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ABS Stopped working

S

SnafuFlux

CEG'er
Joined
Jul 7, 2002
Messages
385
Location
London Ontario, Canada
I had a caliper replaced last week with pads and rotors as well. Now the abs doesn't work. Obv. the light comes on when I hit the brakes and the car starts to slide. Though, the lights do dim like normal as if the ABS was trying to work, but I'm not getting and pulsating, just straight lockup.

Could it be possible that the ABS just blewup or does it sound like something was missed when the new (machined used) caplier was installed?
 
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The sensor for the ABS is mounted to the knuckle on the opposite side. It detects the pulse ring on the end of the CV axle. Check to make sure there isn't a buildup of metal shaving on the sensor and that the ring is clean also.
 
SnafuFlux said:
But you're saying there isn't a sensor on the caliper itself, but on the wheel hub?
Click to expand...

Correct there is no sensor on the caliper. Why was the caliper replaced anyways?

If you look at the strut there is two things attached to it about halfway down just below the spring perch. One is the brake line and the other is the ABS sensor wires. Follow that down to the sensor. It's possible that it got damaged or dirty during the brake job.
 
I'm gonna add some more information to this, since I forgot about it until now.

As I said, last week I had my brakes done, including a new (used) caliper. The next morning when I drove to work, I noticed that the brake light came on briefly, then went off again. A few times more this happened when stopped at a light. Light was off until I let off the brakes and began to move forward.

I then tested the ABS to see if it was working on some snow. The wheels just locked up and the brake light came on.

Fast forward to now. The light doesn't come on at all anymore, and nor does the ABS when sliding. I do notice that the lights dim like it's trying to do something when I brake and slide, it also does it's system test when I first start the car (and move).

Lastly, I get a rubbing/vibration on the one side from the pads (where the caliper was replaced). It happens when I softly apply the brakes. I can also hear it when I'm going slow enough for the vibration to be heard with the rotation of the rotor (pedal not applied). The sound is similar to the sound of the moosing our cars do. But with the application of the pedal, I can change the pitch of the sound with the preasure. It's loud enough that people walking by me can hear it too, hah.

I took it back to my mechanic to have a look, and he said the pads were just wearing unevenly and will correct itself. Now before you go crazy on me and such... I trust him, he's done some good work for me in the past, so I don't suspect he's trying to doupe me.

Now could the ABS system be detecting this rubbing and shutting off the system? Could there be a fuse thats blown? woudln't make sense for the light to sometimes come on though.

Any help would be appreciated! I'm totally confused, but I will still check the sensor tonight.
 
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Turn on the heater. If you don't have any heat, the fuse is blown. The ABS and heater fuse is the same.
 
Hmmm...interesting. If your brake light (the red brake light not the abs light) comes on briefly when first taking off from a start it sounds like your brake fluid in your master cylinder may be low. I would first check that out.
 
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