brake issues vauxhall vectra

Thunderbird_2

Hi geekgirl

No updates yet! I hope nothing has gone wrong while doing the testing to the sensors! Please let us know all is ok with you and your husband.

Don't forget to tell us how it went with the multimeter!

geekgirl

Nothing to report. OH has been at work till 9 every eve trying to catch up after 6 weeks off work, as self employed not good! So he ended up working Sunday as well.

If I could have the stuff on a work bench I could do it myself, sounds pretty straight forward but I don't do scrabbling around under cars.

I am going mad wanting this sorting out. I was supposed to go to a private view at a london gallery tonight but I don't want to go too far in the car with the brakes as they are.

I am going to see if my brother could perhaps give us a hand with it during the week.

Weird how the problem is only between 30 and 40 miles an hour now isn't it! Does that indicate anything?

geekgirl

Thunderbird wrote: »

Hi

He must set the multimeter to read ohms. Removing one wheel at a time, unpluging the sensors cable and test its resistance. All the sensors need to give virtually the same reading. If one sensor is giving significant different reading, then it is faulty and need to be replace.

We are trying to take a reading now. It is very confusing as within the ohms section there are different settings. We are setting it to 2k (there is also 200, 20k, 200k, 2m, 20m available) and the multimeter comes up with a 1. Then when we touch the sensors cable that lead down to the brakes it reads lots of numbers quickly then stabilizes at 6. Both front wheels do the same reading, whichever way round we have the black or red things.

we will carry on trying this out to see if there is anything we haven't spotted.

onejontwo

Re the grinding noise , are you sure it's not from the rear ? In which case I've come across many cases of the handbrake shoes (which operate inside the rear disc) either worn down due to sticking, or rusted up due to lack of use/or being stood for some time.
Hope this is of use.

Thunderbird_2

geekgirl wrote: »

We are trying to take a reading now. It is very confusing as within the ohms section there are different settings. We are setting it to 2k (there is also 200, 20k, 200k, 2m, 20m available) and the multimeter comes up with a 1. Then when we touch the sensors cable that lead down to the brakes it reads lots of numbers quickly then stabilizes at 6. Both front wheels do the same reading, whichever way round we have the black or red things.

we will carry on trying this out to see if there is anything we haven't spotted.

Hi

Sensor resistance should be 1500 ohms. When you spin the wheel, the reading will change to random one., But it should be about 1.5k per sensor when the wheel is still. You have done right with setting the multimeter to 2k ohms.

While jacking the vehicle, ask your husband to check the ABS ring for cracks while rotating it. The ABS ring is on the back of the brake discs but smaller with teeth. Ask him to check the passenger side with great detail for any signs of cracks or splitting. It is very likely to be the cause of the noise you are hearing after 30 mph provided the sensors are ok.

Let us know how you get on today. I will try to keep checking for any updates.

Good luck

Thunderbird_2

One more questions springs to my mind.

You said when you switch the ignition on, the ABS light comes on in the dashboard and it goes hen you start the engine. Does it go immediately after you start the engine with other lights, OR does it stay on for a second or two before it goes?

geekgirl

He has just taken a reading from the passenger side which is 1.542. He is going to recheck that and do the driver side to check it against.

geekgirl

Thunderbird wrote: »

One more questions springs to my mind.

You said when you switch the ignition on, the ABS light comes on in the dashboard and it goes hen you start the engine. Does it go immediately after you start the engine with other lights, OR does it stay on for a second or two before it goes?

I put in the key and give it one turn (diesel car so I wait before turning key further and starting the engine), all lights come on then go off after a second including the ABS light, the only one that doesn't go is the handbrake light (obviously as the handbrake is still on). I then start ignition.

Thunderbird_2

geekgirl wrote: »

He has just taken a reading from the passenger side which is 1.542. He is going to recheck that and do the driver side to check it against.

Please don't forget to ask him to inspect the ABS ring for cracks or splits.

Thunderbird_2

geekgirl wrote: »

I put in the key and give it one turn (diesel car so I wait before turning key further and starting the engine), all lights come on then go off after a second including the ABS light, the only one that doesn't go is the handbrake light (obviously as the handbrake is still on). I then start ignition.

The ABS light, somehow, should go a bit later than the other ones. Does it go immediatelt sharpish with the Oil warning light and the rest? or does it go fractionally after the other ones? Check this with great attention please.