ABS LIGHT on - Speedo not working FIAT Ducato Minibus (250_, 290_)

FIAT DUCATO Platform/Chassis (244) 2.3 JTD

@user_649832

06.11.2021 18:05

Member

Anyone else had an intermittent fault with Fiat Ducato 2.3 Multijet ( automatic) ABS light coming on, Speedo stops working, and Motorhome goes into LIMP MODE

Started

06.11.21

Latest reply

27.11.25

Replies

Views

525

@Thearl

08.11.2021 16:55

Member

First of all, read the fault codes from the control unit, if the problem is in the abs sensor, try to remove and see, perhaps the contact on the microcircuit or wire breakage has cleared!
Of course, I can't say anything about the speedometer, since it does not work through the abs sensor.
@VictorPrice

27.11.2025 13:51

Member

Had exactly this on mine back in 2019, turned out the ABS pump itself was dodgy. Started intermittent like yours then got worse, speedo would just die randomly and limp mode kicked in every time. Mate at garage scanned it, showed P0500 code but it wasn't actually the speed sensor - the ABS module just stopped sending speed info to the ECU
@barry_diXon

27.11.2025 15:03

Member

@user_79869 Check all the wiring around the wheel sensors first mate, saved me a fortune doing that. Mine was corroded connector on front left sensor, cleaned it up and been fine for 18 months now
@stanley.foster85

27.11.2025 16:00

Member

@Thearl you're spot on about checking sensors but actually the speedo DOES work through ABS on these Ducatos That's why it all goes mental together - no ABS signal means no speed reading to dash or gearbox ECU hence limp mode
@John Smith

27.11.2025 16:15

Member

My neighbour had this nightmare last year on his 2012 Ducato motorhome. Turned out whole ABS pump needed replacing, wasn't cheap but fixed everything in one go. His would do exactly same thing - all three problems at once then drive fine for weeks
@DavidJones78

27.11.2025 16:32

Member

@user_79869 Does yours throw up "ABS unavailable" or "EBD Failure" messages on the dash? If yes, almost certainly the pump rather than just sensors
@peter.wiLLiams92

27.11.2025 17:10

Member

I'd disagree with going straight to pump replacement tbh. Cleaned my rear sensor last month (they get covered in road muck) and problem vanished, cost me nothing
@michael_brown

27.11.2025 17:19

Member

@stanley.foster85 Exactly right, these 2011-14 models are notorious for it, the ABS module failing takes out speedo and throws gearbox into limp because ECU thinks car isnt moving
@ANDREW_TAYLOR'71

27.11.2025 17:36

Member

@barry_diXon What did you use to clean the connector? Got similar issue starting on my 2013, comes and goes every few days
@christopherW828

27.11.2025 18:19

Member

Brother in law's Boxer (same van basically) did this for months, he kept resetting fault and ignoring it till one day stuck in limp mode permanently. Eventually coughed up for recon ABS unit, wish he'd sorted it earlier
@barry_diXon

27.11.2025 18:27

Member

@ANDREW_TAYLOR'71 Just contact cleaner spray from local shop and small wire brush, make sure connections bone dry before reconnecting though. If its coming and going regularly get it sorted soon before it stays faulty permanently mate
@stanley.foster85

27.11.2025 18:32

Member

@peter.wiLLiams92 Fair point if its just dirty sensors but when you get all three symptoms together (ABS light, dead speedo AND limp mode) on the 2.3 automatic its usually the pump on these year models unfortunately