ABS Help

#1

Trying to get my ABS to work on my '89 325i and have tried the following:

  • 3 different ABS computers
  • 2 different ABS relays that did not work and still did not work after soldering
    in new fusable link

The ABS light comes on at startup and does not go out…

Any ideas?

thanks,
Steven

#2

steve, call me 800-755-1715 and I’ll try to help. Regards, Robert Patton

#3

Check the wheel speed sensors.

#4

I figured it out. First, the previous owner had removed the bulb from the car.
Next, the replacement bulb I had was burned out. Then, then I found the fusable link in the relay fried and fixed that. While doing all of this I had the
instrument cluster out and with the cluster out the abs light would not go out.
I gave up and re-installed the cluster and guess what - the ABS light immediately went out.

Steven

#5

I figured it out. First, the previous owner had removed the bulb from the car.
Next, the replacement bulb I had was burned out. Then, then I found the fusable link in the relay fried and fixed that. While doing all of this I had the
instrument cluster out and with the cluster out the abs light would not go out.
I gave up and re-installed the cluster and guess what - the ABS light immediately went out.

Steven

#6

Where is this fusible link you speak of?
I have tried 3 computers, ‘new’ sensors at each wheel, and replaced both relays and I still have an ABS light/non-functional ABS. Neither the Bentley nor the factory manual gives me any hope I can further diagnose it myself.

#7

ddavidv wrote:

[quote]Where is this fusible link you speak of?
I have tried 3 computers, ‘new’ sensors at each wheel, and replaced both relays and I still have an ABS light/non-functional ABS. Neither the Bentley nor the factory manual gives me any hope I can further diagnose it myself.[/quote]

Could be the pump itself. (On the phone with my mechanic while perusing the forum).

#8

ddavidv wrote:

[quote]Where is this fusible link you speak of?
I have tried 3 computers, ‘new’ sensors at each wheel, and replaced both relays and I still have an ABS light/non-functional ABS. Neither the Bentley nor the factory manual gives me any hope I can further diagnose it myself.[/quote] I have some working pumps

#9

The fusable link is in the ABS relay mounted above the ABS computer behind the cluster and above the driver’s left knee. IIRC, welding-in the roll cage ususally blows that link (it did on my car and some friends’).
-Matt

#10

The relay should be the only relay under the dash that has a metal cover.
It’s approx 1.5" long by 1" square.

Bend the tabs of the relay cover back and remove the cover. Look down at the base and you’ll see where the fusable link is/was. Take a 7.5 amp blade type
fuse cut the plastic away and cut the blades off of the wire. Solder the wire in
where the old fusable link was.

Steven

#11

Good DIY advice from Steven on that, and if you choose to just replace the relay (what I did), it’s not expensive. The new ones are plastic housings, not metal.
-Matt