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355 ABS Light

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Capt, Jun 3, 2006.

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  1. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #1 Capt, Jun 3, 2006
    Ok so my ABS and Brake light use to come on everytime I washed the rims on my '95 355. One day it just stayed on. Today I finally got around to putting a fuse in the empty fuse bank and checked the ABS light for a blinking sequence to indicate the fault. What I found is the light never flashed, it just stayed solid???

    I pulled all the rims off and check the sensors, they all looked good so I cleaned them with brake cleaner plus a brass brush and reassembled them....ABS and Brake light remained on.

    I even tried turning off the battery to clear the computer....no luck, ABS light stayed on.

    Any thoughts? is my only option now to get someone to plug into the car and see what the ECU is saying?

    Thanks,
    Michael
     
  2. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,018
    socal
    #2 fatbillybob, Jun 3, 2006
    First try to trace back from the wheel sensor wiring to the first connector. There are two under the front bonnet and one under each rear fender area. Sometimes these get wet or come unplugged and you get the solid ABS light or one of the wires is chaffed /cut. Do you hear your ABS pump run when you key on but do not start the car after say a day of the car sitting and the ABS pressure dropping off?
     
  3. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,018
    socal
    #3 fatbillybob, Jun 4, 2006
    duoh! also did you chech to make sure the wear indicators are not shorted out? That leave a solid light too.
     
  4. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #4 Capt, Jun 4, 2006
    How would I confirm if the wear indicators are shorted out? I'm leaning in that direction since this problem use to show up (and go away) with the rims just getting wet and from what I can see the wear indicators are far more exposed than the ABS sensors.

    -Michael
     
  5. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways
    #5 No Doubt, Jun 4, 2006
    Just pull each of the 4 wear indicator wires out. They can only light your dash warning when they contact metal.
     
  6. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #6 Capt, Jun 4, 2006
    Well, I checked the pads while I was there and they are all basically new. So the only way the wear indicators could be causing this is if they are shorting out against something.

    I assume if one of the wear indicators is what has caused the ABS light to illuminate, and if it's not due to the pads being worn then it must be from the indicator shorting out against the caliper or rotor? and if that is the case then simply removing the indicator from the the caliper should fix the problem unless there is a short somewhere else in the circuit?

    -Michael
     
  7. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,018
    socal
    #7 fatbillybob, Jun 4, 2006
    Well, I checked the pads while I was there and they are all basically new. So the only way the wear indicators could be causing this is if they are shorting out against something.

    POSSIBLE

    I assume if one of the wear indicators is what has caused the ABS light to illuminate, and if it's not due to the pads being worn then it must be from the indicator shorting out against the caliper or rotor?

    YES

    and if that is the case then simply removing the indicator from the the caliper should fix the problem unless there is a short somewhere else in the circuit?

    YES BUT YOU CAN JUST PULL THE PLUG OF THE INDICATOR TO THE WIRING OF THE CAR ABOUT 6" FROM THE CALIPER LIKE NO DOUBT SAID. SO IF THE LIGHT IS STILL ON THEN YOU GOT A SHORT IN THIS CIRCUIT OR IT CAN STILL BE FROM THE ABS SENSOR OR SENSORS AT THE WHEEL OR YOU NEED TO PULL THE ABS CODES.

    -Michael[/QUOTE]
     
  8. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways
    #8 No Doubt, Jun 4, 2006
    I'm lazy. I'd just disconnect each of the 4 sensor pad-wear wires (like FBB said, about 6 inches away from the calipers)...while leaving the brakes in place...while leaving the sensors in the pads, etc.

    Then see if your brake and/or ABS warning lights go out. I'd bet that simply disconnecting each of the 4 sensor wires will get rid of one, perhaps both, warning lights.

    This might get you to the point where you can pull your ABS codes, anyway.

    The other thing that I'd suggest is to top up your brake fluid. While you're adding brake fluid, shine a flashlight into the reservoir to see if there is a lot of debris...it may be time to bleed your brakes with new DOT 4 (which has the added benefit of giving you great pedal feel/feedback when you brake).
     
  9. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #9 Capt, Jun 4, 2006
    Ok, I'll get out there this week and disconnect all the wear sensors.

    The fluid was down slights, but I will check for debris, out of curiousity what would the debris be from?

    -Michael
     
  10. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
    Full Name:
    Mr. Sideways
    #10 No Doubt, Jun 4, 2006
    I'm not entirely sure. I'm under the impression that typically the "debris" is just old brake fluid that has absorbed water like blood absorbs air (new brake fluid has no water, so that's why you get better brake feel/feedback after a fluid change and bleed), but sometimes you do get a hose/line that deteriorates.
     

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