ABS Synch in Cold Weather

[moshoeshoe]

My ABS goes out of synch when I hit the starter on a cold start and the ambient temperature is below about 55 degrees. If I run it for 10 - 15 seconds and restart, it's fine. Dealer has replaced starter, battery and checked for error codes in the computer, to no avail. So for about 4 months each year I wind up starting it twice at the beginning of each day. 1996 R1100GS. Ideas? Thanks.

First post - sorry if I've missed any standard practices.

[PacWestGS]

Welome to the club 'The BMWMOA Club' :wave

That problem you're having something kind of 'normal' though. Mine does that too during the cooler months or when having a hard time getting the engine to fire up. It's not really a fault or a problem with the ABS, it's caused by insufficient voltage to the ABS computer during ‘initialization’, and it’s very sensitive to voltage drops below 10vDC.

I’ll just let the engine warm up a bit and then turn it off, re-start and go.

Sometimes, I’ve also noticed that if I start the bike on a hill and I’m holding the front and/or rear brake lever while starting the bike and then take off, the ABS light for that circuit keeps flashing and I’ll have to stop and turn off and start all over again.

I’ve not had any problems with it though and there have been no ‘faults’ found during services.

It can be a symptom of a weak battery and something you will want to keep and eye on. I keep my bike on Battery Tender over night all the time. It helps.

Again welcome to the forum… :D


Doc

[bmwmick]

My ABS goes out of synch when I hit the starter on a cold start and the ambient temperature is below about 55 degrees. If I run it for 10 - 15 seconds and restart, it's fine. Dealer has replaced starter, battery and checked for error codes in the computer, to no avail. So for about 4 months each year I wind up starting it twice at the beginning of each day. 1996 R1100GS. Ideas? Thanks.

First post - sorry if I've missed any standard practices.

You 'can' eliminate the low voltage fault.......
http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/ABS-II_low_voltage_modification/index.shtml
You would have to verify the wiring to ensure it's the same but I'm pretty sure it's identical.

[BubbaZanetti]

yep, like doc said, it's an insufficient voltage issue. if i take mine right off the battery tender, even in the high teens/twenties i wont get the fault lights. if the bike has sat a few days with no battery tender, then i get the lights. i usually just ride it a few miles to the next light or stop sign then restart it there, i feel like this is better for the bike and less rough on the starter.

[bubbagazoo]

I have a similar issue on my 1100RT when it is cool outside. However, it is not the ABS that acts up, its the Rider Info Display. I am certain it is a low voltage issue due to the temperature. At temperatures below about 8C, the RID just simply goes blank as soon as I turn the key to the on position. After I have ridden about 2-3 kilometres, I turn the engine off and restart it and the RID is back. Temperatures above 8C - no problems.