[s-cars] ABS Off Light Problem

[Tom Green]

There are several listings for owners of diagnostic software willing  
to help such as
this one, or you may get a direct reply from this list.  I believe  
that is what Joe was
suggesting by asking your location.  You may need your own VAG 1551/2  
adapter
(OBD-2 to 2X2) but there are Chinese knockoffs on ebay now that are  
just as good
as the $50 Audi tool.  The point is you don't need to drop serious  
coin for your own
system if you aren't going to be doing a lot of DIY work to justify  
the cost.

http://vagcomlocator.com/tinc?key=cSZEvUVt&formname=VAGCOM

Be sure to check all the information available at ross-tech as Joe has  
suggested
with his link.

There have been a couple of reports of a cheap ebay diagnostic reader  
that is
programmed for most Audi modules and worked fine on s-cars.  It was  
either on
this list or the QW forum.  I don't have any direct knowledge as to  
how comprehensive
it is;  i.e., does it give secondary information, or how much data was  
just stolen from
VAG-COM.

Scott Mockery has some great diagnostic information on his site.  If  
not useful now, it
will be at some time for s-car owners.  At least, code clearing is  
covered there:

http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/

There are some VAG-COM forums on AW and QW but they are marginally  
useful.  I
find they are mostly populated by newer car owners that bought them as  
a gadget
and don't have a clue how to use the software, expecting it to lead  
them by the nose
like a MAC laptop.

The C4 sensors clip into a copper (colored?) holder that should  
automatically place it
in the correct position.  The clips can be damaged or corroded beyond  
use and are
replaceable.  If the sensor touches the rotor it will be damaged very  
quickly and require
replacement.

Some listers have reported problems communicating with the ABS module  
on early
model S4 cars.  I have two S6 vehicles so I sometimes forget there are  
differences.

You should be able to handle it from here.  Good luck.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:59:46 -0400
> From: Brett Dikeman <brett.dikeman at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] ABS Off Light Problem
> To: Brian Armstead <barmstea at voanews.com>
> Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Message-ID:
> 	<9d9c4a330909140759g18ce02b7j7e77a4dbeac536f3 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 7:33 AM, Brian Armstead  
> <barmstea at voanews.com> wrote:
>
>> Brake pad sensor light is off after I did what you suggested -  
>> thanks.
>> Took out the ABS sensors, ?cleaned them, blew out the cavity with  
>> air,
>> and reinserted firmly.
>
> Are C4 platform ABS sensors spaced with ablative caps, as on the C3's?
>
> Second question: did the light originally come on immediately, or
> after the car had been moved a bit?  If it was the latter, then
> something in the ABS controller self-test found a fault.  The major
> thing that is tested then is the ABS valve unit (which is what causes
> your headlights to dim for a second when backing out of a driveway at
> night, etc.)  Seems extremely unlikely (only thing I can think of
> would be some rust or dirt was pushed back up from the old calipers
> and got stuck in the unit), but I agree with Tom- you really do need
> to pull codes to find out why that light is on.
>
> Where are you located?  Someone with VAGCOM might live nearby. Make
> sure they have the proper version and cables (are the S-cars 2x2
> adapters?)
>
> Brett