ABS Light On

[fvernet]

Hi Everyone,

New to the forum and prompted by the sudden illumination of the ABS Warning Light. There was no warning, nothing unusual, just motoring down the hwy at 65mph.

The Owner's Manual states that normal braking function is still available but that I should take it for service immediately.

I imagine there must be a variety of reasons for the warning light to come on, and that repairs will certainly be ridiculously expensive.

Aside from the obvious, what's the downside for not fixing this? I live in MD where we have mild winters (snows about twice a year).

Advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! The warning light represents a fault code in your ABS system. You have to get your system scanned to see what code it is throwning. AutoZone should be able to scan it for free. Let us know what the code is when you find out.

 

[AMMO_HOOAH]

There are several reasons for the ABS light to come on not just the brakes. On my '96 when my front hub was failing the ABS light came for that. The reason you should get it checked is because you don't know where the fault is commin from. If it is simply the ABS braking system, you can run without it with no problems so long as you know how to threashold break. Hope this helps.

 

[old mechanic]

There are several reasons for the ABS light to come on not just the brakes. On my '96 when my front hub was failing the ABS light came for that. The reason you should get it checked is because you don't know where the fault is commin from. If it is simply the ABS braking system, you can run without it with no problems so long as you know how to threashold break. Hope this helps.

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What is "threashold" braking? My 93 Buick has been running with the ABS light on for 7 years. It just resorts back to regular braking.

 

[AMMO_HOOAH]

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What is "threashold" braking? My 93 Buick has been running with the ABS light on for 7 years. It just resorts back to regular braking.

REALLY?! Ok threshold breaking is why they invented ABS in the first place. It's where you hit the brakes until the tires lock then let off a little, back and forth keeping the breaking on the "threshold". This is because on snow and ice you stop faster if you don't lock up the tires. Well people couldn't figure out how to do that so some body invented ABS which does the releasing for you. If you want to test your system head out to a gravel road go about 40 and slam the breaks to the floor. If the brakes feel like they pulsate up and down then the system is working. Good luck with all that

 

[explrths]

most likely, your hubs or sensor in the rear axle is bad. But get it checked.

 

[old mechanic]

REALLY?! Ok threshold breaking is why they invented ABS in the first place. It's where you hit the brakes until the tires lock then let off a little, back and forth keeping the breaking on the "threshold". This is because on snow and ice you stop faster if you don't lock up the tires. Well people couldn't figure out how to do that so some body invented ABS which does the releasing for you. If you want to test your system head out to a gravel road go about 40 and slam the breaks to the floor. If the brakes feel like they pulsate up and down then the system is working. Good luck with all that

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I alwready know for sure that my ABS is not working. I tried it 7 years ago on asphalt and every year since.
I thought that was what you ment about threshold breaking but confused when you said that it was ok to use the regular brakes as long as he knew how to threshold brake because i have never seen anyone who could duplicate the fast ABS breaking with their feet. Tapping the brakes to stop straighter has been known for years.

 

[mikec557]

fvernet.. any results yet.

My 2000 is in the same boat. I didn't know autozone could read the code for me. A local shop checked the sensors and said they were good, that Ford would have to fix it and that if its the computer, it would cost about $600. What have your learned so far?

 

[explrths]

When u got the codes read, did they read the computer codes or the ones strictly for abs. It has a seperate mod.

 

[mesa 33]

Is it on all the time or just when you start moving mine turned on when i started moving but i went under there and my driver side abs sensor the bolt that was holding it in was loose i tightened it and its been off ever since, just an idea.