Brake Failure nightmares !!

[Cookhouse]

Hi All

I'm fairly new to the Forum, and this is my first post.

I have a GS1200 07 plate and have recently had the brake failure light appear on the dash. On start up it flashes as normal but when i pull away it goes off then comes back on and stays on solid.

I have tried a new bulb in the brake light, no joy i've sprayed some cleaner into the rear brake switch, no joy.

Has anyone else had this problem and managed to sort it. The bikes well out of warranty now and i don't want to take it to the dealer

Can anyone help

Cheers
Baz

 

[slow motion]

Hi Baz
Had similar problem on my 08 GSA, turned out to be rear wheel sensor.
Not sure if yours has all the gubbins?

Also I recal something about the front brake lever touching handguard.
Sorry cant be more help.
Steve aka Slow Motion

 

[autogs]

my moneys on the brake lamp holder is corroded

 

[Cookhouse]

Thanks guys

I'll start with the brake lamp holder then look into the sensor if it's not the cause.

The brake leaver clearance is all ok when i checked it.

Thanks for the advice

Baz

 

[Harry Palmer]

Plus 1 for brake lamp holder is corroded.

Had same thing this summer

Harry Palmer

 

[Marlou]

Id agree, Rear lamp holeder corroded same problem last weekend...

 

[Cookhouse]

Hi Guys

Removed rear light and cleaned it up. Still no joy, brake failure light still on.

When i was riding it the other day, i tried a few things to try and narrow down a cause, and found the following, what do you think?

Start the bike and pull away, warning light goes off, use the back brake only, the light doesn't come on. Use the front brake and the light comes on.

The ABS does't work either as i can lock the back and front wheels

I'm thinking that it's best to get it on a diagnostic tester, anyone know where i can get one and how much are they??

Cheers
Baz

 

[Roberto]

Hi Baz
Had similar problem on my 08 GSA, turned out to be rear wheel sensor.
Not sure if yours has all the gubbins?

Also I recal something about the front brake lever touching handguard.
Sorry cant be more help.
Steve aka Slow Motion

I have this problem right now. It's the rear wheel speed sensor, just can't get it sorted at the moment. Bike still works

If you do have the gubbins also worked out this stops the ESA adjusting too..

 

[Spike]

I have this problem right now. It's the rear wheel speed sensor, just can't get it sorted at the moment. Bike still works

If you do have the gubbins also worked out this stops the ESA adjusting too..

What are those gold and silver things either side of the dash???

Sorry i cannot help with the problem with the light on the dash though.

spike

 

[Roberto]

What are those gold and silver things either side of the dash???

Sorry i cannot help with the problem with the light on the dash though.

spike

Speakers...!

 

[Schtum]

I recently had a Brake Failure warning light on my 1,000 mile old GS. The dealership's diagnostic machine identified an ABS pump failure. They replaced the pump under warranty - just as well as it would, otherwise, have been a £1500 bill.

I suspect, however, that there was probably some grit or shit in the pump and it might have been possible to fix it by flushing it through with brake fluid....

 

[Roberto]

...just as well as it would, otherwise, have been a £1500 bill.

Scary!

 

[ihandyman247]

It may be the low battery!
ABS needs some power in order to function properly

 

[rodders]

It may be the low battery!
ABS needs some power in order to function properly

Agreed.
To check just ride the bike for a few miles to charge it up. switch off and back on again. If that fixes it, then it is low voltage on battery.

 

[duckspeed]

Mine had the same problem, turned out to be the aftermarket LED light unit fitted to the rear light unit, put a standard bulb back in and all OK. This type of fault is often caused by non factory fitments.

 

[Beemerman59]

The OP is stating that his front ABS is not working - that's why the warning light is on so I can't see how its the battery or rear light cluster. A low battery/defective bulb would show up as a warning light but his ABS would still work.

 

[Pukmeister]

Have you removed the fuel tank and inspected the brake fluid levels inside the ServoABS unit ??

If you have fitted thinner brake disks, the fluid level in the internal ServoABS unit will drop (do not confuse with the handlebar reservoir level). A low internal fluid level could cause an alarm. A top up is straightforward (as is a system fluid flush).

 

[WindyChuffer]

I presume that the brakes are actually still working?

Have you tried riding along slowly, and then stamping on the rear brake? Does the wheel skid or does the ABS kick in preventing a skid?

Same on the front (suggest do this in the dry only, when going straight ahead).

If the brakes work, you have nothing to worry about, other than you have no ABS. As has been mentioned before, it is likely a speed sensor or connector failure.

FYI - if you disconnect either of the front or rear wheel speed sensors, then this will cause the ABS & traction control to be disabled, and the brake failure light to stay on. It does not affect the operation of the brakes otherwise.

When I take my 1200 off road, I disconnect my front wheel speed sensor, and this stops all the fannying about required to manually switch it off. There is a connector on the headstock on the RHS of the bike. BMW Off Road School use this method to permanently knobble the ABS. When you switch the ABS off using the official method in the handbook, it comes back on when you cycle the ignition, which is a pain.

 

[Cookhouse]

Hi and thanks to all that have given me advice.

So far I have carried out the checks that you have described, and brakes work fine just no ABS...however the other day the ABS came back on after I blasted some brake cleaner onto the sensors, then later on when I went out for a ride it went off again

So a quick call to motor works and I have a new speed sensor on it's way, along with some new pads for the rear (may as well change them while I'm doing the sensor)

Interestingly the guy at motor works told me that my bike was manufactured 1 month after BMW changed the servo system they used on early 1200s.

Stand by and I'll let you know how I get on with the new sensor.

Baz

 

[WindyChuffer]

Good news!

Sounds like the sensor was coated in crap the. Check that the ring (with slots) fitted to the disk is clean too, and the slots aren't full of crap. The slots are used the speed sensor to detect wheel movement (or lack of).

Presume you have cleaned and checked the front too.