ABS autobleed scan tool.

[Spaceghost]

One of my hard brake lines broke due to rust on my 2003 Ford explorer xlt v8. System went dry I bench bleed new master cylinder, replaced calipers and hoses and brake pedal still slowly goes down to floor. I hear there is a scan tool that can bleed the ABS automatically in Ford vehicles. I want to try this before I condem my ABS pump. Any advice you guys can give I'd appreciate as I never done this before.

 

[LMHmedchem]

One of my hard brake lines broke due to rust on my 2003 Ford explorer xlt v8. System went dry I bench bleed new master cylinder, replaced calipers and hoses and brake pedal still slowly goes down to floor. I hear there is a scan tool that can bleed the ABS automatically in Ford vehicles. I want to try this before I condem my ABS pump. Any advice you guys can give I'd appreciate as I never done this before.

This is the tool that I have,

OBDLink SX Scan Tool

though it doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere. Perhaps it is too old now.

This is a newer and a bit more expensive version,

OBDLink EX FORScan OBD Adapter ($45 w/ coupon)

This connects to a computer with USB and uses the FORScan software package. With a tool like this you can read/clear error codes and such, but you can also run a number of diagnostic programs. I am 99% sure that one of these is an ABS bleed program. I'm sure you can look that up on the FORScan site.

If you have a portable device that will accept a USB connection and can run the FORScan software, an adapter like this may make more sense than buying a standalone scanning tool. I will probably need to do the same thing in a few days so I will let you know how that goes.

LMHmedchem

 

[fordysenior]

I just received the EX adapter a few days ago, my ELM327 didn't work anymore -- and while dancing around on ForScan, I did see the option for the ABS bleed program. I'm not signed in to ForScan, but I assume it would work.

 

[Spaceghost]

I just received the EX adapter a few days ago, my ELM327 didn't work anymore -- and while dancing around on ForScan, I did see the option for the ABS bleed program. I'm not signed in to ForScan, but I assume it would work.

Thank you guys very much, I have been struggling with this for a while now. Its unfortunate that the system went dry but I had no control over that. Is it possible to bleed the ABS without a scan tool or is this absolutely necessary?

 

[Bazz270]

No way to bleed abs without scan tool

 

[Spaceghost]

No way to bleed abs without scan tool

Thank you for letting me know, after I bleed ABS will I need to bleed brakes all around again ?

 

[LMHmedchem]

Thank you for letting me know, after I bleed ABS will I need to bleed brakes all around again ?

If I remember correctly, the ABS bleed is like doing a flush where you do each wheel one at a time in succession. The difference is that you follow prompts from the software. You fill the reservoir, open the bleeder valve that the software tells you to, and pump the pedal until you get fluid with no air bubbles. The software activates the ABS pump at the correct time. After you get the air out of the line you are working on, you shut the bleeder valve and move to the next wheel. When you are done you should be all set. This is what I remember, so hopefully someone will correct me if I am not remembering right.

As an aside, I have tried to bleed brakes with a small vacuum pump but in the end I find the old method of a length of tubing and a jar with some brake fluid in it to work the best. I use a length of clear tubing with a small worm hose clamp to attach to the bleeder valve. I find the hose clamp helpful to keep air from getting in at the bleeder fitting. I put the other end of the hose in a tall glass jar with about 1" of brake fluid in it and the end of the hose "under water" as it were. Pump the brakes until you get a mixture of fluid and air bubbles and keep pumping until you get just fluid. Close the valve and move to the next wheel. If the fluid is coming out clean, you should be able to pour it back into to the reservoir.

It really does help to have someone with you to pump the brakes for you while you attend the hoses, etc. All they have to do is pump the brakes so it can be more or less anyone. When I am by myself, I use a length of 2" pvc pipe (my breaker bar cheater pipe) to push the brake pedal so I can watch what is coming out the tubing.

LMHmedchem

 

[donalds]

1bleed breaks
2 go to dirt/ gravel road
3 lockup breaks to activate the abs pump
4 bleed breaks again

Repeat

 

[fordysenior]

This is my first vehicle with ABS brakes -- I keep vehicles a long time. So I'm not familiar if it takes anything special to bleed them -- but a few months ago, I flushed out the old brake fluid and replaced with new. I did it myself with no special tools. I did it pretty much as LMHmedchem describes in post #7. The only precaution I knew of was to start at the farthest tire from the master cylinder and work your way up closer and closer. Also, there are plenty of videos on YouTube to help.

 

[Spaceghost]

If I remember correctly, the ABS bleed is like doing a flush where you do each wheel one at a time in succession. The difference is that you follow prompts from the software. You fill the reservoir, open the bleeder valve that the software tells you to, and pump the pedal until you get fluid with no air bubbles. The software activates the ABS pump at the correct time. After you get the air out of the line you are working on, you shut the bleeder valve and move to the next wheel. When you are done you should be all set. This is what I remember, so hopefully someone will correct me if I am not remembering right.

As an aside, I have tried to bleed brakes with a small vacuum pump but in the end I find the old method of a length of tubing and a jar with some brake fluid in it to work the best. I use a length of clear tubing with a small worm hose clamp to attach to the bleeder valve. I find the hose clamp helpful to keep air from getting in at the bleeder fitting. I put the other end of the hose in a tall glass jar with about 1" of brake fluid in it and the end of the hose "under water" as it were. Pump the brakes until you get a mixture of fluid and air bubbles and keep pumping until you get just fluid. Close the valve and move to the next wheel. If the fluid is coming out clean, you should be able to pour it back into to the reservoir.

It really does help to have someone with you to pump the brakes for you while you attend the hoses, etc. All they have to do is pump the brakes so it can be more or less anyone. When I am by myself, I use a length of 2" pvc pipe (my breaker bar cheater pipe) to push the brake pedal so I can watch what is coming out the tubing.

