Traction Control and ABS Light on after having my car towed

[holywater]

Just recently had my 2001 S4 towed. My Traction control and ABS light now stay on all the time.

They could not get their hook in the metal tow ring on the front passenger side intercooler inlet area so they took a strap and wrapped in under the axle area and winched it onto the flat bed.

Anyone know how I can get these lights to turn off or if there is something that commonly breaks when these S4's are towed?

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Nothing breaks on these cars when towed, unless they didn't tow/strap it right. They probably broke something.

Scan your car, it will tell you what is wrong. I'm going to guess one of the ABS sensors

[bigblue]

Lol they winched it up off the axle. Why not the sway bar or something if less importance

[twiztids4]

Your sway bar will probably bend or break if they did that...

[fshowcars]

you do know we have a tow hook in the front passenger side?!??!?!?!

sounds like an ABS sensor... the wires run along the wheel wells in the rear to under the rear seat... see if it's pinched or if they broke a wheel sensor. fronts are ... in the front? never had to change one.

[RolledMySTi]

They messed up a wheel speed sensor.

[SilverBiturboS4]

you do know we have a tow hook in the front passenger side?!??!?!?!

I think you Should reread what the OP said.

They could not get their hook in the metal tow ring on the front passenger side intercooler inlet area so they took a strap and wrapped in under the axle area and winched it onto the flat bed.

[csosnowski]

most tow companies with a flatbed require 2 attachment points to pull it onto the truck anyway.

+1 for wheelspeed and/or abs sensor

next time have them strap to the lca's, i had to specifically tell the guy that there was a lot of wires and such down there and the best attachment point was the lca.

[holywater]

Okay, I am waiting for my friend to bring me his VAG COM. I will do a scan. Is there any way to prove that the towing company broke any lines if that is the case?

I've never had these lights on before....?!

What is the recommended tow method if the tow truck driver's hood cannot be anchored on the factory tow ring on the front passenger side air duct area.

[csosnowski]

they should be using straps around the lca's (lower control arms) and their hooks go through the d-rings on the straps. thats how they flatbedded mine.

did you sign any kind of paperwork regarding damages while in the care of the tow company? like a waiver?

[holywater]

No I did not sign any waivers, it was being towed to the shop for repair.

[csosnowski]

scan it and figure out the codes, then clear them and scan again to make sure you have the most current.

then once you have this information, determine wether or not there needs to be significant repairs, write up what needs to be done or better yet have a shop write an estimate and figure out if the damage could have been caused by the tow (it probably is). Then approach the tow company and state that the shop determined the cause of the damage to be the tow and present them the estimate.

if you go in there guns blazing it will be much less effective than planning and calculating it all out. but be quick about it, dont let too much time pass or they can try and tell you that you caused it in the time since the tow.

[holywater]

Okay, thanks for the advice. I will take it in and get an estimate if the lights come back on after clearing them.

[csosnowski]

good luck!

[julex]

the only thing I can think of is ABS sensor damage. Could be wiring or somehow they managed to dislocate the sensor. If it is wiring, best course of action would be new sensor which comes with a hefty wire and plug, you'd just remove old sensor with damaged wire and pop new on in.