Traction control light on – MOT failure?

I think my Passat has a faulty wheel sensor so the traction control light comes on intermitantly. It has done it since I bought the car but is now staying on more of the time. If it comes on when I get the car MOTed is it a failure? I thought I read somewhere that any dash light on could be an automatic fail these days.

My XC90 has been showing a warning lamp for the last 6 years (changed from a speed sensitive steering rack to a normal rack and the ECU isn’t getting feedback from the rack so it’s showing a warning – still works perfectly) and no problems here.

With the new MOT checks this year (March 20th). Yes it will fail.

Yes, it should be an MOT failure.
It’ll be classed as part of the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_340.htm

Does it put on the traction control and ABS lights, or just the traction control?

Well known problem on VAG cars is the brake switch sensor – it’s a 2-bit switch so if one side is starting to go the car receives implausible signals from the switch, which triggers the fault.

The part is about £15 and it’s a 10 minute job to change.

Just the traction control. If it is the fault you think then that would be a result.

Mine was the ABS light on permanently I think (edit: or might have been TCS – forget now), and was indeed the brake pedal switch sensor. You’ll know if it’s that, cos you’ll have no brake lights at all, rather than 1 blown bulb.

You could try taking the wheel off and having a really good clean.

Further to what Andy said, you can still have a faulty switch but working brake lights. However, since the same sensors are used for the ABS and ESP, a fault in one should trigger a fault in the other.

You need to get the fault code read (Seat dealers can do it for about 1/4 the price of a VW dealer), since if it’s just showing the ESP light the problem could be caused by the yaw sensor or steering wheel position sensor.

Easily solved with a bit of black tape.

I had a fault code check on it a while ago as one of the coolant temperature sensors was playing up. There was another fault code on there so hopefully I still have the paper and it will shed a bit more light on it.

Thanks for all the help so far!

Found the paper, it appears it is related to the yaw sensor. It may just be a poor connection, I am hoping so.

Hi,

Apologies for hijacking thread. I am having a serious issue with an MOT. took my car yesterday morning and within an hour got a call saying its faailed because all 4 tyres are below minimal limit. Now apparently I have to pay the garage to replace all 4 tyres to legally drive the car. I am a bit stuck! Any advice? Can they do this?

Here’s the garage its at:

Wyvern Service Station

http://www.findnetone.co.uk/mot-centres/mot-centres/51478-wyvern-service-station-ombersley-road-worcester-wr3-7eu

when does your MOT certificate run out?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/if-my-car-fails-its-mot

What do you intend to do ? Drive it away with bald illegal tyres ?

If that is all it has failed on options are:

Get them to change tyres and retest car. Pay and drive home with MOT done.

Drive car away – means paying for the MOT AND if you get the tyres done somewhere else paying a partial retest fee, roughly £20 for the garage to retest it. Has to be done within 10 working days though.

Why don’t you compare their quote against a mobile fitter from Blackcircles to do it in their carpark. Perhaps you can then push their quote a bit.

If this descends into a “ditchfinder” or “buy cheap die fast” conversation i’ll have nothing to do with it!

Offroading – Member

What do you intend to do ? Drive it away with bald illegal tyres ?

If that is all it has failed on options are:

Get them to change tyres and retest car. Pay and drive home with MOT done.

Drive car away – means paying for the MOT AND if you get the tyres done somewhere else paying a partial retest fee, roughly £20 for the garage to retest it. Has to be done within 10 working days though.

Or option C: get pulled over, receive three points for each defective tyre and lose your licence. 😀

Sorry to say it…but you needed an MOT to tell you ALL your tyres were illegal? That’s quite an achievement to get them all below the limit… The garage will probably refuse permission for a mobile fitter to work on their car park…

Hi all,

Thanks for advice – problem sorted. Negotiated a reasonable rate on less expensive tyres.

Cheers,
Ray.

Oh and mine passed even with the traction control light on. Then it went off of it’s own accord after the MOT and hasn’t come on since 🙄

Take the bulb out!