Both these warnings light up but only once the engine is warmed up after a mile or two.
Then they stay on permanently.
Stopping and restarting the engine turns them of for a short distance, then they are back.
Similar post 6 years ago but no replies.
is that traction control light.
Tyre pressures, ABS wheel speed sensor?
Your OBDII reader will not tell you what errors are on the ABS system. If you can get hold on an ABS error code reader or find another way of getting the error code out of the car it should tell you exactly what the fault is.
Yes, traction control.
I’m going to BC Cars tomorrow for Brian to sort it out for me.
What makes you think that!!!
I understand that OBDII readers and in particular the cheaper standard readers are not able to access SRS or ABS error codes.
If you know different, put me right and enlighten the original poster - that is what this forum is for!!!
Yes if you use the Torque application (free one)on an Android phone or Tablet you can access the data with an inexpensive bluetooth dongle. I have done that with an NC that had a wheel sensor fault.
I found on the NC that my inexpensive plug in code reader would not link with any NC cars. A similar hand held unit but sold six months after my code reader had no issues talking to a number of NC cars.
I also have a USB dongle that talks to my Subaru and Jimny but not to any NC cars.
Therefore in my case, I have not used an inexpensive hand held reader or USB dongle to talk to any NC’s.
I can only advise the original poster to use an inexpensive bluetooth dongle if they have a bluetooth enabled Android phone or tablet. Not a lot of use to those with Apple products.
Thanks for the reply - I could not find what I was expecting - a cheap MX5 MK3 ABS code reader so guessed there had to be another way around this.
Something in the back of my mind was telling me that it may be possible the get the ABS codes from a display on the car dash but probably wishful thinking.
Not interrogated error codes on a MK3 and I know you have.
What OBDII readers have you had problems with? Just wondering if the cheap MS309 I have would work on a MK3. Seen a few posts now where owners have had some trouble on the MK3 with a cheap reader and not sure why - these systems should be compatible.
Please can you let us know what readers or dongles you know of that work on the MK3 - Might save a few owners buying the wrong ones.
I think this statement on the Mazda European portal for those who download the diagnostic software cost Euro 30 for 3 days is interesting as they are specifically advising that this one USB passthrough works with the car.
Please note that this software is only applicable for reprogramming modules in Mazda vehicles with EURO5 specification.
This software has been tested using a generic PC/Laptop and a Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) Type PassThru + XS 2G manufactured by ACTIA GmbH, Dresdenstraße 17/18, D-38124 Braunschweig.
The VCI will have to be purchased and installed before installing the MMP Software.
The only cheepo unit I know that works with the NC3 is any elm327 bluetooth dongle.
Well that is good news, so this, which still appears to be the cheapest OBDII reader available, together with free software and android phone or tablet will read OBDII error codes on the MK3 and ABS/SRS codes?
Shame we have iphones and an ipad but a lot of the other stuff is Android.
Be interested to know what cheap readers didn’t work at all on the MK3 - unfortunately I have no way of directly checking.
Just found this interesting thread from a year or so ago.
I have three different OBDII readers, all work with the NC (2006)
The best one is a simple Bluetooth dongle but it needs the excellent Torque app on a decent phone or tablet (DON’T use any of the very dodgy software that comes on a disc with the dongle)
My oldest ‘scanner’ is cheap, very basic and almost useless, avoid it, much better options on the market now, and Az has blocked me from revising my old review down to only 2* and no longer shows it as a verified purchase,
My most recent self-contained one (a freebie from Amazon Vine) is better than I was expecting (see my review), still not up to using the Torque App via the dongle, but no phone or tablet needed.
I have just read up on the torque app and found this…
'No, Torque is only an OBDII scanner/reader. It can communicate with the engine control module of ‘96-newer OBDII vehicles, but it cannot communicate with any of the other modules in the vehicle such as ABS, SRS, BCM etc.’
Reading through the application description it seems to be an excellent tool but whichever version you have will only communicate with the engine ecu and associated diagnostics and error codes. The problem with ABS, SRS, etc is that they tend to operate with their own bespoke ecu, so no diagnostic connection to the engine ECU.
Unfortunately it seems that the original question, asking about interrogating ABS error codes on a MK3 is still unanswered.
Perhaps it’s the dealer, replace n/s front wheel sensor as a guess or pay a bit more for something like this
From the lack of information around I guess the MK3 ABS system and SRS system for that matter are very reliable.
You’re right.
I’ve just tried my latest hand-held reader on NC and Mazda3 and while it does everything one might need around the engine and emissions, it does not see SRS (airbags) or ABS etc.
The Torque Pro app I tried before was on a tablet borrowed from a friend, but I guess it will be the same, because of the extra-cost access protocols needed for the manufacturer-specific supplementary modules.
Took 13 months toget to the bottom of this . . .
A sharp hard right hander made the ABS / DSC dash warning lights come on and stay on (NC1 Sport)
Hooning round a typical roundabout in other words
An engine restart turned the warning lights out
Didn’t come up on MOT, but slight wheel bearing play did
My cheap eBay bluetooth dongle works fine for ABS codes with an NC1 and an Android phone running Torque Pro (elm327 IIRC)
The dongle plugs in just by the bonnet/boot release
It reported a Torque-unrecognised code which the Torque app Internet search advised as tooth missing from front left ABS ring
I nearly bought a new ABS sensor, but procrastinated over the £68 + faff.
It also reported another code, intermittent comms with ABS module, further Googling said with Mazdas some cheap bluetooth dongles interfere with comms (phew!)
I changed the front left hub assy (needed a slide hammer to budge it)
No more ABS / DSC warning lights coming on.
added several months later
The warning light starting coming back on, intermittently, usually after a few miles, usually after a sharp right hander as before. Same codes as before.
I fitted a new Mazda ABS sensor, £68, which didn’t fix it.
So I replaced the ‘OEM quality’ front hub with a genuine Mazda one, £156.
Now it’s fixed!
The marketplace seems filled with non-genuine hubs for between 25% and 75% of a genuine one.
Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Good post and very informative.
It is usually the nearside wheel sensor that gives problems but the ABS ring would apparently come a close second. I thought these were normally indestructable if left alone and only get damaged when interferred with?
Good to hear that the ELM127 and torque app give ABS codes. As you probably saw from one of my previous posts that goes against the information I found.
That information may prove very useful especially for the higher mileage owners such as myself
where things start to wear or drop off ( the car that is not me!) on second thoughts though…
Barrie