ESP light…

4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 450 bhp
4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 480 bhp (plus)
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Captain Cowpat
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ESP light…

Post by Captain Cowpat » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:32 am

Morning guys, day before mot and she’s just thrown up a light. Only one, ESP. It comes on when steering goes from lock to lock when parking. It comes on with an associated strange knocking and thud you can feel through the peddles. Goes off with the key, returns again after steering. Been through a few threads but other suspension issues never mention the light coming on? Checked steering rack bolts and are good. Tempted to let it go through the test and see what they find although it’s ten years since it last had an advisory. Any ideas? Thanking you in advance.

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:37 am

It’ll fail if there’s a warning light on the dash.

I think your clunking suspension / steering is a red herring. Still needs sorting obvs.

Most likely is a fault in the steering angle sensor. I had the same issue on my Volvo. Turned out to be a pube (not mine) blocking the light inside the sensor. Nice cheap fix.

Anyway, Vagcom will tell you what the car’s unhappy about.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:37 am

If you’ve got a compressor, try blowing around the steering column and slip ring.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

Captain Cowpat
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Captain Cowpat » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:48 am

Thanks Shop, was thinking similar as I’ve recently replaced the indicator stalk?! Going back to the red herrings, the knocking suspension issue wouldn’t throw up that light then?

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:52 am

Oh right. You probably moved the angle sensor then and it needs calibrating. I assume you don’t have a Vagcom?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:53 am

Only reason other I can think of is frayed wiring on a wheel speed sensor losing contact when you turn the wheel.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

Captain Cowpat
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Captain Cowpat » Wed Sep 13, 2023 1:34 pm

Red herring spotter Shopp. Steering angle sensor like you said. Recalibrated on VCDS. I was mystified why the light and the knock appears at the same time. Now to find the knocking. Thanks again Shopp!

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Wed Sep 13, 2023 2:13 pm

Ace. Good luck with MoT tomorrow. I’m also MoTing tomorrow, but my wife’s.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

Captain Cowpat
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Captain Cowpat » Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:41 pm

How did you get on with the wife’s mot Shopp? Thanks to you mine sailed through with zero lights on. The knocking was a loose subframe bolt. Strange that they came on both together…

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Shoppinit
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Re: ESP light…

Post by Shoppinit » Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:52 am

Nice. :) Yeah, mine also went well. No advisories. I’m just glad I don’t have to spend any more time on it!
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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