4 x 4 yellow light on -- more

[Daka]

Is the 4 x 4 light being on pretty much what happens when the STEERING ANGLE SENSOR is bad?
Or can this be caused by something else....I want to be sure before I have the part replaced.....
I notice that the "adaptive headlights" no longer turn, controlled by the SAS?

[blktoptrvl]

Based on my experience, I would always turn to the battery first when electrical problems exist.

Last time I changed my battery out - actually right before - I was getting the 4x4 light along with other oddities and I did notice that my adaptive headlights were not moving too (on startup).

Replacing the battery solved all my electrical problems.

[motordavid]

+1...if the batt is 4-5yrs or older, I would toss in a new one. Best ~$100 you can spend, and even if a new batt doesn't cure the car's ills, it's a new batt.

Batts get fried in SE FL heat.
GL, mD

[Big "J"]

Agreed...unlock the on board diagnostics in your cluster (instructions in Slick's signature) and with everything running / on, get your battery voltage. Should be charging to around 13.5 - 14.0. Make sure that's good before throwing money at it.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Daka

Is the 4 x 4 light being on pretty much what happens when the STEERING ANGLE SENSOR is bad?
Or can this be caused by something else....I want to be sure before I have the part replaced.....

While the 4x4 light can be caused by the steering angle sensor, that in no way implies that that sensor is the only thing that can cause the light. It is only one of many potential causes.

If you aren't doing it yourself, but rather paying someone to do it, then you shouldn't be telling them what to replace anyway. If you do, and it doesn't fix it, it is all on you. What you actually want to pay someone for is to properly diagnose it, and determine what is causing the light to be on.

Agree with the other posters that a bad or low battery can cause any number of symptoms. If the battery is over four years old, that is the only thing I would consider replacing and throwing money at, since you will need one soon enough anyway.

[rayxi]

Many auto parts retailers will test your battery for free. All it costs is your time to determine if you need a new battery.

[ake53]

if you think its your steering sensor... than do the rest by turning the car on and moving the steering wheel all the way to the right and than all the way to left and back to center. it resets and most of the times gets rid of the trifica lights.
happend to me yesterday after a bit of mudding...

[Qsilver7]

Gosh...I thought this thread topic looked familiar.

Just for reference, this very same question was asked in a thread that was started 5/12/13...and the same suggestions were given out...here's a direct link to that six page thread (the discussion went on from 5/12/13 - 5/22/13): http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...only-help.html

[Daka]

Battery is good (2 years old), charge rate is good 13..8 v, I did the lock to lock it went out then came back on, indie coded it off, came back on...he says SAS I just want to be sure before I pay $500 to replace the SAS....

[Big "J"]

Call Bavarian Auto Recyclers in California. They may have a SAS from a salvage. They check it electronically to make sure it functions and they warranty it for 6 months and costs 50-80% less than new units.