VW Lupo ABS Warning: Lateral Sensor Troubleshooting

As an owner of a 2004 VW Polo with some repair experience, I encountered almost identical symptoms last year. The ABS warning light also stayed on continuously in my case, suggesting issues with the electronic control systems. After running diagnostics, the workshop confirmed the lateral sensor was working fine, but the actual ABS control unit was defective. These units are critical for both the ABS and electronic stability control systems to function properly. The yaw rate measurements were completely off, causing false safety warnings. The repair process involved: 1. Complete diagnostic scan 2. Removal of old control unit 3. Installation and programming of new unit 4. System calibration 5. Test drive to confirm proper wheel alignment and stability control Total cost was 1000€ including parts and labor. While expensive, its essential for vehicle safety and handling. To provide more specific guidance for your case, could you share: Have you noticed any specific driving situations where the ABS behaves unusually? Did you get any specific error codes from diagnostics? Has there been any recent work done on the suspension or brakes? Are there any other warning lights active besides ABS? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or points to a different root cause.

Had my last service at 35749km and they found the control unit was actually fine. The traction control problems were caused by corroded wiring between the sensor and the main electronic control module. The mechanic traced the fault using diagnostics and found damaged cables near the wheel well. The repair was much cheaper than expected, just 200€ for rewiring and labor. After fixing the wiring, all safety warning lights cleared and the vehicle stability systems are working perfectly again. No more ABS warnings or electronic stability issues since the repair. Best to have a proper diagnostic scan done before replacing expensive parts. Sometimes its just basic wiring causing these symptoms.

Good to hear you found a simpler solution. Your experience matches what I eventually discovered with my Polo, electrical connections are often the culprit with ABS and traction control issues. While my initial ABS unit replacement was costly, I later had a similar wiring problem near the steering angle sensor that showed identical symptoms. A safety warning tip for others: corroded wiring to sensors can cause intermittent electronic control system failures that might only show up during emergency maneuvers when you need these safety systems most. The diagnostic scan is crucial, it helped pinpoint the exact location of the fault in both our cases. When the lateral sensor or any stability control component shows errors, always check the wiring connections first before replacing expensive modules. Your repair cost of 200€ is typical for wiring fixes. Much better than the 1000€ I spent before learning this lesson. The traction control and ABS systems are sensitive to even minor connection issues, so regular inspection of these critical wiring points during service is worth requesting.

Thanks for sharing those repair details. You are absolutely right about checking wiring first. The diagnostic scan revealed the exact problem and saved me from unnecessarily replacing the entire ABS unit. The steering angle and vehicle stability systems are now working perfectly after that simple 200€ wiring repair. The technician showed me the corroded cables they found during troubleshooting. The electronic control module was getting inconsistent signals due to those damaged wires near the wheel well. Regular inspection of these connections during maintenance makes sense since moisture exposure in that area is common. For anyone else seeing similar ABS and traction warnings, start with a proper diagnostic scan before assuming major component failure. The actual fix might be much simpler and cheaper than expected. My lateral sensor and control unit were fine, it really was just basic wiring causing all those stability control system warnings.