ABS light stays on

[cchilds]

Hi,

I am about to buy a T-reg 206 XS this weekend ;D I test drove it yesterday and was very pleased with it, but noticed that the ABS light stayed for a few seconds when stopping, then went off. Next time it happened I blipped the brake pedal and that seemed to cause it to go off.

Is this normal? There is also a constant squeaking noise that sounds like the fanbelt - could it be related? When I asked the dealer about the ABS light he didn't seem to know what it meant when it was on, but maybe he was just covering something up Any ideas?

I was really happy with the car apart from a couple of things like this that the dealer said he would sort out. It would be a shame to lose the car just because of a couple of niggles, but I'd like to be a bit better informed when I go next time.

Any advice/hints would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, congratulations on what seems to be a great forum.

Cheers,

Chris.

[BigOL]

No the ABS light being alight is NOT normal. It indicates that their is a fault with the ABS, which could make it liable to fail.

I would suggest when you get the car, not to take delivery if this is still happening.

dealer about the ABS light he didn't seem to know what it meant when it was on

He's a prick, that doesn't ought to sell cars. One thing I regard as paramount is the salesman knowing something about what he sells. In all honestie he should not have let you drive the car with this light on.

[cchilds]

Now that was a quick reply!

The salesman is definitely a ******* (any derogatory word would be appropriate here), but I really like the car, and have managed to get a good deal out of him, so I've decided to put up with it, even though he hasn't actually put any effort into selling me the car at any point.

Anyway, that's my rant over... thanks for the advice. The light only came on when I stopped (parked with handbrake on), and went off after, say, 10 seconds or so. When I test drive it on Saturday I plan to take it down a side road or something and slam the brakes on to test the ABS. The car will come with 12 months MOT and a full service, so hopefully either of those will highlight the problem, but can I really trust them?

I agree, I will not be happy if the problem still occurs next weekend, especially as my better half will be driving it regularly.

Thanks again for the advice,

Chris.

[Jonney Napalm]

My advice would be don't accept the car until the fault is sorted out.
The only time you should see your ABS light is when you initially turn the key and all the dash lights illuminate as the systems check themselves out, any other time and you've got problems.
I personally would threaten to pull out of the deal if the salesman did not get it fixed ASAP.
You could be getting a car with a potentially expensive and very dangerous fault.
You say you've got a good deal but you won't be too happy when, at best a large bill for repairs comes along or at worst an insurance claim for an accident caused by brake failure.
I don't want to be a scaremonger, but would you really be happy letting your beloved drive around in a car with a possible brake problem?
I know I wouldn't.


Jonney ;D

[tonyfinn]

NO, don't accept it until the fault is sorted. Follow the excellent advice from those above... DO NOT ACCEPT THE CAR in it's current state.

[Wardy!]

Yeah simple, the ABS could fail when you drive it, I would not touch a car that could fail its braking system without getting it sorted first. Even though you might be getting a good deal on the car and you have made your mind up, is it really worth the possibility of a crash?

[BigOL]

thewardster said:

is it really worth the possibility of a crash?

...................or Death

[cchilds]

BigOL said:

...................or Death

OK guys, point made

I wouldn't be happy with my better half driving it as it is, so I'll be checking that it has been fixed before we accept it. Apparently it's booked in to the garage tomorrow for its service and to have this problem looked at, so I'll have a better idea of what the problem is then.

BTW, should I expect to receive a master key for the 206? I am led to believe that the key is an immobiliser key, so is there a master key that is used to reprogram new keys etc?
Oh, maybe I should start a new thread for that question.

Thanks for all your help & advice,

Chris.

[Wardy!]

There is no master key, the keys get programmed at the car, I cannot remember the procedure I'm sure osmeone does here but it involves the ignitions and turning on off amogst other things, sorry I couldnt be too helpful.

[diag2000]

206's do suffer from water in the main loom for the abs unit which can cause this fault but mostly it is just the brake switch but get it sorted first otherwise you will end up paying for it .Your smarmy sale man might be reluctant to sorting it out because any rectifacion work carried out will come straight of his commision on the deal.Better him paying for it than you !!!!!!
As for the master key you can order key blades that come cut to your car ,most dealers keep the transponder fob in stock and with diag 2000 code them into your bsi no prob.

[Adi]

I am about to buy a T-reg 206 XS this weekend I test drove it yesterday and was very pleased with it, but noticed that the ABS light stayed for a few seconds

I bet who ever bought that car from new....had the ABS fitted as an extra. Cos I'm pretty sure that ABS wasn't available on that model year.
They were first fitted as standard from 2000-20001.

[cchilds]

Thanks for all your help guys, it's much appreciated

Just a bit of an update... We have now bought the car following a successful test drive and being convinced that the car doesn't have ABS. I don't know what the garage did, but the ABS light never comes on any more. (I wouldn't be surprised if they have just cut a wire or purposely blown the LED or something. Can't find any evidence of ABS under the bonnet, so I don't think it ever had it.)

Since buying the car we have accumulated 7 other niggles, and are now having major problems getting them sorted under the 6-month warranty. Apparently the warranty does not cover 'diagnostic time' (i.e. the hour or so they spent confirming that the problems actually existed), even though it is for parts and labour. Has anyone heard of this before?

Cheers,

Chris.