E39 - abs/traction control light on.

[eddy_rooney]

hi all, well i have a e39 5 series. the traction control and abs light come on and no cruise control. i had a fiddle with both rear speed sensors and now the lights are still on but the cruise control light now comes on. it didnt work at all before. so im maybe guessing but do you think the car just needs resetting now?

Probably best i take it to bmw or someone who has the diagnostic to reset her and give me some error codes?

would removing the battery for the night maybe give her enough time to reset everything? im not sure how it all works on these cars!

Cheers.

Aaron

[darkhorse737]

check ABS fuses and relays is the first thing i would do.

to the werkz

[peacemaker73]

Hi Eddy, I had the same problem. concerning the cruise control light I did change the electrical unit behind the key lock on the steeringwheel (cost about 20 pound and 1 hour work maximum). Only concerning the ABS and traction control light, I am still wondering what this problem is. Hope to have helped you. Good luck.

[jcmartin95]

I'm having a similar problem on a '99 528. Traction and ABS light on occasionally... and when this happens the speedo and odometer also don't work. A shutdown, lock/unlock and restart usually cures it, so it must be a relay. Any suggestions?

[wrc1045]

likely wheel sensor

[sicilyzam]

I just had the same problem today while on my way to work. my car is a 98, 528.
i'll check the fuses/relay and try changing the sensors then will see what happens.

[Jaco Roets]

My car, a 520i 2001 was fine and never had any problems with the ABS or Traction control lights. Today after washing my car and the engine it stays constantly on. I suspect a wet sensor and shall monitor it over the next two days if this fault would clear.

Do you know where the main sensor sits in the engine compartment?

[sicilyzam]

i checked the relay nothing wrong with it, checked the sensor (rear left one) and it had a broken wire so i bought a new one and installed it. when i turned on the car the lights went off but still the consumption gauge didn't work and as soon as i drove the car the lights came back on and still no speedometer arghhhhhhh!!! had it computer scanned it said rear left sensor fault. unplugged the damn thing and cleaned the connectors, pluged it back lights went off again. drove the car a few meters.....they came back on.
any Ideas????

[Jaco Roets]

Hi All,

I have solved my car's problem. All that I have done was unplugging fuse 17 and 30 (E39 Fuse box) start the car and the lights were off. I thing that when the water came in contact with the main controller pins that caused an error. By unplugging the fuses I have reset/power down the unit from the computer to re assing with the computer.

[hawkedam]

Hi guys, have similar problem. Bought a 2000 530D today, if I turn on the heater/ac unit at all, or open or close any window, the ABS and Traction lights come on, disabling both.

Had a diagnostics guy on it, who was baffled as never seen this before.

Also another strange feature, the rear windows have to be pressed 'up' to go down. If I press and hold lock when outside the car, the fronts go up as they should, the rears go down.

I know the car had a full interior replaced, so does anyone have any ideas what could have caused this please?

Thanks,

Damon.

[Jaco Roets]

Originally Posted by hawkedam

Hi guys, have similar problem. Bought a 2000 530D today, if I turn on the heater/ac unit at all, or open or close any window, the ABS and Traction lights come on, disabling both.

Had a diagnostics guy on it, who was baffled as never seen this before.

Also another strange feature, the rear windows have to be pressed 'up' to go down. If I press and hold lock when outside the car, the fronts go up as they should, the rears go down.

I know the car had a full interior replaced, so does anyone have any ideas what could have caused this please?

Thanks,

Damon.

Hi Damon,

What you describe sounds like a earth problem. Did you check if both the battery terminals are properly connected and also check other earth connection to the body of the car.

You will see there are also one in the engine compartment.

Cheers

Jaco

[hawkedam]

Thanks for the reply Jaco.
I will have another look today, pretty sure everything was checked as I bought the car from a friend who is a mechanic. I will see if someone else can give me a hand, 2 heads better than 1 and all.
Will post if any luck.
Cheers

[crapulcon]

Hi, everything started with the inspection light and few k miles later it looks like a christmas tree. Does somebody know how to reset the computer in a 2003 325?
Thank you,

[AC SCHNITZER 523I]

I've got the same problem, start the car drive about 15 mins and the ABS/ACS and speedo stop working, canged the wheel sensor same thing, turns out it's the ABS control modual, it's a common fault.

Don't go to the BMW stealership for a new one, in the UK they are around £1000 + programing vin.

There are places that rebuild them better than they was before for £150.

I know what i'll be doing.

[hawkedam]

Got mine all sorted, turned out all that it was, were some of the relays under the floor carpet on the drivers side had got wet/corroded over the years. Cost me £140 at local garage to supply and fit. All lights are out and problem has not come back since.