My mechanic says that the EBTCM needs replacing, and one other part. The EBTCM is $1700. I fear that it is time to let my wonderful car go.

 

How familiar is your mechanic with ABS/Active Handling systems? You need somebody who knows what they are doing. Problem could be caused by a blown fuse so check the 40 amp Fuse #52 in the underhood electrical center, it could also be caused by a low system voltage so you need to check the battery connections and battery, it could also be caused by a bad ground so check the ground connections to the BPMV at the ground point at G103 (left front frame near the alternator). Other wiring problems could also cause this code so you need to verify the wiring to the EBCM and between the EBCM and BPMV. Or as your mechanic indicates the EBCM could be bad. Or the BPMV could be bad. The circuit for code C1217 goes from the battery through the fuse and then through a relay in the EBCM, to the BPMV which contains the pump and from the pump to ground at G103. Any high resistance or an open anywhere in the circuit will cause this code. The simple things need to be verified before expensive items like the EBCM and BPMV are replaced.

There are some people like ABSFixer who are repairing the relay in EBCMs for 2001-2004 C5s but I am not sure anybody is doing the ones for the 98s, 99s, 00s. Nobody repairs the BPMV.

Used parts may be a consideration but there is some risk that they could be bad as well.

I don't know for sure whether your car has active handling but Parts Taxi has the control module without active for $375 and the one for active for $381. The BPMVs are $1184 and $1338 respectively. Both modules may need to be replaced as a problem in the pump could have caused the relay in the EBCM to be damaged.

Bill

 

Thanks for the suggestions. He seems pretty familiar, and has already fixed one problem that turned out to be rock damage to the wires from the steering sensor--the sensor itself was fine.

How do you remove the plug for the ground connectors? It didn't seem to want to let go--is there something that needs pressing before the connector plug comes out?

 

I got the car back--and now, most of the time, it is trouble free. Of the last five times I have started it, the SERVICE ABS and SERVICE TRACTION displays have appeared only once. This tells me that the problem may be a loose wire somewhere--it was failing when he had it on the rack, and fixing the damaged wires that were causing C1241 may have jostled something a bit. Still, it suggests that the EBTCM and EPMV aren't bad--at least, they aren't consistently bad. I think I will give him a call in the morning and suggest that it worth me having him charge me a couple of hours more time to verify every connector involving these systems, and the ground connectors to the chassis, are as they ought to be. As it was, getting the wires for the steering column sensor repaired, and the 40 amp fuse replaced, cost me $147.10. That's not bad.