1100 ABS issue?

[MattW]

I've just got home from a 900 mile, 4 day trip to Scotland where my venerable 1100 performed faultlessly - almost (may be something and nothing)...

I was about 10 miles from home on the motorway when out of the blue, the ABS lights started flashing alternately. I was just droning along at 70 and hadn't touched the brakes - they just started flashing. I stopped and started the engine when I got home and the ABS initialised normally (clunk - lights stop flashing).

I'm used to the ABS occasionally being slightly reluctant to initialise from cold but I've never had it go into a fault condition when its already initialised ok - should I be concerned?

ta
Matt

 

[MattW]

Just me then

 

[essjay]

Never seen that before either. Can low battery voltage cause an ABS fault when the bike is already running as well as when starting the engine?

 

[Rob Farmer]

There's a mod here to cure the start up issue

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/ABS_Low_Voltage_Fix.htm

 

[MattW]

Never seen that before either. Can low battery voltage cause an ABS fault when the bike is already running as well as when starting the engine?

Good question and one I can't answer - I'll check over the sensor gaps and fuses / relay etc

There's a mod here to cure the start up issue

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/ABS_Low_Voltage_Fix.htm

Thanks Rob - I'll look into doing that - it's a bit of a pain in the arse having to occasionally have tries at starting to get the ABS to initialise.

 

[motobiker]

That mod is for a completely different issue. Matts problem with the ABS 'faulting' while being ridden is different again.

personally i think it was just a 'hiccup' and not worth worrying about... I certainly wouldn't go hacking at the loom to cure a 'low voltage' start up issue that on the face of it doesn't exist. I would simply replace the battery.

 

[MattW]

That mod is for a completely different issue. Matts problem with the ABS 'faulting' while being ridden is different again.

personally i think it was just a 'hiccup' and not worth worrying about.

I'm inclined to think it's just a hiccup too - I'll check for loose fuses and relays etc and see what gives (too knackered to check when I got back last night).

The startup issue is a bit of a pain but my battery was new a year ago so the next thing to check is probably the starter motor - job for the weekend.

 

[Rob Farmer]

That mod is for a completely different issue. Matts problem with the ABS 'faulting' while being ridden is different again.

And!! I didn't say it was to do with the hiccup but he had mentioned he was having problems with the ABS not initialising occasionally.

 

[waterloo700]

Am I right in thinking any faults (even intermittent) will have been stored in the ABS "brain" and can be read - and cleared - later? There are posts on the forum which detail the use of an analogue volt meter to read the codes although I haven't tried it.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to say don't mess if it ain't broke.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Huh, another Invernesian GSer.

ThreeDawg

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

its obviously age related

you'll have to change the bike for a 1200...

 

[MattW]

Am I right in thinking any faults (even intermittent) will have been stored in the ABS "brain" and can be read - and cleared - later? There are posts on the forum which detail the use of an analogue volt meter to read the codes although I haven't tried it.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to say don't mess if it ain't broke.

I think you're right - I've read something about this.
I'll check all the obvious possibles like wiring, sensors, relays etc and monitor it to see if it happens again. Apparently a fault during riding usually points to a wheel speed sensor (or associated wiring) or ABS modulator issue. I'm hoping if it does reoccur, it isn't the modulator

its obviously age related

Me or the bike?

you'll have to change the bike for a 1200...

Thanks for the advice, but I won't bother

 

[motobiker]

And!! I didn't say it was to do with the hiccup but he had mentioned he was having problems with the ABS not initialising occasionally.

aye.. which is indicative of a fault.. typical yank 'fix' is to bypass that rather than fix the fault. clever eh.

 

[Greg Masters]

Did you have loads of lights on etc?

If so, check the alternator belt tension just in case it wasn't generating enough to keep the lights running and the battery became somewhat drained.

Pre-'99 bikes are worse for the ABS setting problem than later bikes (the revised the ABS circuits)

Greg

 

[Greg Masters]

There's a mod here to cure the start up issue

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/ABS_Low_Voltage_Fix.htm

That's a neat solution.



Greg

 

[MattW]

Did you have loads of lights on etc?

If so, check the alternator belt tension just in case it wasn't generating enough to keep the lights running and the battery became somewhat drained.

Pre-'99 bikes are worse for the ABS setting problem than later bikes (the revised the ABS circuits)

Greg

Not loads of lights - I don't have any spots or electrical accessories (apart from a satnav), but I did have my dipped beam on. However, a new alternator belt is in my near future anyway so I'll sweep up that possibility

 

[waterloo700]

Huh, another Invernesian GSer.

ThreeDawg

And another 1100 too!

 

[Wrigsby1]

When you check the gaps check the ABS rings for shite and rust etc. I had a replacement aftermarket disc on a K with the ABS ring seated not square. It was enough to put the ABS out if I didn't allow a little bit when sorting the clearances so a quick spin of the wheel is a good quick check.

 

[MattW]

Just to update this thread...

In an effort to investigate my intermittent ABS failure to initialise, I stripped the starter motor to check the magnets - all fine .

However, as part of a pretty comprehensive service, I'd removed the tank so that I could get to other stuff. This gave me good access to the battery, where I discovered that the connection of the little battery earth post extension piece was slightly loose . When I'd fitted the new battery about a year ago, I just tilted the tank up - this makes it tricky to get to the battery terminals - I thought I'd done everything up tight but it would appear not

With eveything back together (and the battery terminals properly tightened...) I went for a ride this weekend - ABS initialised on the button every time - what an eejit - sometimes it's the simplest of things...

 

[ThreeDawg]

And another 1100 too!

Three Dawg