'03 ABS light problems?

[Stic-o]

My In-laws are out of town and it up to me the "Explorer guru" to figure out what up with the 3rd gen.

The ABS light comes on when ever you hit the brakes hard, but then will go back off after restarting. Fluid levels are fine, and I just changed the front brakes not to long ago. the rears are showing some ware, but really still have some life in them. I was thinking rear VSS, but sense the speedo works I figure it's fine. I'm thinking of just trowing new pads on the rear. My other thought is it could be a front sensor, which I've heard are $$$$

Ideas? Anyone?

 

[section525]

You checked the fluid, but did you check the float?

 

[Stic-o]

Errrr...ah no

 

[Donner]

Mine did that... but the ABS light would come on after braking... It turned out to be the sensors. But IIRC, it would only come on at road speed (in other words, not in the parking lots).

But when you say hit the brakes hard, are you talking about an emergency stop? Mine was just at regular braking...

 

[jrford]

make sure the fluid is topped off like others said mine flash on hard braking and acceleration. Been through this, most common failure can be the master cylinder switch $20, then if you have a single rear ABS sensor in the diff thats about $40 (with control trac there should be two at the end of the drive shafts), then the fronts $60 or with the bearing a lot more. . .if you can get the codes read then thats the sure fire way to know what wrong.

 

[Stic-o]

Donner, was it the front sensors? sounds like what this is doing. I'm told it's sord of random, but always happens under hard braking My in-laws are talking about trading it in pretty soon for a Ranger, and they just don't want the ABS light on then I'm hopeing they offer them crap for it....because it very well could end up my next project, where I'll have no need for ABS and such

 

[Donner]

I had to call Ford, couldn't recall... They said it was the Brake Pressure Switch and ABS module.

 

[Curtis]

Similar thing for mine... except it would come on when I floored it..
Would stay off after restarting until I floored it again.
While on, Cruise control did not work.

I replaced the sensor on the master cylinder - $20 and it was fine.
easy fix only 2-3 minutes.

 

[Stic-o]

Drove the truck around a bit today. It seems to be under acceleration the ABS light is coming on. It goes back off everytime you turn the truck off.

That pretty much tells me it's a sensor. SO I heard you can clean the front sensors...is that true or is it a sealed unit in the bearing?

 

[Curtis]

Drove the truck around a bit today. It seems to be under acceleration the ABS light is coming on. It goes back off everytime you turn the truck off.

That pretty much tells me it's a sensor. SO I heard you can clean the front sensors...is that true or is it a sealed unit in the bearing?

I think your cheapest route would be to replace the one on the master cylinder first. Its only $20 and 3 minutes.. easy job.

Im sure the ones on the wheels are in the hubs and one piece and much more money and time.

 

[Stic-o]

but sense the light is not triggered by hitting the brakes...that really dosn't make sence

 

[fyrfyter612]

Why not take it to a local shop and have them pull the codes? You don't have to have it fixed there......just let them pinpoint the part that needs repaired. Could save you some cash instead of just replacing parts hoping to get the right part. Sure your symptoms very well could be the same as other people's but quite a few different parts that can turn the warning light on.

 

[Curtis]

but sense the light is not triggered by hitting the brakes...that really dosn't make sence

Mine wasn't triggered by the brakes either. The only way I could get the light to come on was to floor it from a stop. and that wasnt guarenteed it would happen.

Either way a front hub is probably over $100 + a chunk of labor.
I took the chance and spent $20 on the sensor on the master cylinder (Ive blown more money on less) and it fixed it for me.

 

[ih8u]

I am having a similar issue on my '02. I just replaced both front hub assemblies and now the abs light is coming on. I haven't checked the fluids yet but it wasn't happening before I switched out the hub assemblies. Hoping it is a simple fix and not a bad sensor on one of the hubs that I just replaced.

 

[Curtis]

For anyone that wants to try the cheapest thing first,

The sensor on the master cylinder which solved this for me is the way to go.
I got it at the dealer

p/n is 3L3Z9F924AB
description - switch asy
retail - $22.99

 

[Donner]

Update?

Drove the truck around a bit today. It seems to be under acceleration the ABS light is coming on. It goes back off everytime you turn the truck off.

That pretty much tells me it's a sensor. SO I heard you can clean the front sensors...is that true or is it a sealed unit in the bearing?

Were you able to get this one figured out? Ya know, my sensors were changed also... I remember that being done in addition to the module and pressure switch. :scratch: Too many sensors...

 

[Stic-o]

No...never did get to it. I got enough issues right now. I'm kinda with one car right now...The Volvo is down and waiting on parts from the east coast in my garage, and the wife dosn't want the kid in the JP mobile driving around (don't ask).

 

[xlt03]

I did my front bearing (hub) on my 03. Got the ABS light after job was done. Check the connector to the wire harness on top of wheel well. If you bought an after market bearing assembly like I did the connector may be just very slightly different from your old (OEM) bearing. Sometimes the two do not "click" together. They go together but not click. Look at the top of the connector of the new bearing/hub and you may see that the locking tab is just 2 whiskers longer than the old one. Take a sharp blade and trim to match old one. Just before you put it together gently lift the releasing lever up a tad. Now click the two halves together and it should stay connected. Now start engine and light should be out. At least that's what happened to mines.

 

[Silver04XLT]

I also had this problem. I replaced the sensor in the rear on the pumpkin first. It seemed to take care of the problem until recently. I just did all new brakes and hubs with new sensors and still get the light when I get on it. After PMing Curtis and getting the part # I went to www.rockauto.com and they sell the sensor for $11 + shipping. I chose the 2 day shipping which was another 9 bucks but it was still cheaper than the 25 that the dealer wanted. I installed the new sensor today and disconnected the negative on the battery for a half hour to make sure all the codes were gone and took it for a test drive. All I can say is THANK YOU CURTIS. This instantly solved my problem, no more ABS light for me.

 

[Curtis]

All I can say is THANK YOU CURTIS. This instantly solved my problem, no more ABS light for me.

Not a problem, I do like to share symptoms and fixes that work for me. Of course I found the solution on here too!