Old Library

On 11/30/97 6:04PM, in message &lt;&#51;4821B3B.506BFC81&#64;erinet<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;, posaune 
&lt;&#108;eah&#64;erinet<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt; wrote:

> I am visiting my girlfriend about ten hours from home and my ABS light went
> on.  Then it went off for two days -- and now its on again.  So the question
> is, whats the problem.  I want to get this fixed as soon as I get home, so
> any and all replies would be greatly appreciated.  I am still under warranty
> and I KNOW the idiots at my dealer are going to give me the runaround so I
> just want to know what is going on before I go to them.

Painful memories!!  I went through FOUR dealer visits to get this resolved.. one "no 
trouble found", one where they picked up a fault code pointing to the ABS hydraulic 
pump, which they replaced - this kept the light off for less than 5 miles (!!).. finally the 
last time I INSISTED that they get permission to replace the ABS control module (p/n 
3A0-907-379-C) after reading that several other list members had been through the 
same BS and had only gotten it resolved by replacing this part.  Well, they didn't want 
to do it at first, but finally said that they got VW to allow them to do it, basically 
because they'd tried everything else already and not found a problem.  As with the 
others, this FIXED the problem once and for all for me.  I find it difficult to believe, with 
as many times as this has been reported amongst our relatively small little audience 
here, that VW can't be aware of this as being a problem area and have a tech bulletin 
out on it.  My dealer insists that VWoA had no idea that this was a problem area.. 
maybe that's changed by now.

Print this message and take it with you.. and tell your service manager that if he wants 
about a dozen more messages from people with stories about the same problem, I'd 
be happy to forward those too.. all of which were resolved by replacing this same part.

Good luck!

--
Kevin Collins
&#99;ollinsk&#64;pacbell<img src=/i/dn.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>
'97 GTI VR6

At 02:50 AM 12/1/97, Kevin Collins wrote:

>finally the 
>last time I INSISTED that they get permission to replace the ABS control module (p/n 
>3A0-907-379-C) after reading that several other list members had been through the 
>same BS and had only gotten it resolved by replacing this part.  Well, they didn't want 
>to do it at first, but finally said that they got VW to allow them to do it, basically 
>because they'd tried everything else already and not found a problem.  As with the 
>others, this FIXED the problem once and for all for me. 

As one of the "several other list members" who saw this problem, I'll
endorse this solution heartily.  Replacing the ABS control module appears to
have been a permanent fix (well, as permanent as they come, I
suppose--haven't seen the problem recur since late July when the replacement
was done).

I'm a bit surprised by the "they got VW to allow them to do it" part though.
Mine got fixed on the second try, when they replaced the ABS control module;
however, they were just about to replace the control module the first time
when someone found a "loose connection" which they assumed caused the
problem, and fixed that instead.  The second time I came in, they said
"enough is enough" and replaced the control module.  Neither time did the
service department say anything about needing permission from VW to replace
it, and even if they did *my* dealer was ready to replace it without
"exhausting" too many other options.  So the decision to replace the ABS
control module may be a dealer to dealer thing, with some opting to do so
and others not. 

Moral of the story, bang and pound on the service mangler's desk until s/he
agrees to replace the damn ABS control module on the first shot. . . .

Best regards,

--
Leonard R. Cleavelin
&#108;eonard&#64;inlink<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15> (preferred)   &#108;cleavelin&#64;solutechinc<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15> (work related)
Never ascribe to malice what may be adequately explained by stupidity.
*****FIGHT INTERNET SPAM!  JOIN CAUCE < http://www.cauce.org/ >*****

On 11/30/97 7:53PM, in message &lt;&#49;.5.4.32.19971201035303.0066ede4&#64;inlink<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;, 
"Leonard R. Cleavelin" &lt;&#108;eonard&#64;inlink<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt; wrote:

> I'm a bit surprised by the "they got VW to allow them to do it" part though.
> Mine got fixed on the second try, when they replaced the ABS control module;
> however, they were just about to replace the control module the first time
> when someone found a "loose connection" which they assumed caused the
> problem, and fixed that instead.  The second time I came in, they said
> "enough is enough" and replaced the control module.  Neither time did the
> service department say anything about needing permission from VW to replace
> it, and even if they did *my* dealer was ready to replace it without
> "exhausting" too many other options. 

I got the whole story about how they can't just go in and replace an expensive part 
willy-nilly without VWoA's approval.. at least in cases like mine, where there was no 
ECU fault pointing to the control module being at fault, or other fault found by their 
"diagnosis" (I use the term loosely)..  only ME and a stack of email messages (!) 
begging to replace this part wasn't good enough.  I can sorta buy this, troubleshooting 
by randomly replacing expensive parts isn't good strategy (though virtually ALL 
mechanics use this method when WE are paying the bill, rather than warranty!!).

> Moral of the story, bang and pound on the service mangler's desk until s/he
> agrees to replace the damn ABS control module on the first shot. . . .

Absolutely, especially in this case where we seem to have pinpointed the cause in 
advance for the goofs...

--
Kevin Collins
&#99;ollinsk&#64;pacbell<img src=/i/dn.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>
'97 GTI VR6

Bobby Lide wrote:
 First of
all this is my first post although I've been a list member for a long while. 
My problem is fairly simple, the ABS light will come on about every other
time a drive the car and stay on for the duration of the ride.  Lately
it has been happening just about every time I drive my car.  I took
it in to the dealership and they couldn't find anything wrong with it but
they did take the ABS sensors on the back wheels out and cleaned them ($66
for nothing).  This fixed the problem for about three days. 
Now here's the real problem, I've read some of the archives and the solution
seems to be to replace the ABS control module.  Unfortunately, I have
31K miles on my car so its not under warranty (although I'm hoping I'm
wrong, I haven't looked at my warranty info yet).  How much is this
going to cost me?  Is this something that I should even worry about? 
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

 


Check the ABS sensors at the front wheels. Make sure that the plastic
harness isn't cracked or broken thus making the ABS idiot light come on.
When I had my SPAX suspension installed, the tire was rubbing the ABS sensor
wire until it ate right through the wire. Next thing you know, ABS light
comes on. Check it out and save yourself another $66 while you're at it.

 

--

Miguel Salvador

MSalvadorGeoCities.Com

************************

 




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The ABS light in my '97 has been staying on
periodically after starting.  The dealer diagnosed it
as a speed sensor problem, but I haven't gotten it
fixed yet.  The brakes continue to work fine; I've
felt the anti-lock engage a few times while the light
was on.