Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Dec 31, 2019

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33 Posts

Discussion Starter · #1 · Dec 31, 2019

Hi folks. New member here with Alfa 159 2.4L JTDm.

Recently I began to experience the ASR / VDC / Hill Holder unavailable warnings. They were very sporadic sometimes appearing several times a day and then stopping for days at a time.

Recently it began to manifest into other issues such as the ASR light, ABS light and the red handbrake light being displayed with the speedo not working. The speedo would then randomly come back and it would cycle through the usual ASR / VDC / Hill Holder unavailable faults.

Now though its got the ASR, ABS and red handbrake light on all the time with no speedo at all. Switching the engine off requires either 3 quick presses of the stop button or a long press and hold, but these won't release the key. I've to turn ignition on and off again to release the key.

I've scanned the car for fault codes and within the ABS system I get a CAN line fault along with 3 others relating to yaw, lateral and longitudinal sensor failures.

In the body control module I get B1042 - vehicle speed brake node.

I've used live data and can see all the wheel speed sensors are working and reading all the same. Furthermore I can see the yaw, lateral and longitudinal sensors are giving readings too.

Clearing the codes leaves me with the CAN line fault (code I'll post tomorrow as I've forgotten it but starts with a U) and the B1042 - vehicle speed brake node. ASR, ABS and handbrake light still on with no speedo and same issues with stopping the engine and releasing the key.

I've tried disconnecting the battery for a couple of hours and it's made no difference either.

Fuses for ABS have been checked and are okay.

Any suggestions on other things to try?

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Jul 9, 2017

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1,193 Posts

These random faults and warnings are nearly always voltage related. I'd start by checking the battery and earth connections including the hard to find one under the battery tray.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Jan 2, 2014

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2,210 Posts

As above. I'd actually replace the earth straps too rather than just checking tightness etc. Also these cars eat batteries for breakfast, there is a constant drain due to the alarm and sensors and if it aint been replaced in the last couple of years I'd change it now.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Jan 17, 2005

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8,684 Posts

sounds like problem with the ABS unit (ABS ECU also generates the speedometer signal, in addition to VDC, ASR, hill holder etc.)
I'd start by checking the electrical connector(s) on the ABS ECU, unplug the connector, use a contact cleaner, check earth etc. as all your faults are directly related to the ABS

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Alfa 159 2.0 JTDm Lusso 6sp.

Joined Jan 22, 2010

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10,347 Posts

Mostly those faults are voltage/current related.....but I had all of those faults caused by a faulty NSF ABS sensor. Started off being intermittent (warnings coming up, speedo dropping to zero etc)....eventually became permanent. Replaced the sensor (five minute job) and problem cured....then after a month they started to come back. This time it was the wheel bearing failing. A combination of worn bearing (meaning a slight variation in distance between the pick up ring and the sensor) and rust on the ring gave erratic info to the ecu. New wheel bearing (in fact both NS bearings as the rear also had slight play) and never had the issue since. Hope this helps someone.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Mar 23, 2007

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422 Posts

I’ve had some weird electrical issues lately but the hill holder\VDC has popped up often but randomly for the last 10 years or so. The fault seems to hang about for a couple of days then disappear for weeks/months. The car’s a manual with a handbrake and we don’t have that many hills in Cheshire so I don’t need a hill holder anyway.

I had every warning in the book one time due to a knackered battery including steering lock activated while doing 80 mph in the outside lane. With so many simultaneous warnings though, it does look more like the power supply may be the cause, I'd give the battery a bloody good long charge and see if it helps before starting ripping things apart.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Dec 31, 2019

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33 Posts

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 31, 2019

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Certainly got a few things to check. Will get a check of the battery and earth some stage today and report back. I'll also put the battery onto the charger too.

Joined Mar 27, 2015

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18 Posts

I had same issue on Giulietta, If you changed the battery and then problems appeared, make sure the battery type is suitable with your car. in my case, battery MUST be AGM and cheap battery makes lots of errors.
Also be sure battery clamps are tighten. some battery pole is a little smaller than clamps, so in car vibration clamps will not connect correctly and current is not enough, so errors will appear again.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Mar 23, 2003

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3,046 Posts

If you've got Hill Holder and speedo faults it will be almost impossible for two different systems to fail at the same time. So it's a voltage problem. The systems go through a 'boot' sequence which includes a check of whether there is enough reliable power to operate. If the check fails the systems are closed down. Sometimes just waiting a second longer between ignition and start will compensate. But as we all know, the usual culprit is a good reliable earth.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Alfa 159 2.0 JTDm Lusso 6sp.

