Ok, coming home from work, the ABS light and the flat tire light came on simultaneously.

I pulled off and checked my tires. No problem there, all showing the same pressure. Hit the reset button, but to no avail.

The book says my stability control may have gone south. Perhaps.

One mod I have is a MCAW circuit behind the toggle switches, so the DSC defaults to OFF when I start up. So I have in mind the possibility that the MCAW has malfunctioned. I will check into that tomorrow.

Question: Should both lights come on at the same time like that? And no flat tire to be found? And if the ABS has indeed malfunctioned, what is the remedy?

 

Were they both on solid? If the tire pressure light comes on steady I think it is definitely bad.

 

Yes, both came on solid. Now in the past, the tire pressure light came on solid, and I found I did have a nail in the tire, so it worked properly. But this time the two lights came on together.

 

this means one of your abs sensors (aka speed sensors) is out. nuthing to worry about, doesnt effect your cars performance or what not, but get it replaced at soonest convenience

 

+1^

 

After thinking about it, that makes sense. Looks like an easy fix, but is there a way to determine WHICH sensor it is without having to replace each one with a test fit?

 

Find someone with a code OBDII scanner (e.g., ScanGauge); it should give you a code for the individual sensor.

 

Ok, I was hoping it would be something like that. I knew I should have put one on the xmas list, lol.

Looking n the back of the Bentley Manual pages of codes, I don't see any for the ABS sensors though.

 

I dont believe that a Scangauge will read codes except for engine codes, so your gonna have to take it to get diagnosed to see which sensor it is. Im not sure if local autozones or pepboys still do those for free or not, but scanguages II's from my knowledge dont read those kinds of codes.

 

Thanks for the correction.... I wasn't absolutely certain.

My regular mechanic has a SnapOn Solus Pro scanner -- goes for about $3-4k -- which I believe is what he used to diagnose my recent DSC issues.

 

To the best of my knowledge the scanguage does not read it, it will be hard to find someone who has the proper tool, as even the BMW reader does not find these codes as I tried.
If you have the time, take each sensor off, clean the connection and put back on, good chance just some dirt is on there and throwing the light as that is what has happened to a few on here.
Good luck

 

Sounds like a plan.... to do when my back isn't spazzing out.

 

Both of my lights came on this morning, while trying to go up the driveway in snow. I will see if they will reset later today. I hope they go off but if they don't , I guess it will mean a trip to the dealer.