ABS Warning Light - Is it an automatic MOT Failure ?

[Nenty]

I recently bought a 2007 R1200GS privately and was rear ended the following day by a car at a roundabout. Damage to the bike was light but it went to a BMW dealer to be repaired and when they gave me the bike back the ABS warning light was on and would not go out. The BMW dealer said the ABS pump needed to be renewed (£1200 quoted) but that they didn't see that it was possible that it could be as a result of the accident. Following the accident I did find that the bike would not start (solenoid clicking but starter not turning) but on other occasions has started fine. The dealer said they could not find any problem with the starter either but it has failed to start again a couple of times since. Fitting a new battery has cured the starting problem so was possibly a faulty battery. My current worry is that the MOT is due and I don't know if it can pass the MOT with the warning light on. If its an automatic failure Id like to "put the light out". Brakes are working fine.
I wonder if the ABS fault warning could have been triggered by the faulty battery as it was showing low voltage even after a long ride.
The previous owner had warned me that he had seen the ABS light go on a few weeks before selling me the bike but it was off when I test rode it and was off prior to the accident. I had covered only about 50 miles up to that point, but with no problems.
Any words of wisdom would be welcome.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Does the warning not stay until the bike reaches a certain speed? If I am right then they will never suspect or know there is anything wrong. Course they could test ride it but that's rare.
Save your self the hassle and money and get rid of the abs and re-plumb by the brakes to standard.

 

[Nenty]

I hadnt thought of that. I know the test centre and they wont test ride it. Only the rolling road brake test which only does 1 wheel at a time. So I could be in luck. It would buy me some time to get it sorted over the winter.

 

[Fanum]

Yes, it is

 

[Mr Bean]

If you are really worried pop a little piece of gaffer tape over it as I don't believe they are allowed to remove it.

 

[Lord Snooty]

The ABS on my K75S has not worked for years yet it passes the MOT every time as the MOT does not require a road test and the flashing ABS light will only go out when the bike has reached the required speed. I suspect your faulty battery may have caused the issue.

 

[Ram]

In short, any warning light on a vehicle is an automatic fail on an MOT. Whether or not the rolling road brake tests are enough to allow the bike to register motion and turn ABS light off is another matter. You may get away with it.

 

[BillWright]

Hi

The MOT manual for Class I & II vehicles is here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../447285/mot-inspection-manual-classes-1-2.pdf

Unlike the car manual, there is no mention of ABS, full stop. This may be because the manual hasn't been updated since 2005. Th tester could use their discretion not to test, citing the potential defect, indicated by the warning light.

However, and somewhat bizarrely the prohibition or PG9 manual at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ata/file/347831/Categorisation-of-defects.pdf
clearly shows that a motorcycle with defective ABS may be prohibited from use.

Bill

 

[Steptoe]

I recently bought a 2007 R1200GS privately and was rear ended the following day by a car at a roundabout. Damage to the bike was light but it went to a BMW dealer to be repaired and when they gave me the bike back the ABS warning light was on and would not go out. The BMW dealer said the ABS pump needed to be renewed (£1200 quoted) but that they didn't see that it was possible that it could be as a result of the accident. Following the accident I did find that the bike would not start (solenoid clicking but starter not turning) but on other occasions has started fine. The dealer said they could not find any problem with the starter either but it has failed to start again a couple of times since. Fitting a new battery has cured the starting problem so was possibly a faulty battery. My current worry is that the MOT is due and I don't know if it can pass the MOT with the warning light on. If its an automatic failure Id like to "put the light out". Brakes are working fine.
I wonder if the ABS fault warning could have been triggered by the faulty battery as it was showing low voltage even after a long ride.
The previous owner had warned me that he had seen the ABS light go on a few weeks before selling me the bike but it was off when I test rode it and was off prior to the accident. I had covered only about 50 miles up to that point, but with no problems.
Any words of wisdom would be welcome.

The brushes in your ABS motor have stuck in their holders. I suspect the low battery has caused them to "arc" and a high spot is holding them in place so they can't contact the commutator.... Take the righthand side tank panel off then with a long drift hit the ABS motor (the part you have to hit is black approx the size and shape of a paint aerosol lid. This should free the brushes.. It may need a few more hits over the days/weeks depending on how bad the high spots are.

