Dash Warning Lights

[ruskie34e36]

Looking for any help/clues I can get with this.. Did the front suspension on my 01 X5, nothing electronic though. Now, after about 20 miles (and only after that many, never less) I get the warning lights on the dash. ABS/Brake/Traction. Driving a few blocks doesnt trigger anything. Originally I found the abs plug not as snug as it should be, snapped it all the way in, and that day we drove about 3 hours, no lights. Couple of months later, Im getting these lights. Only other note is the junction box/connector cover in the wheel well lost its clips, so for a bit it was just hanging Now its neatly and securely attached.

[TwinsPoppa]

Search for similar threads that have those three idiot/warning lights (DSC/ABS/BRAKE).

It could just be a sensor. IIRC, someone replaced a front wheel bearing backwards and it caused a similar fault. Apparently the sensor can only read from one face so they just flipped the bearing. What suspension work did you have done?

Sometimes, a ride-height sensor gets flipped just from lifting the X and lowering it back. In this case, you just need to re-orient the sensor.

Might just need the Steering Angle sensor reset by turning your steering wheel lock-to-lock. Sometimes needs to be actuall recalibrated or replaced.

If you have access to a scanner that would help in troubleshooting.

Those are just some ideas but that's where I would start - check your sensors.

[ruskie34e36]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Search for similar threads that have those three idiot/warning lights (DSC/ABS/BRAKE).

It could just be a sensor. IIRC, someone replaced a front wheel bearing backwards and it caused a similar fault. Apparently the sensor can only read from one face so they just flipped the bearing. What suspension work did you have done?

Sometimes, a ride-height sensor gets flipped just from lifting the X and lowering it back. In this case, you just need to re-orient the sensor.

Might just need the Steering Angle sensor reset by turning your steering wheel lock-to-lock. Sometimes needs to be actuall recalibrated or replaced.

If you have access to a scanner that would help in troubleshooting.

Those are just some ideas but that's where I would start - check your sensors.

I replaced pretty much everything, struts, control, strut arms, and tie rod ends. Knuckle did have to come off due to a broken ball joint mount bolt. But the bearing was not replaced, so that didnt move.

How do I re-orient the sensor? Haven't lifted the car in a while for anything, but curious to see if that was the case.

Also just had the car re-aligned, as after all this thinking about it I noticed the steering wheel being a bit off center.

I don't have a specific scanner or one with monitors capability Is there one on the market that does that, and in the couple hundred $ range?

One other question - what does the mileage driven after each start have to do with the lights being triggered? My wife drives it to her work (~ less than 10 miles one way), and no lights, if I drive it to my work (~ 20 miles one way) I get the light about 15 miles into it. Is it the monitors "checking" and it takes that long to find a fault?

I will update this after I give it a test with the new alignment.. Thank you for the ideas so far.

[TwinTurboGTR]

It can be a multitude of things. Like Twins said, it could be as easy as flipping the ride high sensors... But, you didn't mention what X5 you had. Is it a 4.4 or 3.0? Do you have 4 corner air suspension? If not, then there are no sensors in the front.

So if that is the case, sounds like either your ABS accumulator is going out or your Steering angle sensor is kaput and needs to be replaced. The lights are triggered after certain milage because the system checks all the sensors 3 times. If after the first time the system doesn't respond, it stores the fault into the computer and restarts the test. After the third time it has failed to start up properly within spec and parameters, it will throw the code.

You will need to take it to BMW or an INDY with GT1 software to pull the codes off the dash and see what they say.

As far as software, GT-1 is what is used to pull codes. It can be obtained from retailers anywhere from $500 to $2000.

[TwinsPoppa]

Your steering angle sensor probably just needs recalibration or is bad. Usually the simple reset is turn your steering wheel lock to lock (car on or off is okay). You've probably already done that without actually trying during the normal course of driving. I guess you can try again just to make sure. This simple reset is NOT the same as the recalibration. So, if they can't recalibrate then its obviously bad.

Since you mentioned your steering wheel is off-center a bit you would want to at least have your steering angle sensor recalibrated (if its not totally bad and doesn't need replacement). Recalibration is normally done at a dealer.

If it is bad, after replacement, its something that again would need to be recalibrated by the dealer (or a shop that has the capability). So ...

Best bet is take it to the dealer or an indy who has a GT1. The GT1 can help confirm diagnosis as it will give actual BMW specific codes. Also, once it finds the faults it will have the proper test plans to follow.

There might be a way to test whether you have a bad steering angle sensor without a GT1. I don't know how to do it but it probably involves reading resistance, etc with probes.

If you do a search on steering angle sensor, you might find something.

[TerminatorX5]

The sensor that gets flipped has an elbow and flips backwards - in other words, from looking like a "^" it looks like a "v"... if, the sensor at fault... i don't remember correct orientation, but you can do a search and see the pics...
could be rear left speed sensor...

[ruskie34e36]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

It can be a multitude of things. Like Twins said, it could be as easy as flipping the ride high sensors... But, you didn't mention what X5 you had. Is it a 4.4 or 3.0? Do you have 4 corner air suspension? If not, then there are no sensors in the front.

So if that is the case, sounds like either your ABS accumulator is going out or your Steering angle sensor is kaput and needs to be replaced. The lights are triggered after certain milage because the system checks all the sensors 3 times. If after the first time the system doesn't respond, it stores the fault into the computer and restarts the test. After the third time it has failed to start up properly within spec and parameters, it will throw the code.

You will need to take it to BMW or an INDY with GT1 software to pull the codes off the dash and see what they say.

As far as software, GT-1 is what is used to pull codes. It can be obtained from retailers anywhere from $500 to $2000.

Front suspension is regular McPherson Struts.. So no sensor. Just wanted to verify there wasn't a sensor. Would alignment (steering wheel not centered) have any effect?

[TwinTurboGTR]

Not in my experience. I've had my steering wheel 1/4 turn off center and never triggers a light. My RT front tire is low and the steering wheel is off to the right, no lights. I doubt the alignment would do anything, but crazier things have happened. But I concur with Twins, sounds like a steering angle sensor is not registering correctly or your ABS pump is gone.

[bastereo]

Sounds to be like its time to stop guessing and get the codes read.
I would double check the electrical connections inside that loose box, the wheel speed sensor has a connector in there.


By the way, its the height sensors that can have the arms flipped around. If you have HID headlights there will be a height sensor on the right front lower control arm.
The arm from the sensor should point out from the sensor and the link should go down to the arm.
When they are wrong, the arm points down and the link is parallel to the ground and control arm.

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

[ruskie34e36]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Not in my experience. I've had my steering wheel 1/4 turn off center and never triggers a light. My RT front tire is low and the steering wheel is off to the right, no lights. I doubt the alignment would do anything, but crazier things have happened. But I concur with Twins, sounds like a steering angle sensor is not registering correctly or your ABS pump is gone.

Well, just got to work ( usual 20 mile drive), and no lights. Had the car at an alignment shop (basically had them fix the steering wheel being crooked), sounds like they reset the sensor as well, which wasn't done last time ( tech who did it said he couldn't reset it because the wheel was off center - this is why I agree 100% that alot of shops have no idea what to do with our cars - isnt that a part of the procedure to set the steering wheel straight? - it was centered when I brought it in after replacing the suspension...) Sorry, rant.

Bottom line, unless lights come back on on my way home today, getting it realigned and assuming the sensor got reset fixed it. Im guessing the system threw the light because I couldn't possibly be in a turn for 20 miles (since the wheel was off center).

Thank you all for the input, its good to know what else is a possible cause for this in the future.