ABS warning light not working

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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genietud

ABS warning light not working

Post by genietud » Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:21 pm

Our Bongo failed an MOT today because the 'ABS warning light is not illuminating'. Does anyone have any information on whether this is a simple bulb replacement job or due to something more sinister?
Many thanks
scanner
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by scanner » Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:42 pm

It could be just the bulb - BUT.

How long have you had the Bongo?
Is this your first MOT?
Has the bulb ever illuminated at all?

It should come on and then go out everytime you turn the ignition on.
MountainGoat
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by MountainGoat » Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:50 pm

What Year is your Bongo? Some early Bongos did not have ABS. Have you cheked to see if your Bongo actually has ABS by putting your Bongos vin number in the second row of this Russian Website, where it says frame?

http://www.ruzip.ru/eumz/eumzcat.aspx

Tony
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genietud

Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by genietud » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:31 am

We've had it for a year now and it's our first MOT with it. Not sure I can ever remember the warning light coming on when we first got it. Is it an easy job to fit a bulb in the dashboard or would i need to take it to a garage? Also, where would I find the vin number to check out whether it does actually have ABS?
Thanks for your help.
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by MountainGoat » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:47 am

The VIN number is on the plate on the drivers door pillar. The number usually starts SGL*-******.

Tony
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scanner
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by scanner » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:51 am

genietud wrote:We've had it for a year now and it's our first MOT with it. Not sure I can ever remember the warning light coming on when we first got it. Is it an easy job to fit a bulb in the dashboard or would i need to take it to a garage? Also, where would I find the vin number to check out whether it does actually have ABS?
Thanks for your help.

In that case it might be an instance of an unscrupulous seller taking the bulb out (or fitting one that is blown) to hide that fact that the vehicle has a fault with the ABS.

Getting the instruments out and fitting a bulb isn't too difficult (just 4 screws I think) but finding out what is wrong if a new bulb doesn't work is a different kettle of fish.

Unless you are able to do it yourself, I think you are going to have to ask the garage to check it out for you.
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by scanner » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:53 am

An easier way to check if you have ABS is to look under the bonnet for a big square metal block with about 5 metal pipes coming out of it. On drivers side I think near the battery.
genietud

Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by genietud » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:00 am

Oh dear, lets just hope its a faulty bulb then. I'm sorry I'm so clueless, but are they standard bulbs or special ones because it is an import?
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by MountainGoat » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:11 am

The sensors themselves are quite expensive. I have just had to fork out £189.94 for a new nearside rear wheel sensor. Fortunately they are easy to fit unless the holding nut has seized solid and needs drilled out, which was what happened in my case. There are four different sensors, one for each wheel plus a control box under the dash in front of the front passenger seat.

Tony
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by jaylee » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:31 am

genietud wrote:Oh dear, lets just hope its a faulty bulb then. I'm sorry I'm so clueless, but are they standard bulbs or special ones because it is an import?
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by jaylee » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:49 am

Look in the fuse box under the bonnet.. There should be (corresponding with the print on the fuse box lid) 2 ABS fuses? A 20amp mini blade fuse 3rd toward you on the left bank of 6.. & a 60amp larger fuse 2nd from left in the front bank of 6?!!!

To be honest i have a belt warning light with no bulb or holder that when i traced the board was not part of the loom on my model... I used it as a rear fog warning in the end... :D http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... belt+light

You sure you actually have ABS..?? Mine doesn't!
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by teenmal » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:11 am

jaylee wrote:Look in the fuse box under the bonnet.. There should be (corresponding with the print on the fuse box lid) 2 ABS fuses? A 20amp mini blade fuse 3rd toward you on the left bank of 6.. & a 60amp larger fuse 2nd from left in the front bank of 6?!!!

To be honest i have a belt warning light with no bulb or holder that when i traced the board was not part of the loom on my model... I used it as a rear fog warning in the end... :D http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... belt+light

You sure you actually have ABS..?? Mine doesn't!
You would think that the Tester would know if the vehicle had ABS or not as,when the test was taking place (with ABS)the road wheels should not be allowed to rotate clear of the ground with the ignition on as this can cause the system to indicate a fault which could need specialist equipment to rectify.

Cheers.
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by jaylee » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:26 am

teenmal wrote:
jaylee wrote:Look in the fuse box under the bonnet.. There should be (corresponding with the print on the fuse box lid) 2 ABS fuses? A 20amp mini blade fuse 3rd toward you on the left bank of 6.. & a 60amp larger fuse 2nd from left in the front bank of 6?!!!

To be honest i have a belt warning light with no bulb or holder that when i traced the board was not part of the loom on my model... I used it as a rear fog warning in the end... :D http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... belt+light

You sure you actually have ABS..?? Mine doesn't!
You would think that the Tester would know if the vehicle had ABS or not as,when the test was taking place (with ABS)the road wheels should not be allowed to rotate clear of the ground with the ignition on as this can cause the system to indicate a fault which could need specialist equipment to rectify.

Cheers.
Teenmal; (Not in relation to this thread) Would a replacement ecu resolve this problem caused by the above?? ABS light on MOT failure..
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by steveyd » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:37 am

Hi,

I had exactly this problem - somebody (not sure if the dealer or not) had taken the bulb out to mask an ABS fault (turned out I didnt have any front sensors at all!). Without resorting to new bulbs etc I took the dash clocks out and found the hole where the ABS should have been and swapped over the warning light for the AFT being up. Sure enough, the dash light came on and stayed on.

First thing to check (assuming you have an ABS pump) - check that you actually have all 4 sensors - 2 at the back and 2 at the front - in my case somebody had converted mine from 4wd to 2wd and put 2wd non-abs hubs on the front-- which meant no rotors and no sensors. I sourced a couple of s/h ABS 2wd hubs from Bellhill with sensors and it worked!! Much cheaper but is a bit of a gamble - its apparently very difficult to get the sensors out of the hubs without destroying them, but can be cheaper..

If you have all 4 sensors you can easily unplug the connectors and check the resistances or for open circuit. A lot of members do this on the ABS ECU multiplug under the passenger side dash (easier than grovvelling around underneath).

If you search on posts from me you'll see the whole horrid history - but I got them working in the end and swapping for new hubs gave me the opportunity for new wishbones and track rod ends.

Cheers,

Steve
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Re: ABS warning light not working

Post by bigdaddycain » Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:40 pm

jaylee wrote:
You sure you actually have ABS..?? Mine doesn't!
Neither does mine. But does have the ABS symbol on the binnacle, but no bulb in the holder, or wire going to it.
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