In short, any warning light on a vehicle is an automatic fail on an MOT. Whether or not the rolling road brake tests are enough to allow the bike to register motion and turn ABS light off is another matter. You may get away with it.

None of that applies to motorcycle mot's.

 

[Doofus]

I presume you would have mentioned if the speedo didn't work. I recently had the ABS light trigger a couple of times when riding along, and it woudl reset when ignition was cycled, only to come on again a mile or two down the road. My GS911 said it was due to implausible rear speed sensor readings. A couple of days later the speed sensor failed completely - symptons were ABS light always on and no speedo. If your trouble is from the rear speed semsor that could be related to the rear end crash, but i suspect the dealer would have noticed / checked for that.

 

[Rushy]

In short, any warning light on a vehicle is an automatic fail on an MOT.

Not it's not. A vehicle can pass its MOT with an engine warning light on. I think an ABS fault and possibly an Airbag fault may be a failure but that's it. My car recently passed its MOT with a known engine fault and warning light firmly on , it's just an advisory that's all. The garage that MOT'd it are very strict and was not the garage that fixed the fault the following week. I checked it would pass the MOT before I took it in.

By your logic it would fail if it was low on screen wash or oil!?

 

[otruk]

No its not.

 

[Nenty]

Sticking brushes sounds plausible and would explain why its intermittent. Ill give it a wack and see what happens.

 

[autogs]

In short, any warning light on a vehicle is an automatic fail on an MOT. Whether or not the rolling road brake tests are enough to allow the bike to register motion and turn ABS light off is another matter. You may get away with it.

you know this is a motorcycle forum dont you!

 

[Bendy toy]

Removed

 

[Greenman14]

would fail if it was low on screen wash or oil!?

I've had a car fail on low screen wash, not happy at all, the bastards could have just topped it up. I also had a car with a faulty oil warning light, it was on all the time, passed several MoTs no problem.

 

[Nenty]

Sticking brushes sounds plausible and would explain why its intermittent. Ill give it a wack and see what happens.

Gave the can a knock and the light went out. MOT passed too. On the down side the light came back on on the way back from the MOT but at least it passed and I now know where the fault is.

 

[Ram]

Not it's not. A vehicle can pass its MOT with an engine warning light on. I think an ABS fault and possibly an Airbag fault may be a failure but that's it. My car recently passed its MOT with a known engine fault and warning light firmly on , it's just an advisory that's all. The garage that MOT'd it are very strict and was not the garage that fixed the fault the following week. I checked it would pass the MOT before I took it in.

By your logic it would fail if it was low on screen wash or oil!?

Yes it is. And no it should not have. An empty screenwash IS an instant MOT failure, yes, not only that but its one of THE most common failures!. It is also your legal responsability to make sure you have enough screenwash in your vehicle for your journey and you can face penalties for having no screenwash. Yes this is extraordinarily unlikely, but it is the law. Quick google check leads me to this...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2583943/Easy-fix-MoT-failures-cost-thousands-Poorly-placed-stickers-windscreens-screen-wash-ridiculous-reasons-cars-failing.html

Also, as of 2012 any warning light can lead to an MOT failure, this was a European initiative brought in Europe wide. It has taken a while for the legal side of things to take effect in the UK, but i believe they took effect in 2013/14. My vehicle failed its MOT for a air bag warning light, despite the airbag being disconnected and no airbag present. My truck failed its plating for an Engine Oil Light warning, and that was a dodgy sensor.

There are many MOT stations that pass vehicles that technically should not pass, I have had cars pass with bald tyres, Motorcycles with straight through noisy exhausts and semi slick race tyres. This doesnt mean they arent MOT failures, just not so great testing stations.

 

[Ram]

None of that applies to motorcycle mot's.

ALL of this applies to a motorcycle MOT. Which part do you think doesnt?

Here is a quick check list, which will mention the ABS warning light check http://www.motuk.com/Motorcycle%20MOT.asp

Here is the Complete Motorcycle and Sidecar DOT checklist as of 2013, which will mention rolling road brake tests along with everything else. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447285/mot-inspection-manual-classes-1-2.pdf

 

[Mad_Accountant]

I really don't get why anyone can recommend ripping out an ABS system.....(if you want a shit bike why not buy one in the first place?)