Rear Antilock light

[sheldon]

My rear antilock light and brake has stayed on constant since I installed my 4" Trailmaster suspension. The breaks were bled. Do I have to purchase longer brake lines?

 

[indianajohn]

Did you change tire sizes when you installed the 4" lift? Sometimes a non-stock tire will confuse the anti-lock braking system, since it relys on stock tire dimensions to control the anti-locking effect. (I'm not sure if your Explorer has this type of system, but I've heard of it giving problems with other models).

As for the brake lines, they should be fine, as 4" really shouldn't stretch the lines too much... you might want to check the lines anyway to see if there are line-mounts toward the rear you can disconnect to gain extra line "length".

Hope this helps.

-jm

 

[sheldon]

Thanks jm. Actually, I have a 2" body and 4" suspension on my truck.
Also, I have 33" tires.
Is there a fix to the antilock problem that you know of?

 

[slow-demon]

This is my experience with lifted trucks. I have 35" tires and never had the ABS lite come on. I have friends with similar sized tires and not have the ABS lite come on. I think you have some other problems other than tire size. What year is your explorer. The '91-'92 uses only rear anti-lock brakes (RABS). The '93-'94 uses four wheel anti-locks (4wabs). On the '91-'92 explorers you can access the codes without a code scanner. All you need to do is ground a wire to get the ABS system to do a "self test". It will make the "ant-lock" light flash a code. The abs lite needs to be "on" and vehicle running when you ground the wire. The number of times it flashes is the "flashout" code. It will be seperated by a short pause between the codes. Again if yours is a '91-'92 the wire that you have to ground is located near the parking brake assembly. It is a wire with a connector end the doesn't connect to anything. I can't remember the color of the wire. I can find out tommorrow if you want.

 

[sheldon]

If you wouldnt mind finding out about the wire color slow-demon, that would be greaty appreciated. Yes, I have a '92 explorer with only RABS.

 

[nickb]

slow-demon

Do you know the codes for the light?
Iam having the same problem, but it is on a stock 91 explorer.
A mechanic was going to charge me $50 to do what he said was a break scan, but now I know I dont have to pay, thanks.

nick

 

[nickb]

slow-demon

Do you know the codes for the light?
Iam having the same problem, but it is on a stock 91 explorer.
A mechanic was going to charge me $50 to do what he said was a break scan, but now I know I dont have to pay, thanks.


Sheldon-
On my explorer, it is black and the connector is also black. It is hanging down, like someone has allready done it before. It should be right above your parking break pedal.
nick

 

[xr600boy]

Sheldon, I just had the same problem with my 92EB. It was the RABS modual failing. The parts and labor came to $397.00 at my local Ford dealor.

 

[sheldon]

So it was the actual module huh? Is there a way of testing to see if it is the module or not xr600boy? By the way, thanks for the info.
slow-demon, I was just looking in my Hanes manual, and I could not find anything on color coding. But it does show how to replace the module. that xr600boy is talking about.

 

[xr600boy]

Sheldon, The service writer told me that when the RABS light is on they can run the test and find out if it is the module or not. Unfortunatly the light on mine had just shut of the day before I took it in, so they did a test drive and found that the brake pedal was bleeding to the floor slitly at long stops. The parts including the brake fuid came to $145.96 at the dealer. Hope this can help you.

 

[slow-demon]

Sorry I couldn't reply back, stupid internet server took a dump. And still isn't to full speed.
For only '91-'92 explorers the color of the wire that you have to ground is Black with orange stripe. It is located near the parking brake assy. With the car running and the ABS lite on you will need to momentarily ground the blk/orange wire until the light starts flashing then un ground it. The abs light will continue to flash. It will flash a code. There is 16 different codes possible. If you give me the code you get I can tell you the definition. It would take too long to type each code so I will give you the two more common ones. Code 4 and 9 are the more common ones with code 9 more common. The code 9 is a high abs sensor resistance. When this is the problem you usually only get the abs lite on. The red brake light will stay off. The sensor which is located on the rear axle housing can be tested simply by disconnecting the sensor connector and checking the sensor resistan with an ohm meter. Should be between 1000-2500 ohms. Since you are saying that both the lights are on then I would guess you might have a code 4. A code 4 is related to the RABS valve which is located on the left frame rail. It usaully means that the rabs valve needs replacing. What I would do also is make sure the float inside the brake master cylinder is floating and not stuck. That could also cause both the lights to illuminate. Since you just did a lift on your truck I would make sure that the rabs valve didn't get damaged from the left radius arm drop bracket bolts since it is near the valve. I guess you should try and get a flashout code first before you start guessing and replacing parts. Unless of course you've got deep pockets...