Intermittent ABS code 53. 5th Gen BB8

prelerepairman · Post by **prelerepairman** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:33 pm

My ABS light has been coming on and going off apparently randomly giving a code 53 -pump motor stuck on- and while I'm not fond of ABS-especially in snow where the interrupt rate is too fast to let the snow clear from in front of the tyre and you end up sledging on a bow wave of snow- I do need to pass MOT. So I've been analysing and observing and believe I've found what's happening:
When engine is hot and car has been parked for 10 mins the light goes off, If I drive around at 30 mph the light stays off until engine is cold. If I drive at road or motorway speeds the light comes on. I guessed it was airflow in engine bay cooling the ABS unit so wrapped pump in foam (carefully wired up so's it didn't get pulled into the belts and pulleys) and light stays off for hours when stationary and doesn't come on when driving at speed. Should get me through mot and then I can wrap or unwrap as I wish! Could it be brake fluid temperature??
I see another post suggesting measuring resistance within pump so will look into that.
My 5th gen has ABS pump behind the screen wash bottle-nearside (UK) of engine bay.
I should add that if you don't know how to cadence brake properly you'd better live with functioning ABS.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:36 pm

only reason heat would make a difference to the brake fluid is if it has absorbed a lot of water and hence would need changing

GJMHONDA2012 · Post by **GJMHONDA2012** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:50 pm

mercutio wrote:only reason heat would make a difference to the brake fluid is if it has absorbed a lot of water and hence would need changing

Would this be what I'm experiencing as when I first start driving my abs light is off and when I apply the brakes u can feel the abs working through the pedal then the light comes on

prelerepairman · Post by **prelerepairman** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:56 pm

Have you checked the fault codes by shorting the 2 pin plug below radio and reading the flashes from the abs light?
Full explanation elsewhere on this site.
You must mean :when I apply the brakes and cause skid to begin??

ps I posted reply to mercutio: wouldn't water in fluid cause spongy brakes? Think I'll give all wheels a good bleed anyway.

GJMHONDA2012 · Post by **GJMHONDA2012** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:00 pm

prelerepairman wrote:Have you checked the fault codes by shorting the 2 pin plug below radio and reading the flashes from the abs light?
Full explanation elsewhere on this site.
You must mean :when I apply the brakes and cause skid to begin??

ps I posted reply to mercutio: wouldn't water in fluid cause spongy brakes? Think I'll give all wheels a good bleed anyway.

havent tried the paper clip test yet I'll give it a try

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:04 pm

it would eventually depends on how much water has been absorbed i suppose i am only surmising the unit is designed to live in the engine bay so will be used to heat mine gets hotter than a standard one would because of my manifold but i dont have that issue.
So either your Abs module is affected in some way that mine isnt or something is affecting it internally ie fluid.

when you wrap it you havnt noticed any dodgy wiring have you?

GJMHONDA2012 · Post by **GJMHONDA2012** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:18 pm

How do u do the paperclip test

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:50 pm

That's how you get the fault codes.
Surely you must have done that repairman, otherwise you wouldn't know you have code 53?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:08 pm

wurlycorner wrote: That's how you get the fault codes.
Surely you must have done that repairman, otherwise you wouldn't know you have code 53?

Its GJM thats asking @wurlycorner

GJMHONDA2012 · Post by **GJMHONDA2012** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:30 pm

mercutio wrote:
wurlycorner wrote: That's how you get the fault codes.
Surely you must have done that repairman, otherwise you wouldn't know you have code 53?
Its GJM thats asking @wurlycorner

Yeah me needing to know the last owner must of done paperclip test before because there's a clip in the coin tray that I've never used