DSC, ABS, and brake light on highway

[Naz24]

Posting this for Ricky bobby.

All came on while driving highway speed. Any idea of what it is?

[upallnight]

The trinity of DSC ABS and Brake. Did he notice a judder like the ABS kicking in just before the trinity of lights came on? If I had to guess I would say that one of the wheel sensor bid the dust. Scan it and the DTC will tell you which wheel sensor is bad, not unless you want to replace all 4 sensors. If you don't have a scanner if the speed o meter is no longer speeding along, then it's the right rear or is it the left rear?

Don't buy the cheap made in China wheel sensor because the quality control is horrific, buy a genuine sensor or least the OEM sensor. You will also need to replace the plastic connector that goes into the wheel sensor connector, due to heat and cold and the location of the sensor the plastic become very brittle and starts to fall apart as you try to remove it. Remember how the wire goes into that sensor or you can ask TerminatorX. 15 minutes job if all goes well.

[Skier1]

Sounds to me like it has done the plastic drive wheel in the transfer case actuator.

[Ricky Bobby]

I should update (thanks Nazario for posting as I was at a wedding last night) that all lights stayed yellow and i heard no jutters or otherwise could feel anything going on, the lights just popped on. Stayed yellow, and the lights stay on when the car is power cycled so they are on permanently unless I fix something as far as I can tell.

I've been driving on a loose and vibrating right front wheel bearing for a while now, i'm getting ready to replace both fronts and honestly don't drive the car much but i'm sure all the vibes I get from that bad front bearing don't help at all.


I was thinking wheel sensor too, probably on the side where the bad wheel bearing is i'm thinking but I will get it scanned, is it easy DIY?



And to the above about transfer case I don't have the Xdrive transfer case with the plastic actuator I have the old mechanical version so no worries there.

[Ricky Bobby]

is this the wheel sensor?


BMW E53 X5 M54 3.0L > Braking > Sensors > ES#63119 Front ABS Sensor - Priced Each - 34526756379

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

is this the wheel sensor?


BMW E53 X5 M54 3.0L > Braking > Sensors > ES#63119 Front ABS Sensor - Priced Each - 34526756379

That's the right part for the front sensors. You will also need this part. Order it at the same time from ECS.

BMW E53 X5 M54 3.0L > Search > 61131392246

[Qsilver7]

This is the "trifecta"...there's lots of DIYs and discussion about this common BMW e38/e39/e53 malady. If you do a google search using "bmw trifecta"...you will no doubt find many results posted by Bluebee (BimFest forum member) who has culled many threads & DIYs about how to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Even using the BMW GT-1, most times you'll come back with the problem being a sensor...when all is said and done, most times its the ABS module. Again, if you do some research and pull up the many discussions Bluebee has put together along with how to diagnose this issue...the time taken to read what others have already experienced may save you money and time...and find the real culprit causing the issue.

Good luck.

(for example...read this thread, and pay attention to post #6 which has some very good info as to how to interpret the info you get from using a GT-1 scanner & why the info pointing to a wheel sensor may be incorrect: ABS Trifecta lights- how I would approach - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums )

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

This is the "trifecta"...there's lots of DIYs and discussion about this common BMW e38/e39/e53 malady. If you do a google search using "bmw trifecta"...you will no doubt find many results posted by Bluebee (BimFest forum member) who has culled many threads & DIYs about how to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Even using the BMW GT-1, most times you'll come back with the problem being a sensor...when all is said and done, most times its the ABS module. Again, if you do some research and pull up the many discussions Bluebee has put together along with how to diagnose this issue...the time taken to read what others have already experienced may save you money and time...and find the real culprit causing the issue.

Good luck.

(for example...read this thread, and pay attention to post #6 which has some very good info as to how to interpret the info you get from using a GT-1 scanner & why the info pointing to a wheel sensor may be incorrect: ABS Trifecta lights- how I would approach - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums )

Great info as usual Qsilver7. Like the posters in your link I also used Carsoft 6.5 on my X. When I had the holy trinity of lights on, the scan by Carsoft said wheel sensor left front also something about an intake valve in the abs module. Not wishing to replace an ABS pump and hoping that it was just the wheel sensor I replace the front sensor and when I started the engine the holy trinity of lights were exorcised from the car.

[bagpype]

Originally Posted by Skier1

Sounds to me like it has done the plastic drive wheel in the transfer case actuator.

Is was the culprit of my trifecta. A wheel sensor would cause the same thing. One more symptom of the transfer case actuator going bad is when you shut the car off, youll hear a ticking noise coming from under the car. You have to listen from outside the car so after a drive, open your door, turn the key off, and have a listen for some pretty obvious clicking. Good luck.

[Qsilver7]

I just pray that I never get the "bifecta or trifecta" lights...it can be such a tricky issue to diagnose. But thankfully there has been lots of info posted on how to diagnose the sensors to rule them in or out...and if out, that leaves the ABS module.

Lucky for you it was actually the wheel sensor.

Or perhaps you had the benefit of the X5 guardian angels (does anyone remember these little angelic creatures that were part of X5 advertising when xDrive debuted on the 2004 models? I soo wanted to have at least one of the four cardboard cut-outs that were used on the sales floor when the advertising was over, but my local BMW dealership just looked at me as if I were crazy. )

Click link to see short video of "bmw guardian angels":





I also thought it was unfair that "Back Right" (the red haired angel for the rear passenger wheel) got no "face time" in the print ads...only his legs appear in the print ads.