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ESP light / stability control operating


Paul64
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I bought my GTI knowing the G85 sensor behind the steering wheel was Kaput - VW diagnosed it prior to sale - and the previous owner included a 'used but good' sensor when I purchased the car.

I found in Germany, a Company that will refurbish the sensors and test them (KFZ ECU service in Wolfsburg) and sent the spare one away to be refurbished and make it a known 'good' part. Having exchanged the two sensors, I had it calibrated at VW and all was well for a few weeks. Now, when I am driving, there is the ESP light coming up and, at the same time, occasional activation of the ESP system on what feels like the rhs front brake. A little disconcerting as it feels like you have run over something that's deflated the tyre that requires you to correct the steering to maintain a straight course.

I checked for codes - I have access to a neighbours icarsoft code reader - and there weren't any coming up for the steering system. The readout for the speed at the ABS sensors were all steady and the same when driving in a straight line and the G85 sensor is reading movement of the wheel correctly however, the straight-ahead position on the steering wheel is not 0 degrees on the sensor, it's about 8 degrees off.

I guess the agent set the calibration correctly as it worked fine for my daily commute - is this something that can go off-range of it's own accord? Would this offset cause the ESP system to operate if the car is going straight, according to the wheel sensors but the steering wheel is at an angle away from 12 o'clock? 

Any ideas??

 

Thanks!

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Clean the ABS sensors?

If the steering wheel is pointing the car straight ahead when driving and looks centred, check the sensor angle- should be zero. Quickest way if it isn't zero, is to simply remove and reposition the steering wheel slightly until the sensor reads zero. Then adjust the track rod end joints to bring the car (and steering wheel) back to centre again.

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  • 1 month later...

Finally, a break from the rain last week so I set up the steering wheel angle with the OBD reader to 0.0 and adjusted the tracking - it was 8 degrees off initially so easy to move the rack over a few turns on the track-rod ends, as suggested by Mk2.

Ended up having to roast the track-rod end nuts with a blowlamp to free of the threads - managed to get them moving along a ways, did the adjustment and then tightened it all up again after coating with a bit of Bilt Hamber wax to keep things in good condition.

It seemed to have cured the issue anyway, at least for 100 miles but then it popped back up again, ESP fault.

I checked the system voltage and it was running at 11.5v rather than 14 so I suspect this is the root cause of a few issues.

Popped the alternator out in about 30 mins - dropped the engine mounting about 10mm on the three screws to release the lower alternator securing screw, removed the A/C pipe clip and air inlet pipe to the inner arch and out it came. It's a 90A item - car is fitted with A/C.

So far, it's been the starter motor, alternator, A/C compressor, A/C condenser, G85 sensor refurbishment and recalibration for that at VW... The radio packed up (replaced with a good used item) along with the CD player and the antenna is disintegrating... Hopefully, that's the lot now - it's in almost as-new condition otherwise though I do have to get the driver's seat out and repair the spring mounting when I found that sitting alongside the seat a few weeks ago...! 

Paul

Lupo alternator.jpg

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Autodoc provided a new alternator this week and I fitted it yesterday - voltage now normal at 14.5v with no more engine idle speed rising to 1200 for no reason.... Check your voltage first if you have this problem it seems!

I do now have the ESP/traction control lamp lit again so will have to check again with the neighbour's icarsoft reader but I'm not sure I can reset this with the equipment. Does anyone know if low operating voltage might affect the ESP 'brain' and let it lose it's calibration? The car ran OK when I first started it this morning with no indication on the dash but after 10 mins and a turn right up a steep hill in 2nd gear with a little scrabble in the wet, the light lit up and remained so for the rest of the 20 miles run to work.... Any ideas?

Paul

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