ABS Fault lights is there a non dealer involved reset?

kpoling · 02-07-2005, 04:15 PM

Well on the way home last week from a ride, I noticed I had the dreaded alternating ABS lights on at a stop light. I stopped & restarted the bike a couple of times but no joy. This weekend, I checked the ABS sensor gaps (ok of course), tail light OK, 12.45 V on battery, traced the ABS sensor wired as far as I could, no visible chafing or over tight wire ties. Then I installed a brand new Odyssey 680 battery (12.65V), still no joy.

Has anyone found out a way to reset the ABS on this bike without going to the dealer for a Motronic download?

jclark · jclark's Garage

What's the voltage on the Battery when running ( >4000RPM )?

Skippy · 02-08-2005, 02:34 AM

Maybe just call a dealer and maybe he knows.I thought that there maybe a fuse that you could pull or something.But you said that you disconnected the battery and replaced so it's weird that it hasn't reset yet.Does the light alternate from the start or does it first flash simultaniously and then starts alternating after the start?Could be there's still something wrong.You didn't by any chance install a led taillaight or something else connected with the rear brake light?.Good luck hope you will solve it quickly.

kpoling · 02-08-2005, 06:52 AM

JD CLark: I'll test the voltage tonight. I am assuming it is OK because when I last road the bike with the old battery, I had my Gerbing jacket & grips cranked to max & when I tested the battery at rest after the ride, 12.45V.

Skipp: I guess I'll have to stop by my dealer for a chat about this on Saturday.

Highlander179 · 02-08-2005, 06:55 AM

Check the brake light bulb too.

markjenn · 02-08-2005, 07:40 AM

There are rumors that a GS procedure of shorting certain pins in the diagnostic port will work on the S, but I've never seen confirmation. Some faults will reset if you fix the problem, others will not.

If you've checked the obvious things, I wouldn't waste undue effort trying to find it as they fault code is in the system and will probably point you exactly to the issue. Most dealers are pretty good about just reading the code for you.

- Mark

kpoling · 02-22-2005, 12:15 PM

I finally got my bike to the PDX BMW dealer. They hooked it up to their computer & the fault was a "16 ABS piston fault". He cleared it, took it for a test ride & said it did not repeat so it may just have been a random fault from the old battery. He said if the same fault comes up again, it would mean the main ABS unit would need replacing at $1,500+, ouch.

tvrla · 02-22-2005, 12:44 PM

Kevin,

What did they charge for that? When I lived in Salem the shop there charged me $25 to do that, which I think is exhorbitant.

I checked around before hand and found no way to reset the system. From what I was told, the ABS can develop a fault when riding in gravel and somehow it needs to be reset. I think it's pretty goofy that we can't reset it ourselves.

kpoling · 02-22-2005, 01:07 PM

They charged $25 + $2.50 shop consummables. It took the guy 1/2 hour between the diagnostic work & the test ride, I guess that is fair. I wish there was a way to reset it, but BMW does not want "lay persons" working on their high tech stuff. The shop guy told me that BMW gives the dealer the computer to use.

JonyRR · 02-22-2005, 01:15 PM

And yet another reason NOT to own an ABS machine. Not having a user-servicable way to reset fault codes is criminal. I've always wanted to interface the BMW cannon plug with a regular PC. All it would take is the diagnolstic software and the pinouts for the plug. I can't believe someone hasen't done this yet....

LDSRider · 02-22-2005, 02:55 PM

Hey johnnyRR, I've ridden my '99 S almost 90,000 miles and I absolutely know the ABS has saved my ass more than once...it was the cheapest 1000 dollars I ever spent...I've been around bikes my whole life,charter life AMA member, 30 years in 'MOA, raced bikes sucessfully for over 10 years ...I'm definitely not bragging,but in my humble opinion ABS is a wonderful thing......just don't take it out on the track with you....

JonyRR · 02-22-2005, 03:24 PM

I s'pose, and each to thier own, but it sure seems like such a headache in it's BMW implementation. fault codes; total brake failure at inappropriate moments; increased complexity; exorbitant costs if a component fails. I wouldn't say you shouldn't buy abs, but I won't. I rue the day it becomes impossible to spec a ride WITHOUT it....

werewulf · 02-22-2005, 03:51 PM

if it wasnt for ABS, i would still ride a harley! well that and the "doo rag" thing! i see even harley is going ABS on its police models. damn that new v-rod roadster is calling to me!

tvrla · 02-22-2005, 04:26 PM

It's not a question of whether ABS is a good thing or not, the issue is that it's difficult or impossible for the end user to service. And the parts are so extremely expensive. I mean, why does a master cylinder that's already over priced, because it's for an ABS system, now cost three times as much?

Beemuur · 02-23-2005, 02:43 AM

I had that same fault a couple of years ago on my 2000 model. It would not stay cleared. The bike was off warrenty with close to 50 K miles, but BMW bought the part and I had to spring for labor.

kpoling · 02-23-2005, 05:36 AM

I like the ABS as a backup, I have not used it so far (knock on wood), but it gives me peace of mind.

John: Thanks for the info on your experience. I was thinking that if mine does fail, I will just take the bulbs out of the dash. How much was the labor?

eduard · 02-23-2005, 08:49 AM

well after you posted your problem with you abs light, last night I just experienced the same thing. The abs does not want to work. I looked at the bike today and I disconected the battery but no luck. I do have a brand new battery that it's fully charged. Any sugestions.

Flatbutt1 · 02-23-2005, 03:40 PM

http://www.largiader.com/abs/absfault.html

EZ-RIDER · 02-23-2005, 05:11 PM

Hey Tom;

Your the Man, Thanks for the Info.

Every time I take the bike to the Dyno,I would have to go and get the
ABS system reset because the front sensor didn't see movement.
$55.00 Dyno time, $25.00 to have system reset

markjenn · 02-23-2005, 05:19 PM

The problem with these reset procedures is the following:

Note: the K1200, R1200C and R11100S use the same ABS units as the 1150GS, but there is no ABS switch to use for the reset procedure. If you can access pin #21 on the ABS unit, I hear you can ground it to achieve the same effect as having the ABS button (possibly including disabling ABS on startup!).

I'd sure like to hear if someone has figured out how to do a reset of the 1st generation 99-01 ABS systems on the S.

- Mark