ESP Fault please see owners manual

steve184

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Just had this come up this morning in my TDI 170 - anyone know what the fault is likely to be and how much it is going to cost?

Or is one of those where it could be anything?

Thanks
 
Not consulted yet but from what i remember when i originally read it - it will just say something along the lines of 'take your audi to an authorised service centre' - which is something I kinda already know.
 
Just looked in my book. Loads of info on what it does, how it works and what it works in conjunction with !

Some people switch ESP off anyway because they like to be in total control !!!

If the fault persists have the car scanned with VCDS to see what the fault codes are.
 
That's fair enough but i can't effectively switch it off now because it beeps with a fault message every time i start the car - so ignoring it doesn't seem the right thing to do. I guess its something specifically to do with the ESP (ie not ABS related) as no other lights have come on. If it is an expensive fix i will certainly be arguing the toss with Audi as the car has only done 17k miles.

Out of interest is there anybody on here local to manchester that might be able to read the fault code (and subsequently give me an idea whats wrong) before I go to the dealer? I really don't trust any of them to be honest - i'd like to be forearmed with what i know are the facts.
 
If you go to the VCDS section of this forum you'll see a 'sticky' with 'VCDS User map'

That will tell you who is in your area and who is willing to help
 
I live in Manchester, am based failsworth area. i have vcds. PM me your details and we can sort something out
 
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I have this too. Sometimes when I start the car I get a beep (which is similar to but different than a 'windscreen washer low' beep or anything like that - more mono tone if that makes sense) and "ESP FAULT" flashes up and quickly disappears again. No fault codes are logged and I don't know what's causing it. Sometimes it will do it every day and other times it won't do it for weeks. Very strange! Please let me know what you find out.
 
Interesting. I've had this also for last three years - every so often an error beep on startup which doesn't stay on screen long enough to read it - but have made out it says see owner manual. I have raised this a number of times with my dealer (under warranty) and they told me it was normal and just the ESP self test sometimes being a bit slow to realise there is no fault. If this turns out to be an expensive fix i will be raising this again as i'm sure it will be on computer the times i have brought it up.
 
Interesting. I've had this also for last three years - every so often an error beep on startup which doesn't stay on screen long enough to read it - but have made out it says see owner manual. I have raised this a number of times with my dealer (under warranty) and they told me it was normal and just the ESP self test sometimes being a bit slow to realise there is no fault. If this turns out to be an expensive fix i will be raising this again as i'm sure it will be on computer the times i have brought it up.


Yep exactly the same. It definitely says "ESP FAULT" and then it probably says "see owners manual" below.
 
Yes and dealer comfirmed to me it was to do with ESP - saying they had been on to technical and actually got a bulletin explaining..... however.... it is still going to be leverage if it turns out to be an expensive fix.

Another niggle i have that they 'talked around' is my mirrors sometimes fold themselves out after starting the car without me twisting the switch - i've made them aware that if they do this near a concrete pillar at work where i park and they get damaged they will be footing the bill!!!
 
Yes and dealer comfirmed to me it was to do with ESP - saying they had been on to technical and actually got a bulletin explaining..... however.... it is still going to be leverage if it turns out to be an expensive fix.

Another niggle i have that they 'talked around' is my mirrors sometimes fold themselves out after starting the car without me twisting the switch - i've made them aware that if they do this near a concrete pillar at work where i park and they get damaged they will be footing the bill!!!

It would be useful if you could get a copy of this bulletin! I'd definitely like it just for future reference. Imagine I came to sell the car and it started beeping - no one would touch it - at least I could show them the bulletin then.

My electric mirrors don't fold out on their own - never have done. That's quite bad, as like you say, they could fold out into anything. damn. Sometimes my passenger mirror doesn't fold out and I have the fold the drivers back in and try again.

Audis ey. ;)
 
Check your battery, low battery triggers ESP fault message. this is not a defect, its just done that way.
 
Isn't there a low battery message if the battery is low? Also don't car batteries generally have a certain life span? If so what is the likely lifespan? Mine is 4 years old (from new) and as I say not been having any low battery warnings which I would expect if there was a problem
 
Hmmmmmm interesting. Mine has done this since new, or a couple weeks after. It's doing it every other time I start the car this past week or so though.
 
I replaced my battery at 4 years old because it was dying, never got any low battery warnings tho....
 
so how did you know it was dying? generally anyone will only be aware of a dying battery when it doesn't start the car one cold morning?

i remember ******* about with my wipers once on my old car while engine off and after about 10 mins of wiper use, i got the orange battery come on the DIS telling me battery low - the car still started though if i remember correctly
 
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ESP fault came up on my dash last year. Turned out to be an abs sensor and audi covered the costs under warranty.

