TRACS/ABS: do I need tracs& abs

[jack taylor]

Hi, Forgive me if my question is really stupid.I have a 1998 V70, 2.5, 20v. I have had the common "TRACS & ABS" lights on the dash now for a couple of years. I live in southern spain so seldom have rain and never snow, ice so I have not therefore bothered to get the ABS ECU re-soldered. However the brakes are far from good but the pads and discs are o.k.
Would the faulty ABS ECU effect the cars general braking or should I look at another possible cause. I would welcome suggestions please other than to attend night classes for further tuition [ lol ] thanks

[Thanatos]

without the ABS and tracs the car should brake perfectly well as the ABS is just a driver aid to help stopping the wheels locking up under heavy breaking

if the breaking is not good i would check for a leak in the fluid or change the fliud and check none of the pistons have seized in the calipers in the car and then check the brake lines.

[scutyde]

Without ABS ECU working the speedometer could also quit which also disengages the Cruise control. If you can live with it...

[byootox]

I assume the equivalent Spanish of our mot doesn't require the ABS to be working over there.
Sticky/seized caliper pistons and/or brake pads are a possibility as well and as Thanatos said a good bleed of the brakes all round would be a good idea too.

[TurboZutek]

I believe on that model year the ABS also controlled the proportioning of rear / front braking that went on and there was no separate brake proportioning valve.

If that's the case heavy braking in anything other than ideal conditions could become unstable, giving the back wheels a tendency to lock up at the same rate as the front brakes.

That's why a glowing ABS light will normally fail a UK MOT instantly, it's not true to say that a car with broken ABS just becomes 'a normal car without ABS', it doesn't. If you did have an accident I'm sure your insurance company would be only too happy to wriggle out of paying you anything on the basis that you had a long term fault.

Given that the fix is very easy indeed, I'd just do it.

Chris...

[monkeh]

^ What he said, The ABS module is an easy fix, Google 's70 abs repair' Look on matthewsvolvosite...

[jack taylor]

Hi Guys, thank you all very much for the very helpful info. It`s an ABS ECU repair for me then. My problem is that all expat mechanics I have come across in spain are in the business of ripping people off and spanish mechanics do well to change engine oil. I am therefore thinking of sending the ECU to the uk for repair.May I ask whether I can safely drive the car without a ECU. I apologise if this is yet a further stupid question. Thanks again.

[scutyde]

Originally Posted by jack taylor

Hi Guys, thank you all very much for the very helpful info. It`s an ABS ECU repair for me then. My problem is that all expat mechanics I have come across in spain are in the business of ripping people off and spanish mechanics do well to change engine oil. I am therefore thinking of sending the ECU to the uk for repair.May I ask whether I can safely drive the car without a ECU. I apologise if this is yet a further stupid question. Thanks again.

The speedometer will not work. If its an automatic I wouldnt do it...could damage the auto trans due to missing speed signal. Other than that it should be fine.

[jack taylor]

Hi scutyde, thanks very much for the info.

[TurboZutek]

Jack if you can get the module off yourself and open it the fix is really easy, there's loads of procedures on the web and if you post some pics we can help talk you through it.

There's lots of reports of people who've never even held a soldering iron before managing to get this one done!

Best of luck in whatever you decide mate!

Chris...