Dreaded ABS light!

[Steves6n2GTi]

Hi guys, I know there's alot of info on here about polos with abs faults, i've read pretty much every one on here and the rest of the web... Theres some good advice and i was wondering if someone out there could possible help me?

Ive got an x reg 2000 polo gti and my damned abs light came on about a week ago... I took it to the local garage and they plugged it in, aparently my abs pump needs replacing! Code 01276. Now reading on here i believe this may not be true and it could be something much simpler, at least i hope

When i start the engine the light is off and it doesnt come on until i drive it for about 30 seconds.... I cleaned the fuses on the battery and that worked for one journey but as soon as i switched the engine off and on again to come home 'bingo' stupid yellow abs light!

I've read that it could be a wheel speed sensor but don't know how to test which one, or were one is to clean it.

I've also read it could be a damp wiring loom causing current to jump from another system into the abs wiring and i might need to single out the abs loom. Trouble is i'm not sure of the best way to check this.

And finaly it could be the abs control unit which needs to be taken apart checked and possibly a pin needs re-soldering. This one sounds pretty nasty to do but still wouldn't mind doing it if i knew it would help with the light....

Can anyone help me? and by the sounds of what i've read im not going to be the last person with this problem.

p.s if it helps, about 2 days before the light came on for the first time, i skidded on ice and felt the abs kick in... i dont think i've ever felt the abs before and i've had the car for nearly 4 years. Think it might have caused something to blow or short.

thanks any info will help, steve.

[neilGTI]

It will 99% be the following part that has failed:



You will need to dremmel the unit open and then you will see the problem:





Re-Solder the pin that is damaged, then seal the unit back together and put back on the car.

Should get rid of the code.

I have had to do this 3 times in 3 years as the engine bay gets too hot for the unit and melts the solder.

[Steves6n2GTi]

Thanks for the reply mate, think i've read a post of yours elsewhere.... this was the job i was least looking forward too!
Nice pics and details though, will definaly help.

I'll keep you posted of the outcome.

[neilGTI]

It sounds and looks like a bad job but it isnt really if you have a bit of patience.

You can send the unit off to be repaired but your looking at probably £100+ for summat you can do yourself.

The unit onthe bottom can be taken off the car without removing the pump and can even be driven without it on as well just with no ABS

[neilGTI]

welcome to UK-Polos by the way

[Steves6n2GTi]

Thanks neil, glad to be here Well ivegot no abs at the moment anyway so may as well go ahead and do it my self. How deep can you cut? and is there a noticable line to trim along or just guess work?

[neilGTI]

You can cut along the line that you will see when you take it off.

There are 4 screws (from memory) they are star shaped so you will need to get a star shaped socket to get them out without rounding them off.

I just cut until I could "feel" the blade go through, as long as you take you time you will be ok, the chip board is a couple of millimetres from the cut line.

[Steves6n2GTi]

a couple of mil, ouch, no room for error. Do i need to blead the brakes or anything to take the unit off?

[neilGTI]

No no, The brake fluid is in the pump. The control module can be taken off without disturbing the braking system.

I know when I say a couple of mil sounds scary but the cut line is quite deep and the blade on the dremmel would probably snap before you got anywhere near the chip board.

You will be ok I promise, it's scary the first time but you soon get used to it

[joe2612]

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT round off the star headed bolts to the abs pump. Otherwise you'll end up spending hours sawing the abs ecu on the car like i did ....

Otherwise it is quite straight forward, just be patient and use the picture above to take note of where the circuit board runs close to the outer casing.

[neilGTI]

I rounded mine off the first time i did it and had to have the whole pump replaced just to be able to get the shafted screw out.

Cost me £50 to get the pump replaced with another one i had bought off ebay.

Torx sockets definitely needed, they are cheap enough on eBay

[Steves6n2GTi]

Cheers guys for the support Can anyone remember what size torque driver i will need? I ve got a set but some are missing! gaurantee it'll be the one i need...

Also i've heard you might need to disconnect the live cable from the battery? true or false?

[neilGTI]

I didnt disconnect my battery, just unplugged the moudule.

The torx socket you will need is tiny, prob either a 4mm or 6mm (Cant remember off the top of my head)

[Steves6n2GTi]

cool, ive got them... thought it might have been the larger ones.

Cheers.

[neilGTI]

Nah they are tiny, i used a socket the first time and mullered the head on one of them