K12RS: ABS is down

[KeithN]

Looks like my K12RS ABS is down for the count. Over the weekend I did the IBA Saddle Sore 1000. The ABS lights started blinked back and forth. Once I stopped and shut off the bike I could hear and feel the ABS pump running. Pulling a cable off the battery for several minutes didn't help. A firm tap on the relay fixed the problem at that moment but didn't hold. So, I decided to keep going since there wasn't a BMW shop within reasonable riding distance. Being a Saturday, getting a repair done would just about be impossible.

At the moment the pump is not running and suspect the relay finally failed and or the pump is gone too. The lights are still blinking back and forth. Anyone ever have the ABS relay fail or the pump just keep running? Comments? Thanks in advance.

[woolf]

on the ss1000 here in ca coming into chandler az hit a small part of a tire abs lights came on had to stop turn bike off started bike abs workig as adv :clap

[davel]

I would first check the battery. I had the starter relay stick before on my K75 and it was because the battery was low. You have a later model K, which the ABS is very sensitive to battery charge.

[GregFeeler]

Looks like my K12RS ABS is down for the count. Over the weekend I did the IBA Saddle Sore 1000. The ABS lights started blinked back and forth. Once I stopped and shut off the bike I could hear and feel the ABS pump running. Pulling a cable off the battery for several minutes didn't help. A firm tap on the relay fixed the problem at that moment but didn't hold. So, I decided to keep going since there wasn't a BMW shop within reasonable riding distance. Being a Saturday, getting a repair done would just about be impossible.

At the moment the pump is not running and suspect the relay finally failed and or the pump is gone too. The lights are still blinking back and forth. Anyone ever have the ABS relay fail or the pump just keep running? Comments? Thanks in advance.


I did the SS1K last weekend on my K12RS ('03) and am happy to say it ran like the wind. :p However, your story about the power brakes pump running after turning off the key sounds pretty weird to me. All we need is another K-bike relay that gets weird on you...

I'm stopping by my dealer tonight and will check with the boys in the back about what might be going on. You really have me curious.

[KeithN]

Thanks, Greg.

I called the pump the wrong thing. It's the modulator. Looking straight down the left side with the seat off you can see the modulator easily, just under your hip. There's a black part on the side of it. That's the relay.

The modulator ran for quite a while, two or three hours. It ran for two that I am sure of - between stops. I took the lug wrench and tapped the relay pretty hard one good time and the modulator quite running. The ABS lights stopped blinking back and forth. However, when I turned the key off then on, the lights went back to flashing and the modulator continued to run.

At the next stop the modulator was no longer running but the ABS lights continued to blink. No problems with breaking. Did a few emergency stops in the parking lot before going back on the road. Back tire locked up, front was bitting in good.

Yes, I've read about the battery issue causing the ABS lights to freak. Not sure this is the situation here. Reading other posts about the ABS and battery thing mention nothing about the modulator running. For grins, when I can get caught up at the end of the week I will pull the battery and have it tested. My biggest fear is the modulator is fried. That part is about $1200.00. The relay and assembly is about $150.00. I really hope the relay went bad or the gap is off at the ABS sensors or the battery is not doing to well. Please let me know what you find out. I'll start making calls in a few days to a few BMW shops in the area to get some opinions.

Cheers...Keith