2000 Renault ESpace - ABS fault

chrisball666 · Unread post by **chrisball666** » 15 May 2008, 14:10

Hi there!

I have a 2000 Espace 2.0, 16v and the ABS warning light stays on permanently. Where the clock and temp are usually displayed it now says "STOP" all the time.

The brakes work perfectly and just last week the car passed its MOT. I am guessing that there is a fault with one of the wheel sensors but how can I check that relatively quickly and easily?

Thanks in advance

Chris

chrisball666 · Unread post by **chrisball666** » 15 May 2008, 16:31

UPDATE:

I took the NS front wheel off first just to have a look. With it off I found the wire from the brake pad wear sensor snapped. I know this is unrelated but why haven't I got a brake warning light up?

Anyway I couldn't remove the sensor, 4.5mm allen key and I only have 4 and 5 in my set, so just cleaned up the toothed wheel and checked the sensor connector - seemed OK.

Whilst under there it occurred to me that at the MOT, 6 days ago, they had reported having to resecure the OS drive shaft gaiter. I whipped that wheel off and what did I find? Grease all over the toothed wheel! Closer inspection showed that the gaiter clip had come off and was in fact now on the toothed wheel stopping the sensor from seeing any rotation!

Cleaned it all up, regreased, resecured the clip, and so far so good. It would seem that this clip hasn't damaged the sensor - phew!

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 15 May 2008, 20:16

Hi chris -

The brake pads wear sensor wires does not indicate any thing, when disrupted.
The function is to light up the warning lamp, by providing an earth path for the warning lamp in the dash. In the dash itself the warning lamp other end is fed +12V via the ignition switch.

It is common that garages simply cut the wires, to save time messing with this during a brakes service

chrisball666 · Unread post by **chrisball666** » 15 May 2008, 23:06

Thanks Anders

That's not a very good design. My experience of alarm circuits is that they are normally closed and go into alarm when the circuit is opened. That way if there is a break in the wiring you get an indication of a fault.

Never mind though I'm not bothered about the brake pad wear indicators.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 16 May 2008, 16:29

chrisball666 wrote:Thanks Anders

That's not a very good design. My experience of alarm circuits is that they are normally closed and go into alarm when the circuit is opened. That way if there is a break in the wiring you get an indication of a fault.

Never mind though I'm not bothered about the brake pad wear indicators.

You are right on the alarm circuit approach. Thats exactly the way the radiator coolant level sensor is working.