ABS light stays on sometimes

[tomblin1]

My ABS light comes on occasionally. Very rarely but still it worries me.

I'll start my x and the light will stay on, I'll Drive it, park it, turn it off. The next time I start her, everything is fine. This seems to happen every few months, just once at a time.

Ive got 164k miles. In the last year, I have had the master cylinder replaced, brake hoses, caliper overhaul, new shoes, pads, etc. I am able to stop fine, braking feels as responsive as it ever has.

Need I worry?
Stopping is important...........

 

[udmsvt]

probably a sensor is dirty. actually, the abs in 1st gens blows...in our '91, there is a bad sensor so it doesnt work and unless th pavement is dry, i remove the fuse for the abs in my '93. i can stop quicker and with better control without abs because it pulses so hard. during the winter, it almost caused 3 accidents before i figured out how to disable it. i wouldnt sweat it. her light is on-again-off-again too, mostly on...we just drive it like normal. basically, if you mash the brakes, it tries to use tha abs but when the sensor fails, it goes to normal brakes and the light comes on. no big deal.

 

[tomblin1]

Thanks for the quick response.........

Hey the thing has no airbags and all the newer fancy safety stuff. So as long as I can stop, I'm happy.

If the ABS fails, the braking system will still work, right?

 

[udmsvt]

yes, if the abs fails, then you are left with regular brakes. in the winter, i just pop the hood and pull the fuse, then put a piece of electrical tape over the abs light...thinking about doing that permanently or just removing the bulb. i have had abs before, but like i said it blows in the 1st gen explorers...i compared with to without (our 91 to my 93) and the 91 stopped on average of 15-20 feet sooner without the abs than the 93 did with abs not to mention if you have ever had to mash it in the snow, the pedal vibrates so bad you cant push it down.

anywho, unless you were already having serious issues with your brakes, i wouldnt sweat that abs thing.