ABS problem old but new for me

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:13 pm

Please bare with me on this once again issue, but I could not find anything in the threads that was similar. Hope some one can provide a clue.

My ABS system has failed, but I believe it may be electrical in origin, however. Here is the layout up to the event. Road about 250K no problems, brakes worked fine. Fine road mist from rain ahead of me, saw a large shower ahead, pulled into a dirt driveway and waited out the storm. It did not rain on me and I turned the bike off. Started up and headed down the road and noticed the "brake failure" light flashing fast (4hz).

Checked brakes, no noticeable slowing with rear and front required some arm strong effort. Pulled into paved parking lot, shut down did a walk around and waited to see if any oil - none. Started to destination and still the flash.

Got home and checked the rear brake reservoir and the front, both at the max level. Changed out the rear/brake light fuse, it wasn't burnt out but...

When the ignition is on, the brake light seems to stay in bright mode, when the hand or foot lever is activated the brake light neither dims or brightens.

Reading the threads that the wheel sensors can cause failure? I would suspect that the front sensor is more liable to create the default due to the exposure to the elements. Is it possible that the sensor is "plugged"?

Other than that, not being a mechanic or electrician, I think I have done not too bad in troubleshooting. Thanks for any assistance.

Post by **touchton** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:24 pm

Gary C wrote:When the ignition is on, the brake light seems to stay in bright mode, when the hand or foot lever is activated the brake light neither dims or brightens.

This indicates to me you may have a stuck brake light switch. Check both the front and rear levers to make sure the switch is releasing.

Post by **sweatmark** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:35 pm

If either brake switch circuit was faulty - via broken switch or wire - then the iABS would fault (hence the 4Hz indicator lamp) and the brake lamp would be lit.

The ABS brake switches work in the opposite manner to "normal" switches: their circuit is connected until switch is activated, which breaks the circuit. Consequently, a faulty switch or broken wire connecting switch to iABS control module would break the circuit as if lever or pedal were depressed.

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Sun May 10, 2009 6:46 pm

Thanks for the tips. Now, is there any tricks or ways to check for stuck brake pedals/grips?

Post by **iowabeakster** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:10 pm

Is this the exact profile?

general warning light: off
abs warning light: 4 hz
brake/tail light: BRAKE light ON (continuous)
depress rear pedal: NO SERVO
front brake lever: servo OK

If this is exactly the situation, then check the switch at the rear pedal. It is exposed and easy to see, test, clean, adjust, or replace.

If your servo pump does not work with the front lever, let us know. The problem is going to be tougher to fix.

The wheel sensors are magnetic in operation. A little dirt on them won't hurt 'em. The sensor ring, the perforated ring attached to the wheel, could be bent out of spec. That doesn't seem likely due to your description of events. You could have some road debris jammed in between the sensor and ring.

Laserr Boy · Post by **Laserr Boy** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:50 pm

I have just been through pretty much the same thing and I think it turned out to be the front brake switch. The zip ties were too tight and this coupled with the way the wires are routed beside the steering head caused the front brake switch connector to loosen enough to cause an intermittent open short. On my bike there is a small hole drilled in the steering head and all the wires are bundled together and zip tied through that hole. As soon as I took the brake switch wire out of that bundle it stopped pulling it loose from the plug. Good Luck

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:24 am

Iowabeakster

No servo sound rear or front. Front brake when grip pulled back makes standard clicking sound, but no sound from rear.

Two years ago when I read about the cable issue under the steering head I cut the tie and replaced with Velcro tie. Not that doesn't exclude that possibility.

Sorry for oversight on some info. I'm out of town next two nights, I'll touch base when back.

Thanks again.

Post by **Boxer** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:32 am

On my "Non-ABS" bike, these problems don't seem to affect me whatsoever.

Just my observation.

Karmøy · Post by **Karmøy** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:07 pm

Got that on my bike....it whas a warning for rear bulb failure...

Bad connection,and now all is OK.

Good luck trouble shooting your problem.

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:21 pm

All

Thanks to everyone for their input to help resolve the issue. Now here is where one must step up to the plate with a little egg perhaps and tell it like it is.

After trying everything, almost, but everything within my ability. My friend is assisting me and we talk about how the front brake switch "clicks" but the rear isn't. He takes a rag and a brush and then "click, click, click". The self test works, the brake lights are not on bright anymore and do light up when the handle or pedal or engaged. Test ride to follow.

Which just proves at times it is something so simple....in this case I'm lucky. Lesson learned for a basic newbie, hope this helps others.

Thanks again to all.

lewis · Post by **lewis** » Tue May 19, 2009 4:27 am

iowabeakster wrote:Is this the exact profile?

general warning light: off
abs warning light: 4 hz
brake/tail light: BRAKE light ON (continuous)
depress rear pedal: NO SERVO
front brake lever: servo OK

If this is exactly the situation, then check the switch at the rear pedal. It is exposed and easy to see, test, clean, adjust, or replace.

hello,

i have this exact problem... I switch off the engine, start immediately and the problem is gone...
It happens once-twice a day... in irrelevant times..
Do you think its the rear pedal switch ?

rgds,
George

Flashdog · Post by **Flashdog** » Tue May 19, 2009 7:48 pm

I had this exact problem twice. Once when the bike had been sitting more than a few weeks and again when the battery started to go after 5 years. I think it has more to do with low voltage from an old battery or one that's just partially discharged. My brothers 02' R1150GSA did the same thing. How old is your battery?

lewis · Post by **lewis** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:24 pm

Flashdog wrote:I had this exact problem twice. Once when the bike had been sitting more than a few weeks and again when the battery started to go after 5 years. I think it has more to do with low voltage from an old battery or one that's just partially discharged. My brothers 02' R1150GSA did the same thing. How old is your battery?

i changed the battery a year ago.
but, indeed the bike was sitting for long periods of time...

i use her every day now, so i will keep you informed...

lewis · Post by **lewis** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:39 pm

well,

today i was driving in a declivitous (i dont know if this is the right word) road, for 10', using front brake all the time..
i lost my back servo 4-5 times..

h4harpreet · Post by **h4harpreet** » Mon May 07, 2012 5:01 am

This is my the exact problem, and it started today suddenly after parking at a gas station ...

general warning light: off
abs warning light: 4 hz
brake/tail light: BRAKE light ON (continuous)
depress rear pedal: NO SERVO
front brake lever: servo NO SERVO

2004 R1150R with 11k miles

I saw that people had same issues and got them fixed bu some cleaning, can someone please explain what I need to check and how to clean?

h4harpreet · Post by **h4harpreet** » Wed May 09, 2012 6:37 pm

How do i know if i have iABS or ABS 1/2.

I have a 2004 R1150R w/ ABS.

Post by **sweatmark** » Thu May 10, 2012 12:00 am

h4harpreet wrote:How do i know if i have iABS or ABS 1/2.

I have a 2004 R1150R w/ ABS.

Integral ABS 1

There have been 4 flavors thus far for early K and R bikes:
BMW ABS
ABS 2
Integral ABS
Integral ABS 2

Don't know what they call the ABS systems on F or S bikes.

h4harpreet · Post by **h4harpreet** » Thu May 10, 2012 7:17 pm

The problem started suddenly after I filled gas at a gas station ... Now when I switch the ignition ON, not yet start the bike, there is a self test that runs and during the self test (after about 1 second) the brake/tail light becomes bright and “Brake Failure” light starts blinking at a fast frequency (4 Hz). Even with the bike OFF I have no servo kicking in, either by front brake or rear brake pedal. With bike started and running the situation is the same - no servo assisted brakes.

general warning light: off
abs warning light: Flashing fast @ 4 hz
brake/tail light: BRAKE light ON (continuous)
depress rear pedal: NO SERVO
front brake lever: servo NO SERVO

Bike: I have a 2004 R1150R w/ABS and has around 11k miles. Battery was replaced in Feb 2011.

Did someone face the same issue and can help explain what I need to do to get it fixed?

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ABS problem old but new for me

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