Traction Control Light Flashing, Losing Power, ABS Light On?

[sidewayzgt]

A buddy and I are trying to figure this one out and have not gotten to far. My S4 is acting very weird. On initial take off after cold or warm start the car loses power for about 15 seconds and then is fine. While all this is happening, the traction control light is flashing constantly until the power comes back. Now.... I had the battery unhooked for about two weeks and now my ABS and ESP (traction control) lights stay on all the time. It is a stage 3 with conservative E85 tune but I do not think it has anything to do with it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[airjawed]

codes?

After reading all your codes from ECU and ABS clear them and then see what comes back.

It could be due to poor engine performance or due to actual abs issue.

[silvermiles]

check for boost leaks. I had a similiar issue, was because a hose came off one of my 710 bpv's.

[hibiscusS4]

ya check for boost leaks sounds like its freaking out due to a leak then compensating for the leak

[sidewayzgt]

My car was just smogged the other day, would it have passed with this issue? I have no check engine light on either, wouldn't it trigger something? Lastly, if the ABS and traction control light are on, will my OBD II scanner bring up any codes or will it have to be hooked up to a VAG?

[sidewayzgt]

Does anybody think that these issues could be caused by a bad ABS module? The shop that replaced my O2 sensor said that it could be the culprit. It makes sense because the traction control and ABS lights are on consistently.

[blitz2190]

next start(before you start it) unplug your maf and drive it for a minute see if it runs better. Also being unplugged that long it may need a steering angle basic setting performed.

[sidewayzgt]

Coincidence or not it did not do it after unplugging the mass airflow sensor. What does this mean?

[joeSfour]

Do a boost leak test...Like everyone has already told you to do.

[blitz2190]

Coincidence or not it did not do it after unplugging the mass airflow sensor. What does this mean?

It means your maf needs to be cleaned or replaced, and that's also causing your traction light, most likely it's a faulty sensor, after cleaning or replacing clear codes in both modules and try it. Also an ecu reset will clear the learned ltf's

[james 408]

I think the above advice is probably a good bet. you can also double check the fuse (i forget the number, use your manual -- should be easy to find). although my fuse guess wouldn't explain the loss of power symptom at startup.

[sidewayzgt]

Let me go a little further into it. I did just replace my heater core which I had to drop the steering column and remove the steering wheel. I also took out the seats to clean the rug but stupidly had to connect the battery before installing them again. This caused the airbag light to come on. I was able to reset the airbag light, turn off the abs and traction control light and took a drive. Within 15 minutes the ABS and traction control lights were back on and have never gone off sense. None of this was a problem before I replaced the heater core. Hopefully that open a door or two.

[Corradovolksb]

Check abs fault memory. I know this might be out of left field but have you checked your tire pressures because that will cause traction control issues if your pressures are drastically different. Another thing too is if you had your steering wheel off there could be a chance your clock spring/steering angle sensor could have moved causing the abs system to think you are in a turn when your not.

[sidewayzgt]

I would not be surprised if that was the culprit. That steering column was a pain in the butt! Any DIY's on how to collaborate it?

[blitz2190]

I would not be surprised if that was the culprit. That steering column was a pain in the butt! Any DIY's on how to collaborate it?

You need a purchased version of vcds or that tool in the forum, and do a basic setting search "ross tech steering angle basic setting" but I'm still leaning towards a maf sensor because it would explain both problems.

[papuc14369]

I've had this issue too and when the tracking control light and ABS light was on i scanned the car and it gave me a brake light switch error.


Replaced brake light sensor, issue remained.
ABS sensor in the knuckle - will replace next weekend. if the issue remains i will replace the MAF
Bad MAF - will replace next weekend

If this fixes my issues, changes are you're in same boat as I am.

[airjawed]

You may have also put the steering wheel back on at an angle..

With VCDS-lite you can log into the abs system and see what the steering angle sensor is reading. I would drive straight and see if the steering wheel was crooked. I would also see if the sensor is reading within +-5 degrees while wheel is straight.

Get a .pdf copy of the bentley manual and get yourself vcds-lite.

[Yuppie]

Depending what time of intake you have there should be an o-ring which goes between your intake and maf make sure that's not pinched and is properly seated. Mine wasn't when I went stage 3 on my first s4 and it caused these times of issue along with breaking up at high rpm or going more than half throttle. Once I fixed that the issues went away.

Good luck and report back.

[sidewayzgt]

I have the VCDS lite, the manual, and will check the abs system. The shaft of the steering column came out a couple of times while it was down. I am also going to check the MAF. Something is bound to work! lol .. I am leaning toward more of a simple fix because none of this was happening before I replaced the heater core.

[sidewayzgt]

I will check that out as well.. Thank you

Depending what time of intake you have there should be an o-ring which goes between your intake and maf make sure that's not pinched and is properly seated. Mine wasn't when I went stage 3 on my first s4 and it caused these times of issue along with breaking up at high rpm or going more than half throttle. Once I fixed that the issues went away.

Good luck and report back.

[sidewayzgt]

Ok, I have an update. I have the full version of VCDS Lite and ran the car through the ABS recoding and steering angle adjustment. I had no luck with it even though it was within 5 degrees (355-360). The lights both stayed on and the parking brake light started flashing a couple of times as well. I am getting the code "00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85) 37-10 - Faulty - Intermittent".. Now, I can replace the clock spring but how do I know if it is actually bad? How do I know I just did not install it right when putting the steering column back together? I have no experience with this and wonder if there any way to test it since the fault says "Intermittent"? Anybody with a similar experience?

[airjawed]

Ok, I have an update. I have the full version of VCDS Lite and ran the car through the ABS recoding and steering angle adjustment. I had no luck with it even though it was within 5 degrees (355-360). The lights both stayed on and the parking brake light started flashing a couple of times as well. I am getting the code "00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85) 37-10 - Faulty - Intermittent".. Now, I can replace the clock spring but how do I know if it is actually bad? How do I know I just did not install it right when putting the steering column back together? I have no experience with this and wonder if there any way to test it since the fault says "Intermittent"? Anybody with a similar experience?

Are you saying it reads as 355 to 360 when wheel is straight? It should read around 0... maybe -5 or +5 at most.

[Corradovolksb]

Yah if your not reading 0 with the wheel straight the clock spring is 1 turn out of alignment if your reading 360

[Griffinc35]

Did you ever figure this out?? My car just started doing it after I changed my steering wheel :( it’s a a4 b6 Quattro 1.8 with a stage 3