Hi all

2004 L322 TD6. Car was running fine but failed MOT on O/S/F track control arm.
Put it on full O/S lock. I had to remove the steering arm as couldn’t get the track rod end off of it whilst on the car. Fitted New track rod end (same length, 26 turns off and 26 turns on). Put it all back together but now steering wheel is out by about 1/4 turn.
Went to start it but key wouldn’t turn in ignition lock. Eventually got it to turn by rocking steering wheel like steering lock was on.
Also (maybe coincidence?) within 5 mile I got the HDC, ABS, Susp inactive, and warning triangle light up? It resets by turning key on and off. But also comes back on after 3-4 miles.
Suspension (when reset by turning key on and off) goes from normal to high (slow but does go) but won’t go from normal to low. The low light doesn’t come on at all.

Battery was big and new 1 year ago.
Have put Icarsoft on it and not showing no errors. In fact with all the the warning lights on, when I plug the icarsoft in the lights go out?!?!

What’s my chances of putting battery on charge all night and it magically fixing itself??

Cheers for any hope!
Tel Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

Well thats interesting.

My car has been activating traction control all the bloody time-any acceleration and or turning.
Anyway, I went to a specialist today and he said its all because my N/S/F trackrod end is goosed. Says the car thinks its turning too much and in a skid etc.

He told me to replace the track rod, get it aligned then take it back to him to clear the codes properly.

I also have an icarsoft, but the level of detail he got on his machine was much better

I suggest you get a 4 wheel alignment and go from there.

By the way, my errors came and went by themselves too.

Does it lock out the suspension, and ABS lift on your Philip? Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

Does it lock out the suspension, and ABS lift on your Philip? Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

When I reset the code, its OK for a few mins, but then "suspension inactive" comes up and it wallows like a container ship and wont go up and down properly.

He said the ABS is cutting out the suspension as its all linked, or something. He is a very well respected specialist, and seems convinced that this is due to the passenger front wheel pointing in the wrong direction, due to all the play in the ball joint at the end of the track rod. This means the car things the steering angle is waaayyy over parameters hence the traction cutting in (which uses the ABS system).

Mind boggling for a luddite like me, but he knows his onions.

Your a star fella. At least it’s give me some hope that it may not be “the end of the world” to fix.
I’ll charge battery to see, but yeah next step is to get it aligned and fingers crossed!!

Thanks so much for your thoughts Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

I have been having a nighmare too.

I just bought a new battery yesterday because I thought that might be the issue

Still, the old one was a bit knackered so not the end of the world.

Poor alignment would also explain why the car felt a bit unsteady.

Fingers crossed this fixes it (for both of us).

Just had a quick look and the wheels aren’t pointing opposite directions like I thought it would need to be to cause a fault?
The steering wheel is sitting about a 1/4 turn off, which I can’t explain?? The track rod end was put back on the same amount of turns the old one came off and they were the same length. Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

Had the same problem, a simple wheel alignment solved it straight away. Get that sorted, clear the codes, problem solved

All I’m hopeing is I haven’t damaged anything whilst pulling the suspension about getting the track rod end and steering arm off.

If tracking was the problem it would be awesome!! Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

I dont think it needs to be far out-we are talking a few degrees, not really visible to the human eye.

Not sure about your wheel being off centre, but the new track rod will be holding the front wheel in a different position than the old worn track rod, thats for sure.

You guys are awesome as always

Thanks so much. Will get it tracked and report back
Fingers crossed Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

Hi all.
Just an update. Took car to be tracked this morning and they were 21mm out. I still can’t explain how, but it was fact. They have re-aligned them and I’ve now got everything working again. No lights and full working suspension.

Guys I just want to say thank you so much for your time and advice/suggestions. If it wasn’t for the kind people in this forum I truely could not afford to keep running such a lovely car.

Your absolute stars. Thank you so much!

Tel Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

Spot on mate, always nice when it's a simple solution!