abs traction control warning light and issues

**finallyrangie** · 28th March 2014, 07:42 PM

hello learned people. I am hoping to learn from your communal wisdom once again.

I was driving home from work on thursday in torrential rain when the abs, handbrake and traction control warning lights all came on, they have only ever been on at start up and have been very well behaved otherwise so I was a little concerned but everything seemed to still be working fine, had plenty at the brake pedal, so to be honest I put it down to water getting into a connection somewhere and didn't loose any sleep over it (it was one of those 50 kph on the motorway rainstorms!)

Next morning the lights were still on after start up so I thought they would need cancelling with the notebook and cable when I had 5 mins, that was until I tried the brakes at the end of the drive, there was something, but not much, so I backed it back up and left it there.

quick internet research suggests its the brake accumulator, easy fix but not the cheapest part, but before I commit to that I thought I would check if anyone else has other options, I gather if it's the brake light switch the brakes would still be fine.

I am hoping to identify the problem over the weekend as I am going to visit the folks in the UK leaving next week, so some cheap parts in the luggage on the way home sounds like a good thing to me!

as a;ways any and all advice very gratefully recieved

**Hoges** · 29th March 2014, 02:20 AM

Might be worth checking the integrity of the connectors into the ECUs on the bulkhead in the front passenger foot-well? If they've come a bit loose for whatever reason all the lights will come on as described. Best to remove and refit making sure they positively "click" home ...

**benji** · 29th March 2014, 07:19 AM

The 2 wheel traction control ecus are very well water proofed, but the later type are definately not. Water can leak through the screw holes around the cabin filter.

I'm pretty sure there's a list in RAVE that give a good diagnosis from what lights come up on the dash.

**Scouse** · 29th March 2014, 08:57 AM

A loss of brakes in the morning is normally a sign that the accumulator is dead but it shouldn't give you a warning light issue.
With a weak accumulator, the warning lights will flash on usually in stop/start traffic when the ABS pump can't keep up with the brake applications. If you don't replace the accumulator, the pump can overheat from working too hard.

Can you hear your ABS pump operate? You normally hear it run for about 10-15sec with IGN on.

**finallyrangie** · 29th March 2014, 08:58 AM

Mine is a 1995, so I am hoping that the computer will be okay.

My main concern is not the warning lights but the physical lack of brakes, I didn't leave it for to long before I parked back up as I understand that the abs pump can be damaged by over running and is very expensive so I am hoping it's a lesser evil, I will try to get the some checks done over the weekend,

Thanks for suggestions

**Keithy P38** · 29th March 2014, 09:20 AM

Isn't there an o-ring in the brake system of the earlier P38's that breaks and leaves you brakeless? Could it be that?

**Alex 110** · 29th March 2014, 09:51 AM

Does the p38 use the same abs system as the discovery 2? If so it sounds like the 3 amigos that so many d2s get. Theres a lot on it in the good oil

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**Scouse** · 29th March 2014, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Keithy P38

Isn't there an o-ring in the brake system of the earlier P38's that breaks and leaves you brakeless? Could it be that?

It's one of the plastic discs (?) that breaks. The kit replaces it with a metal type.

**Scouse** · 29th March 2014, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Alex 110

Does the p38 use the same abs system as the discovery 2? If so it sounds like the 3 amigos that so many d2s get. Theres a lot on it in the good oil

Different set up. It's one of the most reliable parts of the P38 & you hardly ever hear of warning light issues.
Sure, there's the odd pump failure but nothing like the dramas the D2 has.

**finallyrangie** · 29th March 2014, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Keithy P38

Isn't there an o-ring in the brake system of the earlier P38's that breaks and leaves you brakeless? Could it be that?

That was another option but I was under the impression that left no brakes at all, and I am not sure if that generates a warning light, if anyone knows I would be very grateful for that bit of information, I think if I am doing brakes I will do that anyway but if there is another problem that's just an extra.

There is still a little braking and pumping the pedal can get it to firm back up, but only for a few seconds, I am just grateful it didn't go to that on the motorway

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