LMHmedchem

Thank you I think I saw a YouTube video where a guy in a Ford f150 held the brake pedal down when the software promotp him to and the unit vibrated. I Could be

This is my first vehicle with ABS brakes -- I keep vehicles a long time. So I'm not familiar if it takes anything special to bleed them -- but a few months ago, I flushed out the old brake fluid and replaced with new. I did it myself with no special tools. I did it pretty much as LMHmedchem describes in post #7. The only precaution I knew of was to start at the farthest tire from the master cylinder and work your way up closer and closer. Also, there are plenty of videos on YouTube to help.

Only problem is this vehicles brake system went dry and the pedal will sink to the floor after a decent amount of pressure, which leads me to believe the ABS Is full of air and won't bleed.

 

[summs]

One of my hard brake lines broke due to rust on my 2003 Ford explorer xlt v8. System went dry I bench bleed new master cylinder, replaced calipers and hoses and brake pedal still slowly goes down to floor. I hear there is a scan tool that can bleed the ABS automatically in Ford vehicles. I want to try this before I condem my ABS pump. Any advice you guys can give I'd appreciate as I never done this before.

I have the OBDlink MX+ that connects through BT to your phone and with Forscan you can do the ABS bleed. At least for my 02 you don't even have to get out of the driver's seat. It just tells you to press down and hold and release the brake pedal at certain times and you can hear and feel the ABS kick on and off

 

[Spaceghost]

I have the OBDlink MX+ that connects through BT to your phone and with Forscan you can do the ABS bleed. At least for my 02 you don't even have to get out of the driver's seat. It just tells you to press down and hold and release the brake pedal at certain times and you can hear and feel the ABS kick on and off

Nice, now do you have to bleed the brakes after? Where does the air go after the ABS is bled this way?

 

[summs]

Nope you dont have to bleed brakes after, at least it doesn't say anything about that. I'm not sure where the air goes but you definitely notice a difference. I've done it while doing a regular brake bleed and also have done it just running the ABS bleed procedure by itself. Sorry about the delayed response

 

[donalds]

1bleed breaks
2 go to dirt/ gravel road
3 lockup breaks to activate the abs pump
4 bleed breaks again

Repeat

^^^ could be done now lol

 

[LMHmedchem]

1bleed breaks
2 go to dirt/ gravel road
3 lockup breaks to activate the abs pump
4 bleed breaks again

Repeat

I am sure that there are procedures like this that work, and as suggested, can be done immediately with no added cost.

I think, however, that you will eventually need a scan tool of some kind if you plan on keeping a truck that is going on 20 years old and intend to do some of your own repairs. If you are going to buy such a tool, getting one that can run the test programs (and not just show error codes and data) is definitely the way to go. I think that these USB adapters with software are much less expensive than stand alone units that run the test programs. If I am wrong about that, maybe someone can post some examples.

The caveat here is that you need a compatible portable device to hook up the USB connector and run the software. If you don't have such a device and would have to get one just for this purpose, that would change the calculus on this for sure. If you have a laptop or similar and don't mind spending $45 or so, then I think you will get good use out of your adapter.

Here are a couple of videos on using FORScan to do an ABS bleed

How to bleed abs using Forscan
My laptop bled my brakes Forscan

LMHmedchem

 

[Mbrooks420]

Nope you dont have to bleed brakes after, at least it doesn't say anything about that. I'm not sure where the air goes but you definitely notice a difference. I've done it while doing a regular brake bleed and also have done it just running the ABS bleed procedure by itself. Sorry about the delayed response

You should absolutely bleed the brakes after. There’s no where for the air to go, it’s a sealed system.

If you can get the ABS to activate like Donalds mentioned, it will also purge the air.

 

[summs]

You should absolutely bleed the brakes after. There’s no where for the air to go, it’s a sealed system.

If you can get the ABS to activate like Donalds mentioned, it will also purge the air.

Oh ok gotcha. I was just following the forscan directions. I thought you were supposed to bleed the ABS after you bled the brakes and that's why I thought that there was no need to bleed again after because the ABS bleed purged the air. My bad.

 

[Rod's Repair]

I use a reverse bleeder, pressurized fluid at each wheel back to master (just remember to suck the fluid out of the master first. Check valves in the abs will allow fluid to pass backwards, taking any trapped air with it. If you have a helper, they can watch the master and see when it starts returning clear of air. In the dealership, we usually took them in the grass and stabbed the brakes a few times just to make sure.

 

[BenDT]

I use a reverse bleeder, pressurized fluid at each wheel back to master (just remember to suck the fluid out of the master first. Check valves in the abs will allow fluid to pass backwards, taking any trapped air with it. If you have a helper, they can watch the master and see when it starts returning clear of air. In the dealership, we usually took them in the grass and stabbed the brakes a few times just to make sure.

I thought abs had to be “open” with a scanner to allow backflow, like all Chevy abs I’m 99.999% sure, and dodge/jeep pretty sure same. But even then it’s highly not recommended bc of the possibility of contamination to the abs unit and seals. I know some big trucks use a back bleeder if you don’t touch the master cyclinder (brake assist masters) because how involved removing them is, but even then I do believe you need a scan tool? Not trying to discredit you. Just goes against everything I’ve done and or read in any Manuel. If I’m just out of the loop please explain. I personally had broken an abs unit simply compressing pistons too much and it caused an internal fault of some kind needing the unit to be rebuilt/replaced.

 

[donalds]

The manual says to use the scan tool or ids tool
Most people have no desire to buy anything they don't NEED to just to do a job once
I have used all three methods all work the same
I have a scan tool
A elm 327 and forscan
and a few others I have to pay for