ABS and TPMS warning lights......new tyres
 

Hi

In the last few days we have had 4 new tyres on our XC60 AWD D5 (2015) We then took it to a volvo specialist about 100 miles away to have the alignment checked as we live so rurally and there is no on local that has the correct machine to check the alignment. The alignment was out at the back but all got sorted. We then continued to drive a further 200 miles to visit family, and have returned home today, so another 300 miles.

As we got home the ABS warning light came on, closely followed by the TPMS warning light. I have never seen these come on before.....only the tyre pressure low light with the picture of the car and which tyre is low.

My question is who do I contact about this? Should I return to the garage who replaced the tyres, or could it be something that was done at the volvo specialists? Obviously I'm not relishing the idea of a 200 mile round trip if it is something simple. Obviously we have done a fair few miles in the new tyres and I will go and check the air tomorrow anyway, but is this a bigger issue than just the air?

Many thanks

I think you will have to visit your Volvo specialist again if you have no way of reading the cars fault codes. I can’t see it being a tyre fitment issues especially as you have had 4 fitted which I assume will be all the same make and model so you should have no issues there.

Depending on which tyre pressure monitoring system the car has, the newer models use indirect tpms where there is no pressure sensor in wheel. It uses the ABS to monitor the wheel speed and from that work out the pressure. Direct has physical sensors in each wheel to read the pressure. The fact you have both ABS and TPMS faults would suggest to me the car is on the indirect system.

I would find the tyre pressure sticker normally in the drivers door pillar and ensure all the tyres are inflated correctly. I would try and reset the tpms and take the car for a drive. If the ABS then starts to see what it wants it might clear itself. Tyre garages often over inflate tyres to seat them and I always find I have to go round and adjust pressures afterwards.

That’s what I would do if I had no access to any diagnostic equipment. A local garage might have a suitable tool just to clear the lights off for you or maybe even read the codes once you know the tyres are correct to save you such a long trip.

95% likely a wheel speed sensor, usually at the rear, Volvo diagnostic gear will tell you exactly what’s wrong.

The tpms system uses the abs wheel speed sensors so if one fails as well as the abs error you get the tpms error as a brucey bonus. I.e. the cause of both errors is one and the same.

Not uncommon, not usually expensive, nothing to do with the tyres.

Did you recalibrate your wheels after fitting the new tyres?

No, I don't think we did actually.

Just been to check the tyre pressure, all tyres were the same pressure and I have recalibrated now.

So the warning lights coming on are now ABS/ESC system failure, ESC temporarily off, Tyre pressure monitor system failure.

I will speak to the volvo specialist and see what they suggest

Interesting about the indirect or direct system. Prior to this error message I would had said we had the direct system as when one tyre was low we would get a warning diagram on the dash showing which one it was. Or all 4 if they had all dropped together. Would that be the direct system?

I had a similar issue - ABS light, ESC disabled, but it wasn't constant - only when it was warmer and I'd done a long run. Thought it started after new battery and new front right wheel bearing.

When I eventually got a proper code reader on it, it was the left rear wheel speed sensor, so nothing to do with what I thought! Swapped out and no further problems.

It's surprising how often these ABS sensors fail; no moving parts, just basically a coil sensing a moving item. I had both fronts fail on my 2016 V60 Polestar, in less than 20,000 miles, in theory an easy change but in reality not ! Rust, rust and more rust!.

Similar sensors on my old 2006 Ford Mondeo, sold after 9 years, never failed ! I suspect Volvo went "the cheapest is best" route as far as sourcing was concerned.

Yes - been here and had this exact problem. From memory the ABS sensors are contained within the wheel bearings. Can't recall a need to sell the house to pay the bill moment. You will get tpms, ABS and cruise will have gone.

The ABS sensors are separate and easy to replace. The "tone rings" are either on the bearing or on the CV joint - the later stainless steel smooth ones used on P3 platform rarely give trouble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alqWnlVu3q4