It doesnt take much to for the ESP fault message to appear, I have had it a few times. It came on after I ran the battery flat a few weeks ago, and again whenever I was changing a rear bulb but it usually clears after a few minutes.

You'll need to get it scanned mate as there could be a number of things causing it
 
I have had it scanned and its come up with a "01435 - Brake Pressure Sensor 1 (G201) / 12 - Electrical Fault in Circuit" which when typed into google does seem to be quite infamous.

Have had it in audi and they 'said' they were unable to diagnose from this fault code alone. They have now said it needs a 2 hour 'wiring test' which they are going to charge me £200+ for - and this won't guarantee fixing the problem, or even locating it. I do find it a bit strange that they build these cars with complex inbuilt electronic diagnosis - then when the car tells you the problem you don't believe it and decide it needs to be questioned. Something smells fishy to me.

Did some research and Brake Pressure Sensor 1 (G201) is actually a sensor which is part of the main abs unit - and not serviceable on its own.
 
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well some of it is a bit more technical than i can do - however i am quite sure it isn't the pedal switch as my car is an s-tronic and if that was faulty i wouldn't be able to get it in gear and drive it
 
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/new-a3...e-sensor-1-g201-electrical-fault-circuit.html

It is quite likely to be what this guy had and as you can see from Ross Tech there are quite a few causes which is why audi want so much.

I have heard of the abs unit failing quite often. The trade guy that bought my old car, the ESP light was one of the only things that he checked, which tells you something.

I believe it can be refurbished alot cheaper than a new unit from audi though.
 
I think it is that too personally, but as i say audi want another £200 notes off me before they will even confirm this - and until they confirm i can't get onto Audi CS, as with 16500 miles and full service history i don't believe that a 1500 part should be failing, and should be my problem.
 
well some of it is a bit more technical than i can do - however i am quite sure it isn't the pedal switch as my car is an s-tronic and if that was faulty i wouldn't be able to get it in gear and drive it

In that case take it to a specialist independent VAG garage and get them to have a go.

They will not do what Audi do - if you get the right one with the right experience they will probably know straight away what the problem is.

And they will charge about a third of the Audi labour rate !
 
This is what gets my goat up about audi though - they will know exactly what it is but because they 'can' charge for more work they will do - i can't prove them wrong can i? Why can't garages be honest and transparent anymore - whats drove them to the point they need to 'force' money out of people?

Had a drive by scope out of a vw specialist near me - looked like some dirty back street garage - didn't exactly inspire confidence tbh.
 
Had a drive by scope out of a vw specialist near me - looked like some dirty back street garage - didn't exactly inspire confidence tbh.

That's the point ! They don't need or want flashy premises, just guys who know what they are doing with the right experience and the right equipment and a roof under which they can work.

Go and give them a try - you might cotton on to a winner in the long run - I did !
 
maybe - thing is as i think i have already pointed out earlier is i believe this problem is related to the random dash error i have been having for the last 2-3 years - which has been reported under warranty numerous times (verbally and in writing) so i do believe audi are responsible for sorting this out at their cost not mine, on this occasion.

anything else and i could accept it as my problem and fix it any way i can but under these circumstances i feel wrong done by.
 
Fair point. Why not get a second opinion to help you with your argument ?

As the car is still under warranty (I assume) you can take it to any audi dealer for free inspection surely ?
 
if only it was that easy. thats the point - it isn't under warranty anymore - but i believe this fault stems from earlier 'minor niggles' when it was under warranty - they want to charge me £200 for 2 hours diagnostic work - yet they wouldn't do this when it was under warranty?

could get second opinion from another audi garage - most probably thought they will charge me a diagnostic fee also.
 
I sympathise with you but basically what are your choices ?

1) Pay the £200 and then argue the toss with Audi UK that you have reported the problem from day 1 (ish)
2) Get a second opinion from an Audi dealer - probable cost approx £100 - then argue the toss again.
3) Pay £50 for an independent check - then argue the toss
4) Put up with it !

In any event write to Audi UK saying the dealer isn't up to the job !

Only you can make the decision Steve and good luck getting it sorted !
 
yep you have pretty much summed up my position ;)
 
I had the same error come up last Sunday after getting my tyres balanced and aligned on Saturday. Used VCDs to reset faults, but ESP fault still comes onto the DIS. Pushing ESP buttons does nothing. The garage is denying the fault is made by them. Here is the error code.


