Troubleshooting ABS Fault

[Matthew Jeschke]

I'm a bit perplexed. I am getting an intermittent ABS light, it turns on in conjunction with the red parking brake light.

Symptoms:

• When the car is started I have no issue.
• I can drive a short distance w/o the light going off and the ABS works perfectly.
• After I drive a few minutes (random length) the ABS Fault light and Parking brake warning light illuminate and ABS fails to work.

Troubleshooting:

• Both sensors measure approx 1000 ohms when probed.
• I'm not tripping any codes (or at least they couldn't find any when they hooked it up to a scanner at the parts store). They store claimed the scanner reads ABS controller as well.
  
• If I probe the passenger side ABS sensor connection it measures differently as the wire is wiggled. I had suspected this was the issue. So I started the car and wiggled the wire all along it's path to the controller. At no point did the ABS light go off. I think that's the issue but cannot recreate it once connected so confused?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Doubeleive]

replace the suspect sensor there not costly, see if problem goes away, if the abs light continues to come on randomly it is then more likely to be the abs module, they are known to get a bad solder connection inside from years of vibrations. if your good at soldering you can fix it or send it out to be fixed. sometimes when the abs module goes bad like that it does not save the code and resets when turning the key on/off, so you have to check the code while the abs light is on.

 

[Scottydoggs]

either the parts store lied. or they dont know wtf they are doing. every time the abs light comes on its code is stored in history.

if you shut it off, then had it scanned with a cheap o scanner that cant see history, you cleared its code/codes when you turned the engine off.

i always try to get abs codes before trying to fix it. or you could be tossing money at it. unless you see a busted wire or the likes, then who needs a scanner to tell ya anything yet.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

either the parts store lied. or they dont know wtf they are doing. every time the abs light comes on its code is stored in history.

if you shut it off, then had it scanned with a cheap o scanner that cant see history, you cleared its code/codes when you turned the engine off.

i always try to get abs codes before trying to fix it. or you could be tossing money at it. unless you see a busted wire or the likes, then who needs a scanner to tell ya anything yet.

I totally agree. Thought it was odd that a code didnt show up. I also ha e a cheap 20$ scanner. I might try it again but not sure it reads abs

 

[Rocket Man]

You do realize you have 4 wheel speed sensors, right? If one isn't reading correct, the self test at start up will be ok and ABS will work until you start driving and then the system sees that a WSS isn't working and ABS is then disabled. If you can find a scanner that can read the speed sensors you can watch them as you drive to see if they're all reading the right speed.

 

[treehan77]

My intermittent abs and break light was the abs module itself. I was able to remove it, open it up, and fix the bad solder joint. Problem solved for free. It's kind of PITA to remove and split the case, but much better than paying the dealer 800 bucks or buying a new module for about 300. Super common issue. When I was last at the junkyard for a reflector, there was another guy getting a used module. Plenty of YouTube videos on this .