Maybe a clue to what's going on with my ABS?
 

ABS failed last year long with my radiator. Maybe be totally coincidence, but I try to not believe in that.

Anyhoo, the ABS would function Totally dependant on temperature. If it was above freezing, ABS light would come on and not function. If I left it outside below freezing for say, more than half an hour, my guess was that some condensation causing a short would freeze, letting the ABS work again for the duration of the drive until I shut her down and fired her up again when the self diagnosis would again kill the ABS.

So, as temps warmed up I just figured my ABS would be gone until it's either fixed or the snows come around.

Not quite. Something of an anomoly has popped up in the past few days.
Yesterday in particular, I hit the laser wash on the way home. Left it running, stopped at the gas station and turned it off. A few minutes later when I fired her up the ABS light was cleared. Being that I was in a parkin lot with people I didn't get a chance to test it out. The light popped back on a few minutes later as I sat at a red light.
:confused:

I concluded this strange event ruled out the ABS brain shorting theory, and maybe I just have a faulty sensor.
Thing is I wouldn't know an ABS sensor if it hit me in the face and called me jackhole.
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Thoughts?
Comments?

Code posted from the ABS brain was a 16, which is absolutely vague. I thought perhaps it was this code due to an obstruction in the system but the intermittent temperature based operation, and recent blips of life rule that out.

Help?

have you read the abs codes, www.svx-iw.com, the computer for the abs is underneath the passenger seat

Yes I got a code 16.

Faulty ABS control unit or broken or shorted harness circuit
Faulty ABS control unit or broken or shorted harness, or malfunctioning system or line unidentified by vehicle ABS sensor fail-safe function

i am sorry to hear that you got the most ambiguous code of all, the only suggestion i am able to give is check the plugs under the hood, i believe they are right in front of the abs pump, if you are lucky you might just have a loose plug or something

Checked those the day ABS went out. Pump is fine far as I can tell by simply observing it.
I did suspect for a while though the leaking coolant from the radiator settled onto the ground of the pump, but recently I was informed this ground is unique to my car. :confused:

I am also confused, as the pump is not electrically operated, being belt driven by the engine.

As I ran through the thread and prior to reading the above, I thought --
radiator fluid, car wash = possible insulation break down or sensor damage. I think you are on the right track and I know you have the ability to sort it. Continue your investigations accordingly. Consider corroded connectors etc. Did the hydraulic unit or its connectors get sprayed with water during the radiator fault ?

Maybe. Any spraying to occur would come from coolant dripping onto the fans then being blown everywhere, but a good deal of steam accumulated around the front of the bay and condensated during the winter months.

A couple weeks after the rad burst I threw and taped a plastic bag over the unit after inspecting it. No change in function.

I would like to check out my sensors at the wheels but first I have to figure out what and where they are.

The sensors are easy. Each wheel has its own sensor. The sensor is the only thing electrical at each wheel, and they all look the same. SOunds like you have a bad sensor or broken wire.

What do you mean by the pump being driven by the engine. The ABS is an electrical system involving a motor and pressure solenoids.

nipper

My mistake and confusion. I thought the water pump was being referred to as having thrown water around.

Sorry, Trevor.

Tomorrow I'm going to rotate my tires and I might as well inspect what's in there. Any suggestions on anything suggestable? Where exactly is the sensor located?

Once you find one, you can find them all. Look at the peice the axle goes through under the car. This is where the cv boot will be. You will see an electrical cable there. That will be it. Look at the front end first as it will be easier to find.

Hope that helps.

nipper

if i remember corectly the svx looks alot like this or simalar

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../abssensor.jpg

I've started about 5 minutes ago and I've already developed a new system of removing lug nuts.
Arms = nothing
jumping on it = nothing
sledge = nothing

Putting a hydraulic jack under the tire iron and lifting one side = the win. :cool:

I'm guessing this is the sensor.

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Won't come off.

that would be the sender, try some penetrating lube