ABS woes

[DeeCee]

Hi,
Looking for advice please.
ABS fault light came on, and a day later, the engine light.
 Duly took to my trusty 'man that can', who plugged it in, and identified rear wheel sensor faulty. He replaced this and although the warning lights went out initially, they came back on during testing.
Man that can suspects possible abs pump/unit/whatever its called is the issue.
New one very expensive, and Man that can loathe to do without first being certain the current one is at fault. 
To have the current one tested (fault may or may not be found or fixable) would require it being sent away, realistically leaving me two weeks without a car!
Second hand units not feasible as they are assigned to a particular car. He has checked the wiring but as far as he can see, everything is ok.

Man that can suggest getting Citroen to run a diagnostic as their software might pinpoint the problem - no appointments until April!!

Any ideas lovely people?

A couple of things that may or may not be relevant. I recently had to have a tyre replaced, two days later the fault lights came on (wondered if it was modern yake on 'your brakes need doing lady' when they dont) However the sensor fault showed for a diff wheel entirely so clutching at straws.....
Also, I had to have the heating/blower unit replaced - revealed wiring burnt out.
Replacement has now stopped working ??
Any insights greatly appreciated. I need my car for work, and as for most folk, money is tight.

D.

[brodfather11]

Your man should be able to plug in a diagnostic code reader which will tell you exactly whats wrong.
The code reader should a lexia/diagbox reader , ask him what the trouble codes are then post them on here.

Someone on here will tell you what they mean

[Multispacer]

Hi,
Looking for advice please.
ABS fault light came on, and a day later, the engine light.
Duly took to my trusty 'man that can', who plugged it in, and identified rear wheel sensor faulty. He replaced this and although the warning lights went out initially, they came back on during testing.
Man that can suspects possible abs pump/unit/whatever its called is the issue.
New one very expensive, and Man that can loathe to do without first being certain the current one is at fault. 
To have the current one tested (fault may or may not be found or fixable) would require it being sent away, realistically leaving me two weeks without a car!
Second hand units not feasible as they are assigned to a particular car. He has checked the wiring but as far as he can see, everything is ok.

Man that can suggest getting Citroen to run a diagnostic as their software might pinpoint the problem - no appointments until April!!

Any ideas lovely people?

A couple of things that may or may not be relevant. I recently had to have a tyre replaced, two days later the fault lights came on (wondered if it was modern take on 'your brakes need doing lady' when they don't) However the sensor fault showed for a diff wheel entirely so clutching at straws.....
Also, I had to have the heating/blower unit replaced - revealed wiring burnt out.
Replacement has now stopped working ??
Any insights greatly appreciated. I need my car for work, and as for most folk, money is tight.

D.

When you say the warning lights went out initially but came back on during testing, do you mean when he took it out for a drive the warning light came back on? If so, that is because the ABS warning only triggers when you get above about 30 MPH. 

One point raising about the ABS sensors on the Berlingo [and other PSA group vehicles of the same era] is that they are quite well known for giving a warning of failure, when they haven't actually failed. The reason being the small plastic bodied sensor sits in a recess on the hub and only has a very small clearance in normal operation. What can happen over time is that rust builds up on the hub underneath the sensor and flexes the ABS sensor body away from the hub to give a warning, as it is no longer sensing the wheel rotation. Diagnostics will show an 'ABS sensor fault' when quite often what is actually needed is the removal of the sensor and the chipping way of the rust underneath to get the minimum clearance before refitting. Just replacing the sensor in this situation will obviously still give a fault warning.

Anyway as @brodfather11 has stated what were the fault codes listed?   

The other thing to look out for [if you search ABS in the forum you will get up threads] is that a number of people with the B9 model have been finding chafed wires inside the flexible conduits [so not immediately obvious as you have to split the plastic conduit open to check inside] on the car side of the wiring [ie the bit before the actual sensor disconnect]

Finally where are you located as there may be another member of the forum in your area who has a 'Lexia' box [the type used by Citroen] that could do a detailed read of your car system?

[DeeCee]

Hi,
Looking for advice please.
ABS fault light came on, and a day later, the engine light.
Duly took to my trusty 'man that can', who plugged it in, and identified rear wheel sensor faulty. He replaced this and although the warning lights went out initially, they came back on during testing.
Man that can suspects possible abs pump/unit/whatever its called is the issue.
New one very expensive, and Man that can loathe to do without first being certain the current one is at fault. 
To have the current one tested (fault may or may not be found or fixable) would require it being sent away, realistically leaving me two weeks without a car!
Second hand units not feasible as they are assigned to a particular car. He has checked the wiring but as far as he can see, everything is ok.

Man that can suggest getting Citroen to run a diagnostic as their software might pinpoint the problem - no appointments until April!!

Any ideas lovely people?

A couple of things that may or may not be relevant. I recently had to have a tyre replaced, two days later the fault lights came on (wondered if it was modern take on 'your brakes need doing lady' when they don't) However the sensor fault showed for a diff wheel entirely so clutching at straws.....
Also, I had to have the heating/blower unit replaced - revealed wiring burnt out.
Replacement has now stopped working ??
Any insights greatly appreciated. I need my car for work, and as for most folk, money is tight.

D.

When you say the warning lights went out initially but came back on during testing, do you mean when he took it out for a drive the warning light came back on? If so, that is because the ABS warning only triggers when you get above about 30 MPH. 

