Help wth warning lights?

[Hopalong64]

Hi

These lights in the photo came on last night, then disapp eared when I drove to work this morning...

They have just come back on again, and i am hoping that someone can give me a clue as to how to fix this?

The brake fluid reservoir is full to maximum.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Brian4]

These are traction control lights. The centre one is the traction control and the brake one is probably ABS. I think your car will have DSC traction control ( marked on the button on the dash). @Brian H has a similar system to yours and might be able to help more as yours is a 2003 car.

Hopefully just the wheel speed sensors.

 

[mwpe]

You need to get the codes read, it could just be wheel speed sensors or it could be the ABS control unit.

 

[Brian H]

Yep, codes read to give you a clue where to start looking. Have you had either new tyres or tracking done recently?

 

[Hopalong64]

Thanks chaps. I will try and find a garage that can do the diagnostics.

I haven't changed tyres or tracking etc recently...

Hopefully nothing too serious £££ !

 

[mwpe]

For what a garage will charge for diagnostics, you could buy a scanner and do it yourself. The C110 scanner is about £37 from Amazon. You may need to get an adapter for the underbonnet diagnostic socket but they are also available quite cheaply.

 

[Hopalong64]

Sounds like good advice. Will that scanner give me the info I need do you think ?

I guess it would be useful on other cars as well e.g. the wife's X3.

I'll have a look on Amazon

 

[mwpe]

It is quite a good tool, several people on here use it but I am not sure if you need the adaptor for the round socket under the bonnet for chassis items. It worked diagnosing ABS problems on my E46 but that only has the OBD II port. it works on all models.

 

[Brian H]

maybe pit a post on the forum to se if a fellow member has diagnostic kit near you, they can maybe help you out.

 

[Hopalong64]

I've just had a look and I have an OBD port under the steering wheel, but not sure about the round socket that you mention under the bonnet?

I will order the kit tomorrow from Amazon.

 

[colb]

May depend on what year your car is my 12/1999 1.9 4 cylinder built car has obd2 socket under steering wheel and the round pacman socket in the engine compartment. The obd2 socket on my car will only read the engine module, the pacman socket will read all modules.
Have a look in the engine compartment for a round socket twist the lid off and you will see all the connections with the pacman shape in the centre. You will need a round plug to obd2 cable so you can plug in a code reader.
Cables available on Ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OBD2-...hash=item5885a493e0:m:mrYBJvYiEP51FBTtb2oO1zg
You will recoup your outlay first time you use it, far better than paying through the nose to get codes read.

 

[Mint]

...but not sure about the round socket that you mention under the bonnet?...

Hopalong64, mine is a 2002, 2.2 Sport also and the socket under the bonnet peeps are talking about is on the right hand side (when looking from the front) mounted on the rear of the turret by the expansion tank. HTH

 

[mwpe]

That is the one, it is the same as mine but I have never had to use it for diagnostics yet although I have the cable. Colb's link is the cable you need.

 

[Hopalong64]

Thanks guys. I will have a look in the morning as the car is tucked up in the garage now.

Looks like I will need the diagnostic reader and the adaptor.

This has been helpful - never occurred to me before to get my own diagnostic reader!

 

[Jack Ratt]

@Hopalong64 the most common cause for those warning lights is dirty brake sensors. There's one on each hub, but the fronts are the usual culprits. It could be just brake dust or road dirt. If the sensors are faulty the lights would be on all the time. As they come on and go off, I'd say it will be dirty sensors. I had the same problem on mine, but mine was a faulty sensor as my lights were on all the time. Fitted a new sensor and lights went out.

Get the codes read first though and it will either confirm it or diagnose another reason. Where are you based as there may be a member with a code reader near you.

 

[Hopalong64]

I am near Fair Oak / Southampton. I will probably get the diagnostic stuff as who knows when I may need it....

Hopefully never, but that doesn't seem realistic!

 

[mrscalex]

The under dash socket works for engine codes only, eg a knackered camshaft sensor. You have to use the under bonnet 'pacman' connector for chassis codes. So be sure to get that large round converter adapter with it.

The C110 is a nice reader - my brother has one.

I have a £24 reader for my daughter's C2 that works well. I keep meaning to try it on a Z3.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VUW2PB4/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item

 

[Antm72]

As said a code read is the only real way to twll what is going on.
These systems self test at ignition hense why the reset themselves some times.
Hopefully just a sensor and an easy fix

 

[Hopalong64]

Weirdly the lights have gone out today ... I'll wait and see what happens before buying the diagnostic kit ..

 

[WEZ1963]

Sorry for resurrecting an old post but I have the exact same lights on my 2002 2.2 Sport.

When people refer to “Brake Sensors”, are we talking Wear Sensors or ABS?

I’be got a Code Reader and just got the “Pac-Man” adaptor so will be testing later today.