Light trifecta: ABS, DSC, tire pressure

[minicameron]

So I can a throw another wrench into this conversation? The same 3 lights come on for me only when I turn the steering wheel all the way to left. When I get to about the last 1/8 of the turn they come on. I hit the tire reset button, hit the ASC toggle up...turn the car off, restart the car. The tire monitor light goes off immediately then the ABS and ASC light go off after I start driving forward a bit. Could it be the same reason as you have all mentioned for the lights to come on?

Of course all of this happens 4 months after the warranty is up! Argh!!

[AKIndiMini]

once you've gotten the lights to reset, will they come back on if you turn the wheel to the left and have the vehicle stationary?

I'd put money on one of the ABS wheel speed sensors.

Another thing you might want to try - reset the lights again, stop the vehicle (leave it running), and giggle the wheel speed sensor wires (with someone watching the idiot lights). If the lights come back on when you giggle the wires, then I'd look closer on whichever side you giggled when the lights came on.

[minicameron]

Indeed it does happen when the car is stationary and turning the wheel! I assume that those sensors are pretty easy to replace? Many have stated that it's a pretty easy process.

Thanks!

[AKIndiMini]

Yup, I replaced my left front wheel speed sensor last year.

It's not terribly difficult - I pulled the wheel off, partially removed the inner plastic wheel well, and removed the wheel speed sensor. I had to use a bit of lubricant on the old sensor - it got stuck in it's hole and I had to use pliers to pull them out.

[minicameron]

Any sort of resetting need to be done once they have been replaced? Or just get the lights to go away as I have previously and that resets them all?

Thanks!

[AKIndiMini]

For the wheel speed sensor, no. All I did was plug the new one in, put everything back together, and all was good. The lights have been off for a year now.

[minicameron]

Awesome, thank you! Did you buy the sensors from your dealer or an online vendor?

Thanks again!

[AKIndiMini]

I bought mine from Jayson at Classic MINI in Ohio.

[mini_macky]

had the trifecta last night while crawling in traffic. when i stepped on the brake, the brake pedal felt like the ABS was engaging, lifted off, brake again and got the same feedback, lifted off then the trifecta

will be cleaning the sensors & fiddling with them with someone in the car to monitor the lights so i'll know which sensors to replace tomorrow

[mini_macky]

Originally Posted by mini_macky

...so i'll know which sensors to replace tomorrow

wait, was just thinking: how do i know which sensors to replace? i have no access to a scan or ice

[AKIndiMini]

On my car, ABS was disabled on the axle that had a defective sensor.

Fortunately, it was winter when my sensor when dead - so I had my girlfriend observe the wheels when I slammed on the brakes in an empty parking lot. In my case, the front wheels remained locked up, while ABS functioned on the rear.

So I ordered a new sensor, and 'guessed' that it was the left side. Also - several MINI techs have mentioned to me that the left front is most often the sensor that fails for some reason...

After installing the new sensor, the lights turned off and stayed off. If the lights would have stayed on, I would have reinstalled the old sensor, and tried putting it on the right side.

This is a cheesy way of diagnosing things, but it worked in a pinch.

[minintrigue]

My lights started to light up several weeks ago so I scheduled an appt. It was the front left wheel speed sensor they said was corroded. When I asked if this was common, I was told it was the most common repair my SA handled...

[britania]

I got the trifecta tonight coming home from work. I noticed that it was mentioned that when it was the wheel sensor the lights were able to be reset only to come back on before the repairs were done. I cannot get my lights to reset (DSC and Tire). The inflation light goes out when I start the car but comes on when I start to move. My question is, with the lights always staying on can it still be a wheel sensor or is it going to be something more $$$$?

[04liquidS]

this thread is awesome, ive been seeing the trifecta for the last month or so and now i know where to start replacing parts.

[OV_MINI]

Just got the trifecta warning lights today. Car going into MINI (still under warranty) on Tuesday for service. Thanks to this board , I'll be going in with expectations of a bad wheel speed sensor(s). I'll let you all know the outcome.

[OV_MINI]

As has been posted several times in this thread, the cause for the triple warning light display (ABS, DSC, TPM) was "a shorted wheel speed sensor". The failing item was the left front wheel speed sensor (also heard in this thread as the most common one failing). MINI replaced it under warranty and things are good.

MINI calls it a PULSE GENERATOR, ABS:345030
Part #: 34-52-6-756-384

Sorry, don't know the cost since ours was replaced while the vehicle was still under warranty.

[derekj4]

I have the Trifecta as well. (In addition to problems with a Xenon, SES light on, bad coolant reservoir, etc. -- this has NOT been a good car for me)

I've found it online for around $60 + shipping.

http://www.rmeuropean.com/search.asp...4-52-6-756-384
https://dartauto.com/parts/Mini/2004/R50/B6/5502

I have no idea about how good either of these companies are....

[anitan1]

I got the trifecta today. But only after a couple of days of having the ASC light flash on and off, accompanied by a loss of power (I could step on the gas and nothing would happen as long as the light was flashing). Has anybody ever had that occur?
Also, how much of a PITA is it to change out the sensor? And does this problem usually occur on 2004 to 2006 Minis? I have a 2002 and don't want to go down the path of changing the sensors if this isn't typically the problem with cars of that year.

[KC Jr 54]

Your car should have the same wheel speed sensor as the others. If you have a shop near by that has a GT1 or some other diagnostic software that can gather deep info from the Mini, have them find out which speed sensor is giving you the issues. That is exactly what i did, ordered the part, and replaced the sensor. Viola, no more lights, and my brakes operate properly now.

Reason mine was bad, some how the wire found its way to the harmonic balancer.... nothing bad, just rubbed the coating off of the wires to the point of loosing connectivity.

[anitan1]

The trifecta showed up twice that day but hasn't come back. The ASC light stil flashes and the car still goes into limp mode, so I still have a problem. My question is: are these still symptoms of the wheel sensor problem?

[Crashton]

My local dealer will read a code & do a diagnosis for something like a half hour of shop time. Your local dealer may also. I'd think the cost may be worth it if you end up guessing wrong & spend money on parts you don't need.

[xristos]

Great read thanks

[anitan1]

The Trifecta came on last week and now stays on. I ordered both front sensors from Pelican parts this Monday and hope to install them this weekend. Wish me luck...

[anitan1]

OK, I finally got around to diagnosing/fixing the Speed/ABS/Pulse sensors in my Cooper. I ordered both replacement sensors and did the driver's side (left side) first, because after reading on here it seems to be the most common side to experience problems. I replaced the driver's side and the lights were still on! I was starting to get nervous, but decided to go ahead and do the passenger side to see if the problem would go away. After removing the wheel and inner plastic wheel shroud, here is what i found:


The sensor had fallen out of one of the brackets and was rubbing against the flywheel. It wore through several of the wires. After replacing this one, the trifecta (obviously) went away. I took pix of the entire procedure. I'll post them later along with a quick write-up. This repair job was SIMPLE. Not difficult at all.

[TimL]

Looks/sounds familiar.
Glad it was an easy fix; happy motoring in the new year!