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  #1  
Old 05-27-2002, 01:29 PM
alacrity024
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ABS Light

okay folks, my first serious problem since losing AWD: the ABS light comes on every now and then. I can't really think of anything specific that can be associated with it--it seems random. Shutting the car off and restarting it will make the light go away. One time when the light was on I brought the car to 30mph and stomped on the brakes. no anti-lock. I have yet to try this when the light is off, however.

This is not terribly important to me since I am set adamently against ABS (I know how and when to modulate my own brakes, thankyouverymuch), but if I plan on selling the car, I'm sure it will be nice to not have to say "Yeah, the ABS light comes on every now and then and I don't know what that's all about.. but who needs anti-locks anyway?"

What are some initial diagnostic procedures I should start with?

-Adam
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Old 05-27-2002, 01:43 PM
lee lee is offline
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ABS diagnostics

The Alldata troubleshooting section says that an led should come on at the ABS unit within 10 seconds after the dash light is iluminated. The diagnostics past this point contain a lot of info depending on what is wrong. Note the diagnostic code only displays one problem. Have to fix that then test again. If no LED at the ABS, then it says you have a power supply problem, again lots to diagnose.
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Old 05-27-2002, 01:52 PM
Boone
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Re: ABS Diagnostics

Adam,
Here is a pic of the ABS Diag... I hope it's readable. More info is available. B.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg absdiag.jpg (305.2 KB, 179 views)
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Old 05-27-2002, 08:11 PM
alacrity024
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thanks a million guys.. i'll start from there

-adam
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  #5  
Old 05-27-2002, 09:39 PM
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Stevebsy Stevebsy is offline
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It is probably the ABS relay sticking. Next time it is on, stop and turn off the car, open the hood, and listen for a buzzing from the ABS box. Usually you can tap the box and it will stop. This is a fairly well known problem, but fortunately it is a simple fix

http://members.tripod.com/quick_svx/.../56928982.html

for more info...
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Old 05-28-2002, 08:19 AM
solarsvx solarsvx is offline
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stevsby that has hapened to me just recently the relay got stuck heard a buzing sound from under the hood and a ABS light that wouldnt go away opened the hood unscrewed the ABS cover and taped the real, hoorrayy its fixed only hapened that one time, kinda scarry though,
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Old 05-31-2002, 06:13 AM
Never2phat Never2phat is offline
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ugh

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Stop it. Stop it. You guys talk about something and then it happens to my SVX My ABS light came on during my trek home this morning. I pulled over, turned the car off, popped the hood and wouldn't you know it my relay was buzzing. Thank goodness I have read about this a thousand times to know all i had to do was tap on it to get it to stop. All i would need to round out my week is to come out to a dead battery. I'm gonna hold out on buying a new relay just incase it was a one time occurance <fingers crossed> If it is not I suppose I'm out about $40 or more dollars

Wishin' I was as thin as my wallet
B.C.
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Old 05-31-2002, 06:47 AM
kuoh kuoh is offline
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Aclarity, I think I saw some messages awhile back from another member here who lost AWD and ABS, and it turned out to be a speed sensor of some sort. I could've remembered wrong, but it's worth a search to be sure.

For the rest of you who've had the ABS relay stick, it will happen again unless you replace it. Normally, the relay only activates during the test after startup and going into gear, which is too short to cause any real trouble. The problem comes when you actually stomp on the brakes during an emergency and activate the ABS for a longer period of time. I'm guessing the age of the relay combined with the load causes the contacts to fuse enough so that the return spring is no longer strong enough to break it free after power is removed. The ABS light will usually come on within a couple of minutes of whatever panic stop that caused you to use it, it may come on sooner, but that's about when I've regained enough senses to risk looking at the dash again and see the light.

KuoH
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Old 05-31-2002, 07:31 AM
Never2phat Never2phat is offline
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Smile point taken

Quote:
The ABS light will usually come on within a couple of minutes of whatever panic stop that caused you to use it, it may come on sooner, but that's about when I've regained enough senses to risk looking at the dash again and see the light.
I used my ABS yesterday. My car must have "Please Pull out in front of me" written all over it. It happens all the time. I was driving yesterday when the light in front of me turned yellow(I was about two feet from the cross walk lines) There was no time to stop so I went to go thru it. Apparently the idiot making a left turn in the opposing traffic , wanting to make the light, floored it to make his turn. The idiot pulled right in front of me!!!! Needless to say the only reason I didn't hit him was because of my ABS.

Does anyone have an extra relay the want to sell cheap I didn't think so
B.C.
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