ABS hydraulic control unit

[wazzles]

My ABS light is on in my car so took it to the Ford Dealership in Denver and they said I need to have a new "hydraulic control unit". I am a special case however as I have been informed in that I need a 4-wheel drive control unit not 2-wheel drive. The dealership said this part is no longer available from any suppliers so they sent me on my way without being able to fix it. Does anyone know more about this?

I have a 1997 xlt SOHC 263k on it.

Thanks!

 

[wazzles]

FYI I had been told by another repair shop that my master cylinder was leaking...is that related at all? If I fix the master cylinder will it fix my abs prob?

 

[gijoecam]

The master cylinder leak and HCU malfunction are unrelated. I believe the shop you took it to was mistaken. The ABS does not care whether you have a 2wd or 4wd... it's a 3-channel system either way, and in your model year, the sensors are all there regardless of the drivetrain.

Start calling salvage yards... You don't want to know how much the dealer would have charged if they could get the parts... (Roughly $1200 for the part, last time I checked)

Once the *new* part is installed, you'll likely need to have a dealership (or highly skilled brake technician with the proper tools) bleed the HCU. There's a very specialized piece of equipment needed to do that correctly, and not many independent shops have it.

-Joe