My mcs is still at the dealer getting warrenty work done, but they cant figure out an issue with the ABS & dsc lite coming on. What they did was a 4 wheel alignment & replaced the steering column & since then everytime they take the mini out on a test drive those two lites come on. They said it was spitting out a code indicating the steering sensor(??) or something to that affect. The SA hasnt made it real clear as to exactly what it is. He did say they replaced that sensor but it still trips the code. Any advice would be great. I asked him what the code was, but the SA didnt know. I am sure it would help, so when he calls back I will make sure he finds out what the code is.

Thanks....

 

helps the dsc understand what direction the steering wheel is turned to, to compare to wheel motion.... If this thing is not mounted at the correct angle it would need to be calibrated...


Don't know specifically what the issue can be, but it's kind of like having the flat tire sensor go off because one of the wheels has consistantly less pressure relative to the others, and the electronics say... turn on the light.

there is a site called minitechinfo.com where you can read all about this in detail 24 hour access costs $25 and is well worth it if you have issues like this. Look at the PDF files under the training, (and yes you can save/download them to your hard disk) This site is run by BMW/Mini NA and all the dealers use it.

I know there is a pdf that describes the steering angle sensor and how it works with DSC and maybe ABS...

Good Luck,

 

Okay from document "07_MINI Traction Control Systems.pdf" page 12.

"The steering wheel angle sensor is a control module and has a potentiometer with two brushes positioned at 90 degrees apart. The potentiometer signals area sent via the CAN bus to the DSC control unit. The steering angle sensor has to be calibrated to the straight ahead position when its power supply is interrupted. This 'straight ahead' position is constantly being compared to the wheel speed sensors by the DSC control unit."

It is located immediately above the upper universal joint.

Now I am ONLY GUESSING ... but if one of the wheel sensors was no longer transmitting its rotation speed back to the car's computer... the DSC and likely ABS lights would end up lighting up... as if you had a patch of ice under only one wheel, and the ABS would try and modulate the other wheels to control it.

In the first paragraph above it mentions the steering angle sensor control module needs to be recalibrated if "its power supply is interrupted"... of course if they have not done this AND HAVE REMOVED IT's POWER the DSC would likely trigger, but I am not sure about the ABS.

Please do us all a favor, and report back what they say it was... Probe as if they are at fault and you don't speak directly to the mechanic I would expect you might get a different story from the actual truth.

Again, Good Luck

 

Really Great info! Thanks I will ask them about it.

 

Hmmm that has got me thinking......


If power was removed or interrupted as you stated, then the steering angle sensor would need to be recal'd. This makes sense, as when I have actually removed power from the battery in the past, I have had this happen to me, both the ABS & DSC light lit. After driving around a while it resets. Makes me think maybe it does some sort of self calibrating on its own. I would think this could be very likely since removing the battery would cause a power interuption.

Hmmmmmm

 

Ok here is the update per the tech's remarks on my receipt.

"Tech states there is a steering angle sensor fault present. Tech found a steering angle sensor fault present in dsc, causeing tpm & dsc lights to illuminate. Tech found replaced steering angle sensor & would not let tech code or calibrate sensor. Tech checked power supply to sensor, both good. Ohmed out can H and Can L and found reading within spec, tried old sensor back in car but still no difference. Tech recoded kombi, then recoded LEW, then performed quick delete, then calibrated new steering angle sensor."

 

Thanks very much for posting the results of their work...

Happy Holidays Trickle X