01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: Malfunction 0010
04-Steering Angle -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: OK 0000
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: OK 0000
62-Door, Rear Left -- Status: OK 0000
72-Door, Rear Right -- Status: OK 0000
76-Park Assist -- Status: OK 0000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part No SW: 1K0 907 379 AC HW: 1K0 907 379 AC
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0101
Revision: 00H11001
Coding: 0023170
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 73EEC3486B33

1 Fault Found:
01435 - Brake Pressure Sensor 1 (G201)
012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit

Any help is much appreciated.
 
yep same as mine - its a new abs unit that you will need. Its £700 + labour from audi. I got them to fork out 75% of the cost of mine so it cost me £100 in the end. Still getting the random ESP error messages on startup though.

Lookup teves MK60 on web - its a well-known problem on all vag cars made between 06-07 i believe - with a different part fitted to 2008 onwards cars.
 
Seems like a weird coincident that the ESP fault appears after getting the alignment done though :( Mine happens to be 2007 TDI 170 as well.
 
does seem weird - but unfortunately not outside the realms of coincidence.

unless by doing the alignment they have damaged an abs sensor?
 
G201 pressure sensor failure is really common with the ATE mk60 ABS pump. Its fitted to loads of cars inc. BMW 1 series, Audi A3, Seat Leon/Altea and various VWs as well. I have changed two in the last couple of years on my dads car (VW Touran) and my wife's (Seat Altea). You can get them re-manufactured here ATE ABS Pumps & Modules. Or this company will either replace the sensor if you send the pump in for £250 or will fix it on the car for £350 VOLKSMASTER OLDHAM - AUDI VW SPECIALIST.

If your car has full main dealer service history they will contribute some percentage towards the cost but it will still normally work out more expensive than getting it repaired alsewhere. VW and seat both quoted £1200 to replace the pump on our cars but would offer no contribution because the cars had been taken out of the main dealer network.

Anyone who fancies doing it themselves be aware the brakes on these vehicles are an absolute nightmare to bleed up. I found this out the hard way and spent about 7 hrs trying to get rid of a spongy brake pedal on the Altea. The only difference between the two car i did was the touran we had a replacement pump so the system wasn't broken down for long. The Altea i sent the pump off and the brake system was open for about 4 days which let air into the master cylinder, it took over 15l of brake fluid going through it to get it bled correctly (I used the old fashioned method, pressure bleeding and back bleeding, it was just fluke it worked in the end). There are loads of threads on the internet about spongy brakes on these cars once the system is disturbed. My advice now is to anyone who has this problem let someone like Volksmaster fix it for the cost even if its a long drive to get it done. Its just not worth the hassle and a shame the weren't about when I had to do mine. I paid over £400 each just for the units to have the pressure switchs replaced.
 
Check your battery, low battery triggers ESP fault message. this is not a defect, its just done that way.

Could your battery starting to fail cause the quick half a chime at start up as described here as i've had this for a few weeks and my Battery died this morning??
 
Just got my car diagnosed by MotorAid in Hainault and its definitely the ABS pump, part no. 1K0614517AFBEF which around £800 from the stealers :( MotorAid quoted me almost £1100 which i obviously didn't not go ahead with. VOLKSMASTER OLDHAM - AUDI VW SPECIALIST who have quoted me £350+VAT for re-manufactured ABS pump supplied and fitted.

Is it worth getting an genuine one from NEW GENUINE vw golf mk5 abs pump audi a3 touran passat | eBay UK

or

GENUINE AUDI A3 ESP ABS PUMP REPAIR KIT ESP LIGHT ON | eBay UK

How to tell if they are actaully genuine? Can they actually be that cheap or are the dealers (2004 - 2008 AUDI A3 ABS PUMP 1K0614517AFBEF | eBay UK) are making a huge profit?
 
Personally after the nightmare I had bleeding up the brakes like I said earlier I wouldn't muck about changing a pump again when someone else will do it for that price and warranty it. If you buy the new unit you will need to recode it and then readapt it to the car. Not a nightmare if you have Vag-Com but if you don't you will have to pay someone for the coding so worth bearing in mind. Also if you go that way make sure you get the code of the original unit before you remove it from the car, saves loads of hassle.
 
Many thanks Dandle, i'll bear that in mind :) I do have access to VCDs but have no experience in replacing ABS pump or bleeding the brakes. I may just have long drive to Oldham and get Volksmaster to do the install at least its covered with warranty ....unless i can find a garage who can assist with this.