thanks. Hoping it is the first, but will find out after I clean them.

ainarssems · #6 23rd December 2013, 01:50 PM

When the lights come on connect VCDS, go to ABS controller and in measuring blocks check speed for each of the wheels while driving. If one is different you know where the problem is and do not need to clean all sensors in this terrible weather( it's not that bad if you can do it indoors but saves extra hustle anyway). It helps if you can have somebody else to drive the car while you are checking values

omlilleby · #7 5th January 2014, 06:25 PM

Had the same problem on my s8, when i floor it the light come on and sometime not, no error codes on vcds about it. changed the maf sensor and never seen it again. Could not feel it on car that the maf was broken but could read out fron vcds that the values was low.

steamship · #8 5th January 2014, 06:51 PM

On the few times I've been out in the car since my original postings, I've seen the lights maybe twice, and that was for literally a few seconds each time. Was just driving along normally. No acceleration or braking. Wasn't in the best of health over the last couple of weeks, so still no axle stands... and it's too wet and miserable out there anyway.

GH77 · #9 17th May 2014, 04:34 PM

Hi,

Was looking for something else completely when I came across this so thought I would chip in even although the thread is months old

I had the same problem. Looked at MAF, ABS etc etc. I ended up cleaning the throttle body thoroughly and readapting it. Haven't seen the lights since. I presume it was the TB not knowing to what degree it was actually open or closed throwing all the other sensors out of sync. Might be worth a try for you too?

strummagnet · #10 15th March 2023, 04:45 PM

Just had this occurence with the traction control and abs lights coming on. Driven up from Gosport to Newcastle then on to Hexham yesterday with a snowstorm thrown in for good measure. Prior to the lights coming on had a noticable reduction in power and feeling like a fuel starvation issue. Reading half a tank so pulled in and filled up with 54ltrs fuel. Car behaved perfectly for the next 20 miles back to base.

As mentioned above, the weather has been pretty foul and the car looks as if it has been on a wet weather rally circuit. Thinking dirty ABS sensors but would it cause engine performance issues as well?