Chassis, generic

C0203 ABS Solenoid Valve Front Right Circuit

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modePossible

C0203 has no public trace: neither the accessible J2012 lists nor the NHTSA bulletins or maker indexes include it. Read literally it is the front right counterpart of C0200; Saab's 9-5 fitted with the Bosch 5.3 traction/ABS unit reports this case as C2455. GM's wording for the TRW EBC450 unit of the 2011 Saab 9-5 calls the two valves per wheel isolation and dump valves: the first closes to freeze pressure, the second opens to bleed it into the low-pressure accumulator, from which the pump returns the fluid, and the control module powers both coils itself. A Toyota/Denso patent describes the classic reaction to a broken or shorted coil: a fault flag is set, the warning lamp is latched and a cut-off relay is dropped so the car brakes like one without ABS.

Likely causes

Open or shorted coil of a front right valve
Poor contact between control module and valve block
Faulty valve driver in the control module

Symptoms

  • ABS lamp on, anti-lock function off
  • Front right wheel can lock under hard braking

Repair estimate

DifficultyHardWorkshop job
Parts and labour€100–1,500
Time0.5–3 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

abs solenoid valve frabs hydraulic blockabs control module

Related codes

C0200C0151C0156

References: saabwisonline.com, saabwisonline.com, patents.google.com.