Joined Jan 22, 2010

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10,347 Posts

All those systems work though the ABS system and sensors...so why I agree that low 12v is the usual issue they are far from separate systems.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Jan 17, 2005

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8,684 Posts

All those systems work though the ABS system and sensors...so why I agree that low 12v is the usual issue they are far from separate systems.

Exactly, as I said earlier , it's all related to the ABS, including the speedometer

See also:

  • 1 MB Views: 247

Joined Jul 7, 2017

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826 Posts

units wont be faulty, its battery related

advanced batteries online is the best place for a new one

Joined Jun 23, 2009

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213 Posts

..... including steering lock activated while doing 80 mph in the outside lane.....

Hi Bill

This is my particular nightmare! I work with software and systems engineers and frankly I would trust them to design a safe spoon ... How did you handle it?

Cheers
James

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Mar 23, 2003

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3,046 Posts

Exactly, as I said earlier , it's all related to the ABS, including the speedometer

See also:

Not great when people recommend the expensive and rare faults before considering the cheap and repetitive faults. Changing an expensive part might change the voltage reading enough to fool the systems check while doing nothing for the known underlying earth fault.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Jan 17, 2005

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8,684 Posts

Not great when people recommend the expensive and rare faults before considering the cheap and repetitive faults. Changing an expensive part might change the voltage reading enough to fool the systems check while doing nothing for the known underlying earth fault.

Actually, I recommended cleaning the ABS connector and checking the earth on this part, as it's been known to give problems
Specialy as there is also a fault on the speedometer.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Alfa 159 2.0 JTDm Lusso 6sp.

Joined Jan 22, 2010

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10,347 Posts

The ABS sensor that failed on mine causing all those faults cost me a princely £8!

A quick scan with MES or AlafOBD will soon confirm or not if its a sensor (or other part).

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Mar 23, 2007

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422 Posts

Hi Bill

This is my particular nightmare! I work with software and systems engineers and frankly I would trust them to design a safe spoon ... How did you handle it?

Cheers
James

This happened on a new car that was less than a month out of the show room. It was eventually traced to be a faulty boot release solenoid that wad flattening the battery but before it was rectified, I literally had every warning in the book.

When the steering lock warning came on, I suspected it was just another false one, but with that particular warning and where I was at the time, I couldn’t chance anything so very gradually, without hardly turning the wheel, I managed to get to the hard shoulder. Once stopped and restarted the warning disappeared.

I think under normal circumstances, the logic wouldn’t have allowed the steering lock to actually engage at that speed but I guess when they write the code, they use a working module rather one that had been zapped several times by repetitive jump starts. The whole ecu ended up being replaced.

Joined Jun 23, 2009

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213 Posts

Hi Bill

So the lock didn't actually engage - phew! I can't see that the risk of that happening is worth the security it provides. But then again having an air bag suddenly and accidentally blow in your face on the motorway is another safety issue and we all drive with that one!

I was being towed once and the guy didn't point out that I should have the key in the ignition - I worked it out for myself at the first corner however......

Cheers
James

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Aug 5, 2013

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36 Posts

I had similar errors/issues with my 156...

Issue was the (nasty) battery.

A) previous owner had installed a cheap, not powerful enough battery
B) I had few gadgets connected to cigaret lighter, draining heaps of power

Once I replaced the battery, for a much better and powerful one, I no longer had any issues. So, no errors on dashboard and no draining of battery anymore.

Vdc e hill holder non disponibile alfa 159

Joined Dec 31, 2019

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33 Posts

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 9, 2020

Hi everyone. Many thanks for the wonderful responses.

I opted for a new battery and have had it fitted for a couple of days now. So far no errors have came back so I'm hoping that's cured it.

I've ran diagnostics when the faults were present and all my wheel speed sensors were working.

Doing a fresh scan I noticed the battery voltage is around 12.1v with ignition on and around 13.7v - 14.1v with engine running. I'm thinking the alternator is potentially an issue too and I'll have to source a replacement.