Thread: Basic checklist for 3 amigos

Crud in the discs ( water crossings ) will do it, the harmonics of even a slight brake squeal can trigger the computer. ( I suffer it all the time)As basic as that, clean and re set the computer. But make sure its nothing more serious than this.
Hope this helps Oh and the pedal pulsating back means your abs is still working

Shuttle valve in the Wabco unit is on the list

Originally Posted by Baffle

Crud in the discs ( water crossings ) will do it, the harmonics of even a slight brake squeal can trigger the computer. ( I suffer it all the time)As basic as that, clean and re set the computer. But make sure its nothing more serious than this.
Hope this helps Oh and the pedal pulsating back means your abs is still working

I've got the 3 amigo's now (read "fix 3 amigo's car yard style") but also have a rhf brake canary. It was diagnosed as needing abs sensor but you say the squeal can activate fault? How can you stop the squeal? (it's there when the brakes aren't being used.)

Originally Posted by wozapinin

I've got the 3 amigo's now (read "fix 3 amigo's car yard style") but also have a rhf brake canary. It was diagnosed as needing abs sensor but you say the squeal can activate fault? How can you stop the squeal? (it's there when the brakes aren't being used.)

Yep, it can happen even when you are taking your foot off the brake, I could hear mine when going through tolls, ( should be trolls).It can be pretty quiet some times but still happen. (You get an ear for it)
New original rotors or pads should do it, or, believe it or not, smack the hub with a hammer, pretty hard with the wheel off.In case crud is in the internals.A resort before buying a new hub........( for an internal sensor hub problem)

I to have the 3 amigos problem, for over 2 years now. A terrible thought occurred to me one day when it happened. I know that when the 3 lights come on that I don't have ABS or anything else working. Only the basic braking is working. If one was in hill decent mode and trying desperately not to use the foot brake, and the 3 lights come one, does the hill decent automatically release, and you go hurtling down the slope and into oblivion?
just a thought
PETER

New original rotors or pads should do it, or, believe it or not, smack the hub with a hammer, pretty hard with the wheel off.In case crud is in the internals.A resort before buying a new hub........( for an internal sensor hub problem)

I would not hit a hub with a hard faced hammer. This can damage the harended facing of the bearing surface resulting in catastrophic failure. Hubs get crud in them because the seal has failed or the sensor o-ring has failed. They are a sealed unit containing bearing and reluctor for the ABS. If they have crud you have to change them anyway.

as for basic checks.

3 Amigos check

1. Earth points. 2 x Located behind passenger headlight in front of the air filter. Another inside behind the passenger kick panel. 10mm nuts.

2. Pull the plugs from the modulator and clean with contact cleaner and refit.

3. Amigos which reset with ignition are generally Shuttle Valve Switch related. This will either be the manufacturing fault from WABCO or the o- rings leaking and contaminating the switch connections. A kit can be purchased for the leaking problem and a tutorial ia available for the WABCO fault. All found in the "Good Oil". And provide a permanent fix.

4. Amigos which do not reset with ignition are associated with sensor failure or earth points.
A diagnostic tool is helpful for quickly pinpointing which fault/ sensor is the problem.

5. Change the Brake fluid at the proper intervals. I am amazed at how diligent some people are with engine and gearbox but not Brakes.
Clean fluid is essential for Brake performance in any system.

Cheers.

ooh, yep sorry about that, didn't mean to sound so rough, But a bit of a belt with a rubber mallet or hammer on timber. Have a bit of care about the procedure: ( A last resort, it can work but is only prolonging the inevitable, like you say, needs replacing )

I fixed mine on the weekend after many (really can't remember when I started to ignore them) years of having them on. I bought a shuttle valve from a mob on e-bay (DLS in the UK) for 40 pound and flushed the brake fluid. I also put new pads and rotors in, that I had bought ages ago but never got around to fitting. But I think in my case the shuttle valve switch was at fault, on the muti meter it returned no result when the switch(s) were pressed. It's not that hard a job to do but it helps to have good spanners and a back up car for monday if it all goes badly.