"brake failure" on the dash

[johnboy]

Hi All

so this could be a stupid question but the brake failure light remained on today. I spoke to the dealer who indicated it would most likely be an ABS failure £1700 for replacement ouch. Fortunately I have some insurance and it will be covered. Dealer cannot do the diagnostics for a couple weeks. Reviewing posts it seems fine to carry on riding but could the dealer be wrong and there could be another fault indicated by the brake failure - any advice welcome.

Thanks

Johnboy

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Age of bike would be handy as there are different systems. If it's pre 08 maybe 07 then its likely the abs servo. There are cheaper ways to fix it but if the cost is covered then let them carry on.

Maybe somebody can confirm if it was 07 or 08 when they got rid of the servo assist.

 

[johnboy]

Hi

It is a 2011 1200gs tc if that helps.

Johnboy

Age of bike would be handy as there are different systems. If it's pre 08 maybe 07 then its likely the abs servo. There are cheaper ways to fix it but if the cost is covered then let them carry on.

Maybe somebody can confirm if it was 07 or 08 when they got rid of the servo assist.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Ok it's not the usual unreliable servo system then and personally I haven't heard of any other major failures on the later systems. It's usually a switch or something stupid.

 

[comberjohn]

Could be ABS and £1700 but could also be a duff sensor on the front or back wheel.
Happened to me a month ago and I picked up a rear wheel sensor from eBay for £25. Sorted.
Don't think it's an unusual occurrence on the GS.
I understand that the earlier systems can clog up if the brake fluid isn't flushed through every couple of years. That's the expensive one. If you're insured I wouldn't worry too much either way.
The brakes will still work, you just won't have any ABS.
Ah, just seen it's a TC same as mine. Most likely a wheel sensor.

 

[johnboy]

Could be ABS and £1700 but could also be a duff sensor on the front or back wheel.
Happened to me a month ago and I picked up a rear wheel sensor from eBay for £25. Sorted.
Don't think it's an unusual occurrence on the GS.
I understand that the earlier systems can clog up if the brake fluid isn't flushed through every couple of years. That's the expensive one. If you're insured I wouldn't worry too much either way.
The brakes will still work, you just won't have any ABS.
Ah, just seen it's a TC same as mine. Most likely a wheel sensor.

Thanks for the replies. I can now carry on riding with some confidence even though the weather seems to be getting worse!!

 

[Mr K]

Check hand guard not touching front brake lever at all and it is free to move forward a little bit.
Check rear brake light switch cover beside footrest has not been dislodged by boot/trouser leg.

 

[johnboy]

Check hand guard not touching front brake lever at all and it is free to move forward a little bit.
Check rear brake light switch cover beside footrest has not been dislodged by boot/trouser leg.

ah I will check in the morning. It would be good if it was so simple.

 

[B4ndit]

This happened to me. It was the rear wheel sensor. Looks like an easy and cheap job. A GS911 would help here. Mine was done under warranty.

A side isssue for me was the self cancelling indicators not cancelling. That sensor seems to supply info for quite a lot of things.

 

[kwallace21]

Yep, same as mine. Rear wheel abs sensor. £30 second hand off eBay .
All sorted.

 

[Joe narvey]

My friend had this error on his RT last year ( 2013 model). Carries on riding, noticed some oil leaking onto wheel. Eventually get to Bmw garage for recovery to UK and the bearing was disintegrated. Oil was in the abs sensor.

 

[Bendy toy]

The wheel speed sensor allows the headlight to stay on if engine stops when bike is moving, but shuts the light off if the bike is not moving.

Features that I never knew I needed.

 

[Beemerman59]

The wheel speed sensor allows the headlight to stay on if engine stops when bike is moving, but shuts the light off if the bike is not moving.

Features that I never knew I needed.

Could be useful if you run out of fuel whilst doing 70mph in the fast (overtaking) lane. And we know you have run out of fuel before BT as you forget to reset your trip

 

[Bendy toy]

Funnily enough my Suzuki two stroke headlight stays on all by itself when the engine runs out of fuel**. It even goes out when I turn the ignition off. Stunning how they could do that before canbus was even an electronics designer's wet dream.

** But it gets me home/to a petrol station because the petrol tap has a reserve option. The Japanese were so clever back in the 1970s.

 

[Steptoe]

My friend had this error on his RT last year ( 2013 model). Carries on riding, noticed some oil leaking onto wheel. Eventually get to Bmw garage for recovery to UK and the bearing was disintegrated. Oil was in the abs sensor.

The bearing used by BMW costs 40p.

I took one to my "bearing man" to get a replacement and he asked me if it came off a remote controlled model car. They're the lowest possible quality bearing available.

He gave me a far superior replacement bearing that cost £3, the difference in quality was so obvious.
Another fine example of BMW cost cutting.

 

[Steptoe]

Hi All

so this could be a stupid question but the brake failure light remained on today. I spoke to the dealer who indicated it would most likely be an ABS failure £1700 for replacement ouch. Fortunately I have some insurance and it will be covered. Dealer cannot do the diagnostics for a couple weeks. Reviewing posts it seems fine to carry on riding but could the dealer be wrong and there could be another fault indicated by the brake failure - any advice welcome.

Thanks

Johnboy

It could simply be that the ABS brushes in the motor have got stuck.
Can be fixed, there are a few "how to's" on youtube..
As a temporary fix you can give the motor housing (the black piece about the size of an aerosole lid) a short sharp whack with a blunt instrument to dislodge the brushes. This sometime works as a permanent fix.

 

[Wolfgang]

It could simply be that the ABS brushes in the motor have got stuck.
Can be fixed, there are a few "how to's" on youtube..
As a temporary fix you can give the motor housing (the black piece about the size of an aerosole lid) a short sharp whack with a blunt instrument to dislodge the brushes. This sometime works as a permanent fix.

Working for me so far.
Ta lots Neil.

 

[Steptoe]

Working for me so far.
Ta lots Neil.

 

[comberjohn]

Just remembered something when my rear wheel sensor failed.
The speedo stopped working occasionally before I replaced it. May help to diagnose whether front or rear sensor.

 

[newboy]

The bearing used by BMW costs 40p.

I took one to my "bearing man" to get a replacement and he asked me if it came off a remote controlled model car. They're the lowest possible quality bearing available.

He gave me a far superior replacement bearing that cost £3, the difference in quality was so obvious.
Another fine example of BMW cost cutting.

That's quite sad really...

With what we spend on farkles, fuel and running costs - how much more would the "stuff" we all buy today - how much more would it make the end products..

But then if the multiple is £0.40-£3 - makes a bike quite expensive....