Newbe here - Just bought a Z3 2.2 Sport 2002 ABS & DSC lights on already

[JWilliamsZ3]

A warm hello to everyone on here. I bought a Z3 2.2i Sport a couple of weeks ago and I've now got ABS and DSC lights on the dash. I've read numerous threads on different forum sites and getting a codereader/scanner seemed to be the obvious thing to do, I've purchased a icarsoft910 but it's only reading the engine data when plugged into the OBD2 port under the dash, does anyone have this experience or similar?
Many thanks

 

[colb]

It will not read the chassis module using the under dash OBD2 socket that only reads the engine module. To read all the other diagnostic modules you need to connect your code reader to the round PacMan socket in the engine compartment. You will need a BMW 20pin to 16pin OBD2 convertor cable to plug your code reader into. You should then be able to access the chassis module where the ABS DSC codes live. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Round-20...stics-Connector-Adapter-for-BMW-/253324339168

 

[colb]

BMW 20 Pin Diagnostic Socket in engine bay.

 

[abh29]

It will not read the chassis module using the under dash OBD2 socket that only reads the engine module. To read all the other diagnostic modules you need to connect your code reader to the round PacMan socket in the engine compartment. You will need a BMW 20pin to 16pin OBD2 convertor cable to plug your code reader into. You should then be able to access the chassis module where the ABS DSC codes live. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Round-20...stics-Connector-Adapter-for-BMW-/253324339168

I bought mine from a firm in Kent (thanks @mrscalex) never been keen on ordering from China
.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292261018448

 

[colb]

Yes find a UK seller just linked to the one from China as an example there are loads of others on ebay at various prices.

 

[Jjim]

Hi welcome from Mansfield

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[Mario]

If you are ever around Watford pop around and I am happy to help. From my experience it will probably be in this order the ABS sensors on the wheels, then under the passenger seat there are two sensors under the carpet and the sound deadening foam, if you ever got water in that area, even if the carpets don't seem to be wet, then that's your next port of call, then the ABS/DSC module and pump but normally the first two points are the culprit.

 

[motco]

I had this accompanying a refusal by the engine to rev beyond an idle. It was nothing to do with the DSC nor the ABS but it was the throttle body sticking closed. The signals from the pedal and the throttle butterfly and tacho all serve to confuse the computer. If you got any fault codes at all from the OBD do not discount them out of hand as the computer is occupied by a devious little gremlin and he will tell lies to you!

 

[Dado]

Welcome to the Zed fraternity.
Had exactly the same problem, bought the connector plugged in and all it told me was the there was a fault with the abs.
Took it to a local non franchise BMW specialist who identified two sensors on the abs unit under the bonnet, he changed them and no fault since, the abs works too as I have had a couple of brake tests by local specsaver potential customers.
Often amazes me how a bright yellow car with headlights on can go unseen.
Cost for the parts was about £100 and an hours labour £50 or so.

 

[JWilliamsZ3]

Thank you guys, once the pacman round cable adaptor has arrived I'll see what codes it throws up, hopefully nothing too expensive. I'll keep you posted..

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland

 

[Mr C]

Welcome from Southampton

 

[Bumpa]

If you are ever around Watford pop around and I am happy to help. From my experience it will probably be in this order the ABS sensors on the wheels, then under the passenger seat there are two sensors under the carpet and the sound deadening foam, if you ever got water in that area, even if the carpets don't seem to be wet, then that's your next port of call, then the ABS/DSC module and pump but normally the first two points are the culprit.

My 2002 Sport had ABS/DSC error codes. Lifting the carpet on the passenger side showed that the two sensors there were taking a bath in about 2 pints of water soaked into the foam. After replacing both the lateral acceleration sensor and the yaw sensor, all is well. It took weeks to dry the flooring out and find where the rain got in.

 

[JWilliamsZ3]

Update - Finally got the cable and have plugged it in this morning and there's a ton of codes, I've photographed the screen to show them, looks like the yaw sensor(s) are to blame, I'll have to check them out. Do you have to take out the passenger seat or can you access them with the seat in place? Thanks

 

[Mario]

Definitely need to take the seat out and very likely you have a swimming pool on the floor pan, won't make sense to change the sensors if you don't figure out where the water comes from first and fix the leak.

 

[JWilliamsZ3]

Definitely need to take the seat out and very likely you have a swimming pool on the floor pan, won't make sense to change the sensors if you don't figure out where the water comes from first and fix the leak.

Yes seems a sensible plan, is there a way of "waterproofing" the sensors like a heated shrink wrap or something, not sure how resilient they would be to hot air being blown over them

 

[Bumpa]

Yes the seat has to come out, and the other problem is that the carpet (which has the thick foam bonded to its underside) is one piece going from one sill across the tunnel and right over to the other sill. So without dismantling the entire centre console and heater, it won't come out. I ended up removing the rear part of the console where the gear lever and handbrake reside, and then cutting the carpet down the length of the tunnel so I could remove the left side completely. Once the console is put back you can't see the cut at all.

Since then I have cut a flap in the carpet which can be lifted up to expose the two sensors. But first, you must stop the rain getting in!

 

[JWilliamsZ3]

Yes the seat has to come out, and the other problem is that the carpet (which has the thick foam bonded to its underside) is one piece going from one sill across the tunnel and right over to the other sill. So without dismantling the entire centre console and heater, it won't come out. I ended up removing the rear part of the console where the gear lever and handbrake reside, and then cutting the carpet down the length of the tunnel so I could remove the left side completely. Once the console is put back you can't see the cut at all.

Since then I have cut a flap in the carpet which can be lifted up to expose the two sensors. But first, you must stop the rain getting in!

Good thinking re cutting a flap in the carpet, that might be easiest way to access them, would you have best estimate of where you cut yours?