ABS problem?

[scarlet]

Hello all

I always thought everything is fine with my ABS eg lights flash, then go out when start riding etc until the other day when I had to break a little bit harder. The ABS did not come on but the red triangle lit up and the ABS light started flashing as error message. I then stopped the bike. Switched the engine off, restarted her and all was ok until the next harder breaking manouvre.

Apart from that she breaks fine (just without ABS).

Have you got any ideas what it could be?

Thanks!

 

[Steve E]

If you inadvertantly hold the ABS button in whilst starting the bike, those are the exact syptoms because you have turned the ABS OFF.

When restarting you have turned the ABS back ON.

Steve

 

[shugie]

Is this a bike with the servo ABS, or the later ABS sans servo? If the former, perhaps the pump is "unhappy" and needs fettling. Or worse.

 

[Pukmeister]

Assuming its an '04-'07 bike with servo ABS (the most common).

1) Front brake lever microswitch.
2) Low fluid level in ABS pump due to brake pad wear.

Check the front brake lever end isn't touching the inside of the handguard.

It could be that your brake pads have worn,causing the brake caliper pistons to move further outwards, this results in the fluid level in the ABS pumps internal reservoir dropping. As you use the brakes, the level drops further, triggering an ABS system warning.

The ABS pump lives under the fuel tank and you need a little knowledge to know how it works/how to top it up or do a fluid change eg how to remove the fuel tank and get to it etc. If you know anyone with a GS911 unit they could run a diagnostic check which would tell you the nature of the fault. I suspect it would tell you immediately that the ABS pump fluid level is low.

Do not confuse this with the handlebar reservoir level, the handlebar hydraulics are a pilot circuit which triggers the secondary ABS circuit via the pump.

When you look at your front or rear brake pads/calipers, are the pistons protruding at all, suggesting worn pads?

The above info is purely speculation on my part without seeing your bike, if you are really unsure get the bike to a BMW dealer for a check up and play it safe.

Some people (or even dealers) may suggest an ABS pump or computer fault (expensive) which is unlikely IMHO (but not impossible).

 

[scarlet]

Thanks for good advice.

Will get the ABS fluid level checked and hope that is the problem.

 

[scarlet]

All resolved.

In the end I took the bike to BMW and had her plugged in the diagnostic and...it was a fault with the battery. Just in case you want to know, the battery was good enough for the ABS self test etc but when I had to break, the ABS was using so much battery power that the battery could not keep the load, hence all lights flashing and no ABS.