ABS / ASC / Transmission lights

ritz27

New member
Hi All.

I need assistance with my E39. I have 2001 530i(Auto) and while driving three warning lights came on the dash. They were the ASC, ABS and the little Gear light (Transmission) lights. After the lights came on the car jerked and while driving i noticed the car lost power. When I stopped at a set of light and took off the vehicle revved slightly high and then started moving. I could not pick up speed, but gradually picked up speed. I then noticed when pressing brakes there was like a slight vibration feedback but not all the time, just once. I also noticed a strange sound from the ABS / ASC Pump.

After parking the car, I drove it around the block and all seemed fine, no faults what so ever. So I used the car the next day and all the warning lights came on again.

Did anyone experience similar sort of problems and what are my solutions? More importantly what will this cost to fix, I hope not an arm or leg, literally.
 

Kish2604

Administrator
Staff member
This will be a little hard to diagnose without codes being read, but top of my mind it could be the ffg:
1. Alternator is failing
2. Wheel speed sensor
3. ABS pump
4. Gearbox limp mode

i am leaning towards the alternator as having the ABS pump and gearbox throw errors together starting at the same time is a little odd.
 

ritz27

New member
This will be a little hard to diagnose without codes being read, but top of my mind it could be the ffg:
1. Alternator is failing
2. Wheel speed sensor
3. ABS pump
4. Gearbox limp mode

i am leaning towards the alternator as having the ABS pump and gearbox throw errors together starting at the same time is a little odd.
Ok so I did pull out the codes with Protool.
some of the faults were historical faults. I attached a pic of the faults
 

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///Moose

///Member
I know this sounds strange but if the error continues then check your battery as well, I had this issue once and it turned to be a dying battery


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Solo Man

Well-known member
I think we had much the same problem with an E60 recently where the abs came on on the idrive and it turned out to be the alternator brushes being the problem. Replaced the brushes without even taking the alternator off and problem was fixed.
 

trevor_e36m

Active member
I had a similar problem with the ASC unit on my 2001 z3. After extensive research, turned out the issue was broken solder joints on the circuitry board inside the asc computer. I cracked the unit open using a Dremel and resoldered the joints, issue gone !!. The two broken joints supply power to the entire thing and get very hot, due to the current draw and bad design.

It seems the numerous heat cycles caused the issue. The issue would reoccur from time to time because of my sub par soldering skills. If your car is using the ASC unit made by ATE (Alfred teves ), then I would check this out
 
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