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[Audi A3/S3] ESP light - Lateral Acceleration sender error


StArtois
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Hi all

Audi S3 with approx 45k on the clock. 2000 plate

Recently the ESP light has jammed on, so had this checked out and reset thinking it may be a gremlin but the light returned within about 400 yards of driving.

The VagCom diag informed that there was an issue with a Lateral Acceleration sender, (thats what I was informed anyhow, saw it on the computer)......so had this replaced for about £250. Now given it a bit of a run out and 10 miles later the ABS and ESP light have come on.

Does anyone have any ideas please. I dont want to keep buying bits to fix the car frown.gif

Many Thanks

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Thanks for thw Welcome Shark, after a little more investigation now been advised that this error can relate to either the Lat Acc sensor and/or the Yaw sensor? And naturally the Yaw sensor isn't cheap to replace. Think I'll have to keep digging.

Cheers

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Cheers, I'll give that a whirl.

Before the sensor was changed I had no ABS light issue, just the ESP light on permanently. Now both lights pop on in unison when I place the car under a little stress when cornering. No issues if I floor it in a straight line though. Turning the engine off and restarting clears the lights until I perform the same actions as above.....Naturally I could just drive slower round bends frown.gif

Thanks

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi

First of all I'd just like to say 'great forum'. I've learnt loads from you all but unfortunately don't know a lot about Audi's to give back sorry!

Artois, I hope you don't mind me butting in (I didn't know if I should have started a new thread?), but did you ever get your problem sorted? I've had a very similar problem with my 2000 S3 since just before xmas. The ESP light came on one day and stayed on until I restarted the car. It would then come on again within a few minutes of the next journey for no apparent reason. My local garage replaced my 'longitudinal sensor', but within a week, I had the same problem, only this time the ABS light came on as well! I've now been told that I have a problem with the 'lateral sensor'. It seems very odd that one sensor should fail followed shortly by another.

If anybody else has had a similar problem, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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Hi there, that in effect is exactly the same issue I've had. The Lateral and Longitudal sensor are two separate units (about the size of......a mobile phone charger plug)that connect to the car under the dash below the steering column. These two units plug into each other, then into the vehicle and thus AUDI recommend both are swapped out as both usually fail together (this may be drivel but who's to know). You can get them to order in one piece or the other with a bit of a push. Lateral is about £80, Long is about £350........great frown.gif

Now - you're problem may be very similar to mine in as the cars are similar ages. I think the errors "cascade" for use of a better term. The fault appears on the Long' as it's the first in the chain, get this fixed and it'll appear on the Lat', the Lat' is possibly dependent on the Long' so you can't work out if one's knackered or they both are. So on my car I had both swapped out but then you need to worry about revisions of the 2 pieces. From what I was informed, (and probably what you're seeing now) you'll have a new 2006 Long' piece and an old 2000 Lat' piece - which aren't compatible - joy frown.gif

Eventaully I've had both swopped out to brand new pieces and so far the issue hasn't come back, this has been only 2 days though.

Please update with any info you have on this.

Hope this gives you some insight

Cheers

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Yep, same here guys. It doesn't come on that often but when it does the only way to reset it is to turn off the engine and then back on again. I think mine has only come about 5 times and definitely a few of those times was after caning it around a roundabout which would tally with the lateral sensor thingy. A bit annoying but it hasn't done it for a while now so I think I'll leave it until such time as it's doing pretty much permanently. So no joy yet for fix for you guys?

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Artois, 700 quid and still not fixed!!!???? Was that from a stealer? What did they say when you told them that you were still having the same problem? You say you only have the problem when you place the car under heavy stress cornering to the left whilst braking, mine seems to do it when cornering to the right and accelerating….doh! Does anybody know why the ABS light should have anything to do with this problem either?

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[ QUOTE ]

Does anybody know why the ABS light should have anything to do with this problem either?

[/ QUOTE ]

The ESP system also uses the ABS sensors to monitor what each wheel, so it may indicate you have a fault with one of your ABS sensors, may be worth checking them out.

You may be given a clue to which sensor is offending too, as which wheels you are putting most stress on under cornering.

Is the ABS operation OK? If you let the ABS intervene do you get the ABS warning light?

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Ben,

Problem I seem to have is all these garages swear by the Vag-Com diags. So if it keeps saying "Longtitudal Sensor" they seem to just want to keep changing this part and not beleiving anything else is wrong. So....

a. If an ABS sensor is malfuctioning how could this be checked - diagnostically and/or physically?

b. Would it register on the Vag-Com as a separate error?

c. Are they easily accessible on the vehicle (e.g can I get one from a scrapyard and swop myself smile.gif )

And no..this wasn't from the stealers - an independant Audi Specialist, (to be honest he's been very good, has only charged me parts after working on the car for initial first day when had Latitudinal Sensor error)......Car will be going back within a couple of days for more "diags" so may have more info then

Cheers

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St Artois

Just a suggestion but after spending about £700 replacing all sensors, the problem could actually be your Haldex ECU as this leaves your ESP light on forever if its faulty. I think Mollox has had this at one time as well.

I had this problem with my S3 just after I bought it. Not trying to scare you but cost back then four years ago was about £1200 however Audi UK did it as a goodwill gesture as it happened 1 month after the warranty was out (import) but had it looked at during the warranty period

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The fault seems intermittent. I can drive like Miss Daisy and the ESP/ABS lights stay off. If I kick the hell out it and all but spin the car again little will happen.....yet if I load under left hand turn breaking I get the Xmas tree effect on the dash. Would this be the same for a Haldex fault or, as you say above, would the light be on permanantly if the Haldex had an issue?

Had the Haldex oil changed last service at 40K miles (supposedly, but Audi can put what they want on their 'itemized bill')

Thx

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St Artois

It would make sense about it possibly being a faulty ABS sensor, although i would have thought it would show up on vag-com. Sinse i've had a problem with my ESP and ABS light, my ABS seems to be kicking in a bit too readily. I understand the ABS sensors can be checked with a multimeter just by checking the resistance but i'm not sure what the reading should be. Anyone? Might be worth a check. ABS sensors are pretty cheap and easy to replace.

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