HaloAbs light comes on a week after brake pads replaced following MOT and service costing £581

Jenmac78

Hi all. Last week my 2008 Astra had its service and mot, rear brake pads replaced new bushes (whatever they are) and it cost £581. A week later the ABS light is on and steering feels light. Took it back to the garage to be put on machine, to be told they had resolved it, but the light came on again within minutes of driving away. Again took it back straight away and advised them the steering is also light. Was told this wasn’t connected and I’d probably need a new wheel bearing?! Now got it booked in again Monday, (another day without a car for work!) but the car now seems less roadworthy than it was prior the service and MOT! Not sure what the rules are on this- should they be rectifying the fault free of charge due to the fact that the car wouldprob fail MOT with the light on, or is the work Completely separate? Been told it’s safe to drive with light on but that’s not what it says online. Can’t help thinking the fault with steering and ABS is due to work they did on it. Any help appreciated! Thanks

motorguy

Jenmac78 wrote: »

Hi all. Last week my 2008 Astra had its service and mot, rear brake pads replaced new bushes (whatever they are) and it cost £581. A week later the ABS light is on and steering feels light. Took it back to the garage to be put on machine, to be told they had resolved it, but the light came on again within minutes of driving away. Again took it back straight away and advised them the steering is also light. Was told this wasn’t connected and I’d probably need a new wheel bearing?! Now got it booked in again Monday, (another day without a car for work!) but the car now seems less roadworthy than it was prior the service and MOT! Not sure what the rules are on this- should they be rectifying the fault free of charge due to the fact that the car wouldprob fail MOT with the light on, or is the work Completely separate? Been told it’s safe to drive with light on but that’s not what it says online. Can’t help thinking the fault with steering and ABS is due to work they did on it. Any help appreciated! Thanks

The work is completely separate. The car passed its MOT and subsequently has a fault.

mattyprice4004

It’s a 10 year old car - stuff breaks. Likely unrelated what they’ve done - just bad luck.

AdrianC

Jenmac78 wrote: »

new bushes (whatever they are)

They're the rubber that isolates joints in the suspension.

A week later the ABS light is on and steering feels light.

Probably speed-sensitive power steering, which uses the ABS sensors as the information on speed. Without that, it just defaults to "light", instead of getting heavier as speed increases.

Took it back to the garage to be put on machine, to be told they had resolved it

They probably checked, it looked OK, so they cleared the fault code...

but the light came on again within minutes of driving away.

...and came back because the actual problem was an intermittent poor connection or damaged wire.

Again took it back straight away and advised them the steering is also light. Was told this wasn’t connected and I’d probably need a new wheel bearing?!

Some Chinese Whispers there. Sounds like it's a rear ABS sensor that's flagged up. The sensor is one assembly with hub and bearing.

Now got it booked in again Monday, (another day without a car for work!) but the car now seems less roadworthy than it was prior the service and MOT! Not sure what the rules are on this- should they be rectifying the fault free of charge due to the fact that the car wouldprob fail MOT with the light on, or is the work Completely separate? Been told it’s safe to drive with light on but that’s not what it says online. Can’t help thinking the fault with steering and ABS is due to work they did on it. Any help appreciated! Thanks

Pure coincidence.


The car will drive exactly as before, with the exception that you have no ABS - so if you brake heavily, the wheels will lock - and the steering feels a bit lighter.

sevenhills

Jenmac78 wrote: »

Again took it back straight away and advised them the steering is also light. Was told this wasn’t connected and I’d probably need a new wheel bearing?!

You would think that they could have mentioned this earlier, sounds like they are just spinning you a line of their best guess. It would make me think they were a little untrustworthy.