ABS Failure Light Blinking.

[Ozhirsty]

My ABS brake light is blinking, all was fine until I washed the bike.
On start up blinking light (the right side one ) failed to stop blinking even after riding for a distance. Checked the rear tail light and both elenents are on. Applying brake caused no change.
Changed bulb, non BMW but same type, no change, both elements still burning and applying brake again caused no change.
Only mentioned washing as worked before that.
Did an ABS bleed a few months ago..but no problems until now.
Any ideas..?
Alan '04 R1150RA,

[Arbee]

Check the airgap on the sensors, front & rear, if not the dreaded modulator has failed again...$$$$$$$$

[Nippess]

This happened on my bike early this year. The light would reset and go out if I pulled up and swithched the engine off. Then I could ride for several miles before it would start flashing again. Sometimes it would only stay off for 2 miles... Took it to dealer - poorly bike, I must not ride it. The ABS pump had failed ££££££££
BMW decided to keep my loyalty and fixed it free of charge!
Now I have just been to order my new R1200R before any more ££££ problems....

[Boxer04]

My issue with the ABS was similar but not exactly the same. Light (right hand light) would not stop blinking quickly after turning on the key. It was not doing the computer check. This happened several times on a tour. I checked voltage with multimeter and all was ok.

BMW technician said that this can happen if the brake lever is not going back to the stop position. The ABS was assuming the brake was being applied at the handle bar and the computer would not go through its routine correctly. He said that if it happened again to just gently push the brake lever away (towards front of bike) before starting.

Lever has been cleaned and mud from tour removed. Rubbish was causing lever to rest just off the stop position.

One other thing to consider - you performed a ABS brake bleed. Low fluid in the ABS RESERVOIR (not the master cylinder) causes alternate flashing of the left and right lights at slow blink rate. This fluid can be lost if the bike is on its side.

If the left light is off and right light blinks slowly (1Hz) this indicates ABS pull away test not performed and no ABS.

If right light flashes faster (4Hz) then only residual braking in both circuits.

Hope this helps.