Hi everyone I've recently got my car and the abs doesn't work done a bit of googling and get to many abs issues coming up so could some one tell me where to start fault finding? Cars a 6N2 2000 se with disks all round there's no abs light on but these abs doesn't work as i locked the front wheels up braking hard to test it checked the fuse its fine haven't tested the bulb yet but that's next what you recomend after this? Will plugging in to vag com help?

Thanks in advance kev.

First place to check would be the fuselinks on top of the battery as these are prone to cracking, they might look OK but remove them and physically check them and make sure they are free from corrosion as this can cause a voltage drop and will stop the system, then connect it to vagcom to check for any stored faults, make a note of them then clear them and take it for a drive above 20 mph brake hard a couple of times then rescan for any new faults and then fault find/replace as required.

Went over everything changed the 4 fuses on the battery link and checked all at 12v changed the one in car and double checked 12v there should my abs light come on with ignition ? Cos mine dose not! Also unplugged the main plug from the ads unit and no corrosion on anything there I'm guessing the previous owners removed the bulb before selling it!

Went over everything changed the 4 fuses on the battery link and checked all at 12v changed the one in car and double checked 12v there should my abs light come on with ignition ? Cos mine dose not! Also unplugged the main plug from the ads unit and no corrosion on anything there I'm guessing the previous owners removed the bulb before selling it!

You say you replaced the fuses? it's not the plasic covered ones that are the problem, it's the flat metal strips between the bolted connections.

The light should come on at ignition being switched ON then go out after a few seconds to confirm the system is OK

Went over everything changed the 4 fuses on the battery link and checked all at 12v changed the one in car and double checked 12v there should my abs light come on with ignition ? Cos mine dose not! Also unplugged the main plug from the ads unit and no corrosion on anything there I'm guessing the previous owners removed the bulb before selling it!

You say you replaced the fuses? it's not the plasic covered ones that are the problem, it's the flat metal strips between the bolted connections.

The light should come on at ignition being switched ON then go out after a few seconds to confirm the system is OK

I checked over all the fuse links and there fine the light doesn't come on at all witch leads me to think the bulbs gorn or been removed.

This is a pic of my ignition lights

No Picture

If you bought it like that, chances are the bulb has been removed, to mask the problem.

I was also going to suggest check the bulb is present and working!

Here's the pic of the ignition lights

It's also possible to fool the speedo pod that the car does'nt have ABS, if you put a permanent ground on pin 19 of the blue connector it will inhibit the light, in a car with ABS pin 19 goes to the ABS control unit pin 16

See, this is weird. This is another Polo without the Engine Management lights on, when the ignition is on. It was my understanding that they should come on, and then go out once the engine is running?

See, this is weird. This is another Polo without the Engine Management lights on, when the ignition is on. It was my understanding that they should come on, and then go out once the engine is running?

On my Ibiza you get both the EML & EPC on untill the engine is started then hopefully they go out.

Here's the pic of the ignition lights

Do you have to use vagcom to read the codes or will any obd2 reader work? s I'm going to go and check the bulbs now but i am able to get to diagnostic equipment but not vagcom plus can you get copies of vagcom online to download as would be usefull?

See, this is weird. This is another Polo without the Engine Management lights on, when the ignition is on. It was my understanding that they should come on, and then go out once the engine is running?

On my Ibiza you get both the EML & EPC on untill the engine is started then hopefully they go out.

Yeah! This was true on mine, and I assumed therefore, all of them.

But my mates would only show the EPC on ignition and then it went out. And my burds sisters shows nothing!

That, and it had a serious fault with the throttle body, if you remember, logged codes and no light..

Was strange..

Here's the pic of the ignition lights

Do you have to use vagcom to read the codes or will any obd2 reader work? s I'm going to go and check the bulbs now but i am able to get to diagnostic equipment but not vagcom plus can you get copies of vagcom online to download as would be usefull?

A generic code reader should work as long as it will read the CAN bus system, but Vagcom or the replacement VCDS would be the best to read any codes, the software is free to download from the ross-tech.com site then you'll need the correct lead to connect the car to the laptop, there are loads for sale on ebay but from experience your better buying from a reputable company like Gendan

i wouldn't be surprised if the led has been removed or destroyed as it's common practice with less than reputable used car dealers to remove the light so the car would sell and have no repair bill.

i used to get asked to do this kind of thing a lot, always turned them down.

See, that's what I thought. But I put my clocks in the same car, and still no light. So it's either a wiring defect or it just doesn't work.

See, that's what I thought. But I put my clocks in the same car, and still no light. So it's either a wiring defect or it just doesn't work.

got some time today to get the clocks out and checked it all ok nothing there out of the ordernary at all so i disconnected the battery for a couple of hours then when i turned the ignition on got a symbol of a A with a arrow round it then went out and haven't come on again any ideas what this might be? Thanks everyone for your inputs

That sounds like the ESP light #16??

1 - For fuel reserve

2 - For seat belt

3 - For alternator charge control

4 - Oil/oil pressure

5 - For rear fog light

6 - For coolant temperature

7 - For main beam

8 - For exhaust emissions warning lamp

9 - For pre-glow control

10 - For rear lid open

11 - For brake test / brake system fault warning

12 - For ABS

13 - For Airbag

14 - Gear change up display

15 - For right turn signal warning lamp

16 - For ESP

17 - For left turn signal warning lamp

I note you have '100bhp AFH 6n2' in your signature.

I thought this engine only came in the 6n. Is your car a conversion?

PoloD.

I noticed this too, but chosen not too comment. I thought I was the only one..

I note you have '100bhp AFH 6n2' in your signature.

I thought this engine only came in the 6n. Is your car a conversion?

PoloD.

No there really rare now but there were a few made by vw just as the 6n finished i think the real model of my car is a 6n1 se the afh engine is slightly different to the 6n valver think there different management to as my car has canbus and the 6n didn't but there both around the 100bhp i was really after a 100bhp 6n1 and found this completely by luck as the seller had no idea what he was selling. The car has 16v badges instead of 1.4 and was only on the first 6n2 or 6n1 what ever its known as. I love this car had a very modded civic before and didn't think any thing would make me smile as much but the mighty polos doing alright .

That sounds like the ESP light #16??

1 - For fuel reserve

2 - For seat belt

3 - For alternator charge control

4 - Oil/oil pressure

5 - For rear fog light

6 - For coolant temperature

7 - For main beam

8 - For exhaust emissions warning lamp

9 - For pre-glow control

10 - For rear lid open

11 - For brake test / brake system fault warning

12 - For ABS

13 - For Airbag

14 - Gear change up display

15 - For right turn signal warning lamp

16 - For ESP

17 - For left turn signal warning lamp

yer that was the symbol 16 esp is that traction control or electronic stability control? Had noidea the car had esp but there's still no abs tryed it out on the way home and still no abs light or eml light guss il have to see my mate and have it plugged in and see if there any codes!!! Also where did you get this pic from?

I noticed this too, but chosen not too comment. I thought I was the only one..

Is urs a conversion or from factory? I'm hoping to go carbs in the future but got a few bits to do first!

yer that was the symbol 16 esp is that traction control or electronic stability control? Had noidea the car had esp but there's still no abs tryed it out on the way home and still no abs light or eml light guss il have to see my mate and have it plugged in and see if there any codes!!! Also where did you get this pic from?

Electronic Stability, it uses the ABS system!!

The picture is from Elsawin.

In a previous posting I made, It's easy to fool the speedo into thinking there is no ABS fitted just put an earth wire onto pin 19 of the blue connector of the speedo or pin 16 of the pump unit and this will inhibit the fault light