The 4.0SE I've just bought is giving an ABS Fault, Traction Failure on the message centre as soon as it is started and before it has moved. Read the codes with the Nanocom and there were lots of them so cleared those hoping I would just be left with the relevant ones. There's not as many as there were but still a lot and not the usual wheel sensor errors. It's a '98 GEMS so has the Wabco C system and the faults are as follows:

Open circuit to normally open ETC valve
Short between valves on outlet demanual valve
Short between valves on normally closed ETC valve
No inductive load on normally closed ETC valve

Anyone got a clue what these are telling me? It looks like I've got to start looking at the ABS system wiring but with the other half or incorrectly done modifications that the car has been subjected to, it wouldn't surprise me if someone has tried fitting a 4 wheel TC modulator without changing the ECU for a Wabco D, so checking that might give a clue as to what is going on.

Asking for help instead of helping us? What a topsy-turvy place this forum has become.

Obviously you're onto the issue and I'd be well out of my depth.

I'm replying because I'm preparing my 4.6 1998(99) for being driven on to the back of a scrappers tow truck.

The abs system was working. I plan on removing the wheel sensors (as spares for my 2001). I want to be able to drive the thing onto the scrappers truck (the car is down a narrow lane).

I'm guessing things like ABS ecu can be cut off without disabling brakes. If you might have a use for this, for connectors etc - just let me know.

I'm keeping all the obvious stuff that may be useful for my 2001 - but if there is anything else I can give you (without disabling the car), get in touch.

I've already removed the accumulator and blanked off the port with a VX sump plug (aluminum and very cheap).

The brakes still have pressure - but in case anyone from another forum is here "I won't be driving this thing on the road, I have labelled the speedo defective brakes, do not move"

Good luck.

Yeah well, just occasionally there's something that I've never come across and figured out before but this is a completely new one on me. Just hoping someone else has had it and figured it out but I strongly suspect someone has been playing and got it wrong.

Is your scapper a 98 or 99 model year (WA or XA VIN number)? If it is a 98 model year car, it will have the Wabco C system so the only things that will be of any use on a 2001 will be the ABS pump, accumulator and wheel sensors, the ECU is different as the Wabco D unit was fitted to 99 model year onwards. Without the ECU, pump and accumulator, the brakes will still work, not very well and will need a lot of pressure on the pedal. At least it is a big pedal so there's room for you to put both feet on it.....

Thanks. Accumulator and abs sensors were the only parts i was going to keep (from the braking system). If the pump can be removed without totally loosing brakes, I will keep that and the relay.

Slowly stripping out switch panels, stereo, door locks, heater fans, window mechanism, seat switches, seat ecu, roof bars, sunroof, towbar&electrics, mirrors, wiper motor, Swapping wheels for tatty bald ones. Already had lights and the recent lpg parts. Will keep bottom tailgate but can't justify garage space for doors, seats etc.

The engine seems OK, one bad coil, I might have one last go at offing the remainder to someone after the 4.6 with running gear - but not very hopeful.

It's still possible I could move it to a friends then keep drive shafts, hubs, steering and calipers (for overhaul) - but there needs to be some delicate negotiation, probably not realistic.

I will check vin, but I think its 1998 registered in 99.

My first thought is if the ETC valve is open circuit, maybe fault 3 & 4 are related to that ? Nanocom does have a habit of reporting shorts when it's actually open circuits (blend motors for example), although some of this can also be attributed to the LR ECU's.

There have been threads on various forums about people wanting to put 4 wheel TC on earlier cars, so you never know.

The ECU's look quite different. Here's my google image search.

It's a WA VIN

That means it is a 98 model year car so will have the Wabco C ABS system with 2 wheel traction control, your 2001 will have Wabco D with 4 wheel traction control.

Getting somewhere on my new one. I can now explain why it is giving a Traction failure and faults relating to traction control, it doesn't have it. The brake modulator is an ANR2238 while the one on my white car is an ANR2239. 2239 has 2 wheel traction control while 2238 doesn't have traction control and unlikely to have been fitted to an SE spec car so it looks like that has been changed. Not dropped the glovebox to check the number on the ECU yet, but I suspect there's traction control equipped ECU in there....

Gilbertd wrote:

That means it is a 98 model year car so will have the Wabco C ABS system with 2 wheel traction control, your 2001 will have Wabco D with 4 wheel traction control.

Thanks, I didn't even know of 2wTC RR. Didnt realise my 98 had TC. it doesn't have a TC dash light (or it has been blanked 😀)

Not all have it, see my post above and check the part number on the brake modulator. ANR2239 has traction control on the rear wheels only, ANR2238 doesn't have it.

I think the ABS modulator block from my 98 is still at the workshop if needed. It was a 4.6HSE, so should have 2 wheel TC

If it is, that would be excellent as it will almost certainly be the correct one. From what I can find it seems only base models didn't have it. I was intending waiting until I'm changing the steering column anyway. A day laying in the footwell should be fun.....

Found another bit of the previous owners bodgery today. Set all the windows except the front passengers which just made a clunking noise inside the door and wouldn't set. In the boot was a replacement (used) window regulator so pulled the door panel off to investigate and change it. Regulator was bent and not attached to the window but the glass didn't drop. Channel it runs in had been crushed so it wouldn't drop open.....