I have a 1999 Primera Sport+, in which the ABS triggers at about 10mph. It does this whether I'm slowing down or speeding up (I can hear the actuator, and feel it in the pedal if I'm braking).
It's particularly bad in slow traffic, as at 10mph it's going continuously!
The warning light doesn't come on (except on first turning the key, as it should), and the brakes generally are perfectly OK.
I have a copy of the service manual, and I've checked the resistance of all four sensors - they all come in between 1.62 and 1.68kohm which is comfortably within spec.
With no warning light, the system presumably doesn't think it has a fault - so it seems pointless trying to get it to flash out error codes.
Without access to real-time diagnostics I'm stumped, so all I'm asking before I hand over my wallet to the dealer is: does anyone know of a fault in this or any car that gives these symptoms?
Also - are most auto-electricians well placed to investigate this kind of thing, or do I need dedicated Nissan diagnostic kit and hence the main dealer?
Many thanks
PS I've seen earlier posts on this, so I suspect there is a common fault with Primeras.
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Fractured reluctor ring is quite common on the Primera - check the front nearside first.
The system is fundamentally a Bosch system, so your best bet would be a Bosch service agent.
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This exact same fault occurs on Rover 800s. It is caused by a dying sensor.
The sensor is mounted in a mazak block. Water gets into the gap between the sensor and the block. The block corrodes. The expansion of the zinc into zinc oxide puts pressure on the sensor casing. Eventually the coils inside the sensor are squeezed and either short out or break. Initially tho' the symptoms are intermittant and the vehicle does what you describe - the intermittant break/short in the coil causes the ecu to lose signal and it computes this as a wheel lock situation and activates the ABS, even if you're not braking.
Your sensor probably has a very similar fault to that described, but probably for different reasons. The problem is identifying which sensor it is. A Bosch service agent (or independant ABS specialist) should be able to connect a laptop with the diagnostics to the car, drive it and see which sensor is being activated.
Try measuring the resistance more often to see if one suddenly changes. Look for chaffed or loose wires and check all connections on the ABS system carefully. Also check the air gaps to the reluctor rings and give the rings a clean up with a wire brush (though they have to be in a very poor state to affect ABS operation).
Until you've had it fixed I'd be tempted to pull the ABS fuse. If the ABS is being activated then you have reduced braking on one wheel - if it's a front then this could be significant. You could try braking hard (take good care) from about 50 on dry flat tarmac to see if you can determine which wheel is affected.
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Thanks all - didn't think it'd be simple!
The common thread in all this seems to be Bosch - any idea how I'd go about finding a Bosch service agent?
Thanks
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The Primera doesn't suffer the sort of sensor failure described for the Rover 800. The sensor used on the Primera is better designed and doesn't suffer electrolytic corrosion. The sensors costs about £160 - so don't change one unless you're sure.
First port of call should be check the reluctor ring for a crack - you can do this yourself.
Look in your local Yellow Pages for a garage that is also a Bosch service agent (a small independent 'engine tuning centre' may well have the necessary kit).
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Hi, just letting you know I finally got this sorted and, as suspected, it was the nearside reluctor ring so needed a new CV joint.
Thinking about it, I did hit a huge pothole at speed a couple of months before this fault started - could well have been connected.
Thanks again
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Glad to be of service. It always seems to be the nearside ones that fail - presumably because there are more potholes, drain holes etc on the near side and, ahem, people do occasionally hit kerbs (not suggesting that was the case here..).
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