[s-cars] orange light, we hates it, make it go away! gets weird/wired. An answer

[Sam Clarkson]

  Ya gotta love electrics! So it was all just a blown fuse. Earth  
loops did the rest. So what caused the fuse to blow, we asks? Well  
the reversing lights are on the same fuse and it seems the loom going  
across from the roof to the tailgate chafes an I must have had the  
tailgate up to help see whilst reversing onto a trailer.... The  
combination of tailgate up and reverse lights on can lead to loss of  
diff lock and ABS. Owning a car reminds me of owning (did I say that)  
a woman sometimes. =)


Sam,

I do not know the ins and outs of these systems, but based on your
description I would look for a bad ground.

Essentially when you turn on your lights you are providing a ground
for the other systems. I have to run so I can't explain more thoroughly
but perhaps someone else will explain further or state why my theory
is completely wrong! ;-)

HTH
Chris




--- Sam Clarkson <sam at edgetoedge.co.nz> wrote:


> Ok I did the skid tests, so it seems the warning lights are telling
> the truth.
> So when the "ABS aus" light is on the ABS is indeed aus.
> Can someone please explain how the hell turning the headlights (or
> sidelights)on/off will turn the ABS off/on???
> Just to clarify; lights on=ABS on, lights off=ABS off!
> The diff lock doesn't seem to be engaging at all, it does appear to
> be activating/deactivating the ABS, depending,again, on the lights.
> My head hurts (the hairy one, not the 20v one :^)
> Thats a 93 S4 Avant 6 speed by the way.
> On 30/03/2006, at 10:51 AM, Robert Rossato wrote:
>
>
>> Well, to check the diff lock simply find a dry parking lot,
>> activate it
>> when the car is stopped, then move forward slowly while turning
>> left or
>> right.  If you hear the rear inside wheel skipping, your diff is
>> locked.
>>
>> For the ABS, get up to 40 mph (65 kph) or so on a straight empty
> road and slam on the brakes as hard as you can.  Better to do this  
> on a
> dry road so it's easier to recover in case they do lock up.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
>>> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Robert Myers
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 10:24 PM
>>> To: Sam Clarkson
>>> Subject: Re: [s-cars] orange light, we hates it, make it go
>>> away! gets weird/wired.
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all this problem is strange.
>>> The headlights have something to do with it!
>>> when the lights are on the ABS aus light goes er um aus. If i push
>>> the diff lock button the light on that button (saying diff)
>>> goes out,
>>> the ABS aus light comes on but the diff lock indicator does not
>>> activate (the little light on the virtual driveline). If I push
> the button again it all reverses itself again. If I turn the lights
> off it all reverses.How can I work out if the ABS is working or  
> not, If the diff lock
> is working or not, or is it all just sender confusion?
>>>
>>>
>>> At 09:34 PM 3/9/2006, you wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi S
>>>> 94 S4 avant 6 speed.
>>>> "ABS Aus" light is on and I now notice the diff lock won't
>>> engage. No other issues or symptoms that I can detect.
>>>> Shower me with your collective wisdom please.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sam Clarkson
>>>> Edge to Edge
>>>> P.O. Box 27
>>>> National Park 2653
>>>> Ph 0800 800 SKI (754)
>>>> http://www.edgetoedge.co.nz
>