ABS quit after minor spill....FIXED!!!!!

[bizzaro]

Hey Guys,
So I dumped my bike on a slick dirt road.  Very minor.  Did some fairing damage and now my ABS has quit.  When I turn on the key I get the alternate flashing.  I have fallen over with my bike before, but never on the run, and the ABS worked fine afterward.  Now after "the fall" it is out of commission!!! Any guessees
Bizz

So resetting the ABS is different for ABS II.  It is in the links posted here, but not so easy to find.  One site link, it is triple linked, and hard to follow. And another link, it is posted, but not labeled as to which is which. I missed it on both counts. Frankenducks primer in the Tech library  doesnt cover ABS  II so here ya go.
ABS II Reset:
1  ignition off
2 ground center terminal of diagnostic plug
3 ignition on but no engine start
4 if you see two warning lamps illuminate alternately step 2 above is effective, if not you need to polish center terminal hole and try from step 1 ( possibly corroded center terminal)
 
5 push abs cancel switch on console for more than 10 sec.
6 step 5 will turn on abs lamp and turn off other warn lamp.

7 release abs cancel switch. two lamps go on if your reset is successful.
8 turn off ignition. remove ground wire if you succeeded.
how is the result.

[Laitch]

You could try resetting it according to instructions found scrolling through this resource, Bizz. Also, check your battery connections to be sure they didn't loosen after the drop.

[Motorhobo]

Check the ABS cable going from the rear ABS sensor to the plug on the harness. Mine once had some kind of break in the wire beneath the sheathing so that the circuit was interrupted. A buddy who was once a BMW wrench found the break with a multimeter and was able to splice it. There wasn't much if any visual damage to the cable so I still don't know how it happened, but it did, and if you laid the bike down, it's possible that something got to that cable.

[stokester]

I would first find out what it is telling you is wrong.

When I purchased my '93 K75S it had the relay removed and the light taped over.  Using info here -> http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech.shtml and here -> http://bmwk10075abs1fix.web.fc2.com I was able to determine that my "brain" was bad and had Tosi repair it.  I tried to test with a digital meter but needed an analog to read the code.  The free ones at Harbor Freight work just fine for this.

[Motorhobo]

I would first find out what it is telling you is wrong.

When I purchased my '93 K75S it had the relay removed and the light taped over.  Using info here -> http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech.shtml and here -> http://bmwk10075abs1fix.web.fc2.com I was able to determine that my "brain" was bad and had Tosi repair it.  I tried to test with a digital meter but needed an analog to read the code.  The free ones at Harbor Freight work just fine for this.

That's good advice, stokester. If it were me, I'd first give it a once over for physical damage to any cabling or connections, then do the reset, then if the the reset failed, I'd start trying to trace the fault electrically. I always try to go from easy to hard when troubleshooting and for me tracing electrical stuff is, well, hard.i

[bizzaro]

Thanks for those of you that piped in.  Using the links kindly provided I proceeded to clear the ABS fault. So even after several attempts to clear the ABS, I still get the alternate flash, and not simultaneous flash when it is running the check on start up.  So I used and analog voltmeter and got a reading of 7 dips.   According to the link, It is the brain. Not sure why the brain would quit after a minor spill.  I did manage to fry the ground wire coming off the motronic.  on my first attempt to clear the ABS.  Not sure what happened but I used the negative post on the battery to ground for the test.  (probably not a wise choice)  when I shut the bike off trying my first reset, the ground wire connected to motronic with the little blade connector disintegrated. Kinda expolded! I hope I haven't damaged the motronic? Will see shortly when I fashion a new ground.  I have never seen a wire get that toasted.  Melted into several parts.   

And before I forget one of the links warned to disconnect the multi pin brain wire harness or you could unexpectedly not have brakes! That would really suck!  Is this true?  I thought the ABS had some sort of fail safe in it so revert to standard brakes?  So should I disconnect that harness?  My bike is a 94 with ABS II.  Thanks, wanted to get this out there.  Now back to seeing if I fried the motronic as well.

[Inge K.]

It would be a good idea to check (and clean) the heavy gauge ground wire between the battery and starter,
it's a rather common problem source on these models.

[bizzaro]

 It started  :2thumbup:   Now back to my studies on the ABS brain.

[stokester]

It started  :2thumbup:   Now back to my studies on the ABS brain.

It's not hard to determine what the ABS computer is trying to tell you, use the references I linked above.  It worked for me.

[bizzaro]

I did it.....several times. I also tried to clear and reset it many times.   I get the 7 pulses which says it is the brain.  I also cleaned up all the connections, charged my battery. Cleaned and used dielectric grease   I even went all the way to the ground on the starter.  Wasn't that fun!  Not! :musicboohoo: So I will keep plugging away. The abs switch on the bar console is a little wonky.  I will check that out next. 

I am still really concerned about whether or not to disconnect the large pin connector at the brain for safety???  It would be great if someone would confirm or repute that for me.

[stokester]

I did it.....several times. I also tried to clear and reset it many times.   I get the 7 pulses which says it is the brain.  I also cleaned up all the connections, charged my battery. Cleaned and used dielectric grease   I even went all the way to the ground on the starter.  Wasn't that fun!  Not! :musicboohoo: So I will keep plugging away. The abs switch on the bar console is a little wonky.  I will check that out next. 

I am still really concerned about whether or not to disconnect the large pin connector at the brain for safety???  It would be great if someone would confirm or repute that for me.

Is there a need to disconnect the connector at the brain?  I don't think so.  I would not hesitate to send an email to Tosi who rebuilt my brain.

I say this based on my experience only!  There may be others who have a different opinion or experience.

When I picked up my '93 K75S the ABS relay was removed and the light taped over.  The hydraulic brakes worked just fine and I pursued the ABS repair because I wanted everything to work as the bike was designed.  I'm sure there are many who have removed it all with no ill effects.

[bizzaro]

It was on Tosi's site that I saw the warning to disconnect the pin connector! I also found where he states that the #1 cause of brain error is water getting in there.  Well it was raining when I went down.  Both my side covers where off and the bike was on the ground for several minutes.   :falldown:  Makes me very suspicious that it is water in the brain.   I really don't have the $300 for him to rebuild it.  And As of yet I have not found the test or home cure for water in the brain on his amazing site. :musicboohoo:

[stokester]

I reread this chain and see you have ABS II.  Mine is an ABS I so my experience may not apply to you, sorry for any confusion.

I would not hesitate to contact Tosi and ask your main question.  He was very helpful and answered my questions during the diagnostic phase.

[bizzaro]

Thanks Strokster. Did you use his email address for contact?

[stokester]

Thanks Strokster. Did you use his email address for contact?

Yes, all of our contact was through email.

My last contact after I received the rebuilt brain, installed and tested in on some grass was August 2011.  At that time it was -> k100abs@gmail.com

It has worked perfectly ever since his repair.

[bizzaro]

Yea I found it on his site and just dropped him a line.........................Thanks agian. :2thumbup: