Could be a major problem, could be a minor one...

Any information will help.

The Problem: I was driving my 8 to work yesterday when my "Traction control light"(car with swerves), Emergency brake light, and ABS light All went on at the same time... I got to work shut the car off then back on.. lights were gone. went to my mechanic said it's probably a computer issue. so he rebooted it by taking the power off the battery then had me restart the car. No issues for a day. next day driving to work again. Same thing happened

i'm sure it's more than a coincidence all the things went off at the same time.. Anybody have an idea what the specific issue is?

MY brake fluid is 60% full

 

are your tires low on tread? tire pressure is within spec?

 

any after market electrical things in your car?
- stereo?
- LED bulbs in your 3rd brake light? (long shot but a local member had that not play nice with his dsc / TC )

 

check to make sure all of your brake/tail lights are functional, if they short out they can play havoc with your DCS and ABS

 

No aftermarket lights, brand new Z grade tires tailights functional nothing new :/

I did install a k&N intake

 

Traction control, and ABS are both controlled and part of the ABS system. Thus the ABS module, and hydraulic control unit control both systems, and since the ABS system is part of the brakes it causes the red brake light to come on. Red brake light means stop and is usually reserved for loss of fluid pressure, loss of power brakes ect... I would start looking at brake lines, master cylinders, brake boosters that kind of things. ABS and Trac light will come on with out the red brake light when it's just a sensor or computer problem most of the time. How does the pedal feel? Any vacuum type noises? That's where I would check first, once you find this is in order it's ok to drive just the ABS and traction control will be turned off like a car with out them. Next step would be checking wheel speed sensors and wires.

 

thanks i'll look into it and keep this post updated, anybody else got theories i'd be glad to hear them

 

Ive had this happen twice before, and i am 90% convinced mine were caused by a difference in rotational speed between front and rear axles, probably something the sensors did not have a programed map for.

Both times were on my winter tires, both times i was losing traction and sliding the rear tires, and both times it completely disabled everything related. Not limp mode, as i had fully power and driveability, just no assists till i restarted the 8.

Yours might be different, but this might help you.

 

reset memory???

 

yeah .... the 20 brake pedal pump

 

try the reset could be a software thing

 

Same problem has happened to me multiple times, but in addition my speedo and tac dropped to 0. Sometimes several times in a row. No idea why, dealer said everything checked out fine. Codes just showed that communication was lost.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/odd-electrical-problem-183994/
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/help-abs-traction-control-handbrake-lights-all-came-172943/