[twcom]

I know I should and will fix this issue. But I sure don't want to.

Nothing has changed or happened to my Smart but for a fresh set of brake pads.

Drove Smart for one week with out issue around town. First trip on highway ABS/Traction control lights came on at 65 MPH. Car and brakes feel great.
when Smart is shut off Lights reset and car drives normal until it gets to high speeds then lights return.
Problem is I prefer the the feel and driving demeanor of the car when the ABS/Traction control disable themselves. So Yesterday I put the car through some high speed, Hard stopping, winding, twisting aggressive driving. Was a great drive and all ability to maneuver and stop with out lock up or issue was just fine.
The best benefit is in stop and go traffic there is no creep forward mode. So for the upcoming SmartBall run from NYC to Redondo Beach California, I have decided to not fix this issue. I will have a new set of brake shoes put on the rear drums and fix it when I get Back.

The issue is tripping no codes and resets each time the Smart is restarted. I believe it my be as simple as unbolting the front wheel speed sensors and cleaning them. But I won't do it for fear it will fix it lol.. As backwards as that is lol, for this trip I want it to stay broke.

However, could this semi metallic set of pads themselves interfere with the magnetic sensor.

 

[WhiteNBlack08]

Brake pads shouldn't make a difference. My smart was doing the same thing a year ago. Problem was a broken abs reluctor ring on the rear axle shafts. Smart will try and sell you new axles at $400 each. Don't get caught by that. You can purchase new reluctor rings for $30 each from the UK on eBay. If you don't have the ability, any decent machine or repair shop should be able to remove what's left if the old ones, and press the new ones on.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[jetfuel]

...holding down the two reset button in the dash at the same time and starting the car will put track nanny on hold until the next start cycle...

jetfuel....btdtft...

 

[twcom]

i do that in winter to spin out of snowed in spots, but thinking about it that puts on the traction control light but not the abs light. That should mean if I do it first and the abs does not kick in its an TC issue if the abs light comes on its an ABS issue. Ill keep that in mind.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

Your problem is not likely to be the front speed sensors, but the reluctor rings in the back. An easy way to check is to look just behind the rear hubs. You'll find something that looks like an exposed cog wheel. That's the reluctor ring. What tends to happen is that the steel corrodes and cracks. Then the sensor can't get a good speed reading because of said damage.

It usually starts off as the car's active safety systems (ABS, ESP, TC, Hill Start Assist) disabling at high speeds, but will eventually result in ABS triggering under pretty much all braking situations. You'll sometimes get ESP kicking in when you haven't lost traction.

But if you wait long enough (like I did with my 2012 and my 2008) eventually the reluctor rings will corrode so badly that the system gets permanently disabled.

Like you, I haven't gotten around to fixing the issue. I very much love how these cars drive without the creep mode and without traction control freaking out off-road.

 

[twcom]

This was a Reluctor ring issue. The driver's side rear axle was replaced. And yes the 30 dollar Reluctor Rings would have done as well. The labour a shop may have been the similar. But all was fixed.
with the axle replacement the passenger side had been replaced last month of warranty. The old axle's ring was very rusted and cracked.

 

[Tigerprawnking]

Hi all,

Sorry to bump and old post. I've got the same issue being described in this post. I am going to get it fixed but I wanted to ask how dangerous it is to drive the car in the meanwhile ? Can there be a break failiure or is th worst case scenario that the abs will not work ?

 

[jwight]

Hi all,

Sorry to bump and old post. I've got the same issue being described in this post. I am going to get it fixed but I wanted to ask how dangerous it is to drive the car in the meanwhile ? Can there be a break failiure or is th worst case scenario that the abs will not work ?

None of the ABS, traction control, hill hold(?) or stability systems will work. Operate at your own risk.

 

[Tigerprawnking]

None of the ABS, traction control, hill hold(?) or stability systems will work. Operate at your own risk.

Thank you for the reply ☺

 

[twcom]

Hi all,

Sorry to bump and old post. I've got the same issue being described in this post. I am going to get it fixed but I wanted to ask how dangerous it is to drive the car in the meanwhile ? Can there be a break failiure or is th worst case scenario that the abs will not work ?

Fix it because it is broken.............. How ever....lol I drove mine on purpose for and extended amount of time even cannonball style from NYC to California and back before fixing mine. The fix was replacing on rear axle due to broken reluctor ring. Even now when I am driving the winding twisting roads...THAT I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH.... I disable traction control and abs. ..... again I say fix it because it is broken especially if other people also drive the car.