One point raising about the ABS sensors on the Berlingo [and other PSA group vehicles of the same era] is that they are quite well known for giving a warning of failure, when they haven't actually failed. The reason being the small plastic bodied sensor sits in a recess on the hub and only has a very small clearance in normal operation. What can happen over time is that rust builds up on the hub underneath the sensor and flexes the ABS sensor body away from the hub to give a warning, as it is no longer sensing the wheel rotation. Diagnostics will show an 'ABS sensor fault' when quite often what is actually needed is the removal of the sensor and the chipping way of the rust underneath to get the minimum clearance before refitting. Just replacing the sensor in this situation will obviously still give a fault warning.

Anyway as @brodfather11 has stated what were the fault codes listed?   

The other thing to look out for [if you search ABS in the forum you will get up threads] is that a number of people with the B9 model have been finding chafed wires inside the flexible conduits [so not immediately obvious as you have to split the plastic conduit open to check inside] on the car side of the wiring [ie the bit before the actual sensor disconnect]

Finally where are you located as there may be another member of the forum in your area who has a 'Lexia' box [the type used by Citroen] that could do a detailed read of your car system?

Thank you both for taking the time to respond - i always feel reassured asking here.
I have to confess I have no idea re any of your questions. I do know the mechanic is genuine - he refused to yake any money from me because he hadnt been able to fix it.. when I suggested just biting the bullet and get a new one, he said that should be a very last resort, as he wasnt convinced the unit is the problem and suggested the citroen specific diagnostic thingy.
I am near Maidstone in Kent, if anyone is able to help me. 
Its a relief (in a way) to learn that its a common fault, and that its not terminal, as I have to drive to Surrey for a night shift daily, and i cant afford a new car.
 I am going to let my mechanic know about the wires and the clearence/rust you menttion.
Thankfully MOT not due til december so the pinging lights are ok for a bit. D.

[Multispacer]

Hi,
Looking for advice please.
ABS fault light came on, and a day later, the engine light.
Duly took to my trusty 'man that can', who plugged it in, and identified rear wheel sensor faulty. He replaced this and although the warning lights went out initially, they came back on during testing.
Man that can suspects possible abs pump/unit/whatever its called is the issue.
New one very expensive, and Man that can loathe to do without first being certain the current one is at fault. 
To have the current one tested (fault may or may not be found or fixable) would require it being sent away, realistically leaving me two weeks without a car!
Second hand units not feasible as they are assigned to a particular car. He has checked the wiring but as far as he can see, everything is ok.

Man that can suggest getting Citroen to run a diagnostic as their software might pinpoint the problem - no appointments until April!!

Any ideas lovely people?

A couple of things that may or may not be relevant. I recently had to have a tyre replaced, two days later the fault lights came on (wondered if it was modern take on 'your brakes need doing lady' when they don't) However the sensor fault showed for a diff wheel entirely so clutching at straws.....
Also, I had to have the heating/blower unit replaced - revealed wiring burnt out.
Replacement has now stopped working ??
Any insights greatly appreciated. I need my car for work, and as for most folk, money is tight.

D.

When you say the warning lights went out initially but came back on during testing, do you mean when he took it out for a drive the warning light came back on? If so, that is because the ABS warning only triggers when you get above about 30 MPH. 

One point raising about the ABS sensors on the Berlingo [and other PSA group vehicles of the same era] is that they are quite well known for giving a warning of failure, when they haven't actually failed. The reason being the small plastic bodied sensor sits in a recess on the hub and only has a very small clearance in normal operation. What can happen over time is that rust builds up on the hub underneath the sensor and flexes the ABS sensor body away from the hub to give a warning, as it is no longer sensing the wheel rotation. Diagnostics will show an 'ABS sensor fault' when quite often what is actually needed is the removal of the sensor and the chipping way of the rust underneath to get the minimum clearance before refitting. Just replacing the sensor in this situation will obviously still give a fault warning.

Anyway as @brodfather11 has stated what were the fault codes listed?   

The other thing to look out for [if you search ABS in the forum you will get up threads] is that a number of people with the B9 model have been finding chafed wires inside the flexible conduits [so not immediately obvious as you have to split the plastic conduit open to check inside] on the car side of the wiring [ie the bit before the actual sensor disconnect]

Finally where are you located as there may be another member of the forum in your area who has a 'Lexia' box [the type used by Citroen] that could do a detailed read of your car system?

Thank you both for taking the time to respond - i always feel reassured asking here.
I have to confess I have no idea re any of your questions. I do know the mechanic is genuine - he refused to yake any money from me because he hadnt been able to fix it.. when I suggested just biting the bullet and get a new one, he said that should be a very last resort, as he wasnt convinced the unit is the problem and suggested the citroen specific diagnostic thingy.
I am near Maidstone in Kent, if anyone is able to help me. 
Its a relief (in a way) to learn that its a common fault, and that its not terminal, as I have to drive to Surrey for a night shift daily, and i cant afford a new car.
 I am going to let my mechanic know about the wires and the clearence/rust you menttion.
Thankfully MOT not due til december so the pinging lights are ok for a bit. D.

Just to highlight the point about the sensors, I had the ABS warning start flashing up on my vehicle recently and that turned out to be one of the front wheel sensors being too far way from the wheel due to rust build up under the sensor. After removing the sensor, I spent about 15 minutes scraping away the rust [with a small screwdriver] in the recess in the wheel hub where the sensor is located and refitted the sensor [which was now much closer to the hub] and now everything operates okay. It's a bit of a design fault really on the sensors, as the body is plastic and only held in with one bolt, so rust build up on the hub under the sensor, flexes the plastic body of the sensor away from the hub enough to indicate a fault.