abs light diagnosis help
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Joined: Apr 2003
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abs light diagnosis help
First, let me say that I did search, but couldn't come up with the answer. I have a '96 Super Club 1 ton van with a 460 and 4.10 LS rear. The ABS light comes on occasionally and stays anywhere from a few minutes or until I shut the van off. It is a '96, but is an OBDI system, not OBDII. Short of the Ford dealer, how do I check the code? It has the OBDII-style connector under the dash. OBDII scanners will NOT pick up the code. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
abs light diagnosis help
Hi Fordfleet and welcome to FTE 
Does your van have 4 wheel ABS or just rear wheel?
The diagnosis is different for both of them.
Seeing that a scanner wont pick up a code I'm going to assume it is just rear wheel ABS. The manual for this is very confusing. Van manuals arent always the best
Here is what the manual says for retrieving a code.........
If this works post the code that you get and I can post the pinpoint test for it. You should get between 2 and 16 flashes.
The diagnostic connector they are talking about should be under the right side of the dash. One side of the connector will have the black with orange stripe wire. I think the other half of the connector should have a red wire to it.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Retrieving
NOTE: Verify the key is in the RUN position (engine does not need to be running). Next, locate the black RABS II diagnostic connector. The diagnostic connector has two mating halves (one of which has a black/orange wire connected to it). Disconnect the two halves.
Attach one end of a jumper wire to the black with orange stripe wire side of the diagnostic connector. Momentarily ground the opposite end of the jumper wire by connecting it to a good chassis ground for 1-2 seconds. Grounding this wire should start the yellow REAR ABS warning light flashing. If grounding this wire does not start the yellow REAR ABS warning light flashing, go to the Symptom Chart .
CAUTION: Care must be taken to connect only the black/orange stripe wire to ground. Connecting the mating connector wire to ground will result in a blown fuse.
The code consists of a number of short flashes and ends with a long flash. Count the short flashes and include the following long flash in the count to obtain the code number. For example, three short flashes followed by one long flash indicates diagnostic trouble Code 4. The code will continue to repeat itself until the key is turned off. It is recommended that the code be verified by reading it several times. This code will be used later for system repair instructions. It should be written down for future use. A diagnostic trouble code of 16 will be obtained when the anti-lock electronic control module detects normal system operation.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Erasing
The last step of the System Pre-Check always includes clearing the Keep-Alive Memory (KAM). To do this, simply turn off the ignition while the diagnostic connector halves are separated as described in the procedures for obtaining the diagnostic trouble code above, after which the diagnostic connector should be reassembled to provide KAM power to the anti-lock electronic control module. If at this time a valid code has been obtained, go to the appropriate pinpoint test for that code.
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Does your van have 4 wheel ABS or just rear wheel?
The diagnosis is different for both of them.
Seeing that a scanner wont pick up a code I'm going to assume it is just rear wheel ABS. The manual for this is very confusing. Van manuals arent always the best
Here is what the manual says for retrieving a code.........
If this works post the code that you get and I can post the pinpoint test for it. You should get between 2 and 16 flashes.
The diagnostic connector they are talking about should be under the right side of the dash. One side of the connector will have the black with orange stripe wire. I think the other half of the connector should have a red wire to it.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Retrieving
NOTE: Verify the key is in the RUN position (engine does not need to be running). Next, locate the black RABS II diagnostic connector. The diagnostic connector has two mating halves (one of which has a black/orange wire connected to it). Disconnect the two halves.
Attach one end of a jumper wire to the black with orange stripe wire side of the diagnostic connector. Momentarily ground the opposite end of the jumper wire by connecting it to a good chassis ground for 1-2 seconds. Grounding this wire should start the yellow REAR ABS warning light flashing. If grounding this wire does not start the yellow REAR ABS warning light flashing, go to the Symptom Chart .
CAUTION: Care must be taken to connect only the black/orange stripe wire to ground. Connecting the mating connector wire to ground will result in a blown fuse.
The code consists of a number of short flashes and ends with a long flash. Count the short flashes and include the following long flash in the count to obtain the code number. For example, three short flashes followed by one long flash indicates diagnostic trouble Code 4. The code will continue to repeat itself until the key is turned off. It is recommended that the code be verified by reading it several times. This code will be used later for system repair instructions. It should be written down for future use. A diagnostic trouble code of 16 will be obtained when the anti-lock electronic control module detects normal system operation.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Erasing
The last step of the System Pre-Check always includes clearing the Keep-Alive Memory (KAM). To do this, simply turn off the ignition while the diagnostic connector halves are separated as described in the procedures for obtaining the diagnostic trouble code above, after which the diagnostic connector should be reassembled to provide KAM power to the anti-lock electronic control module. If at this time a valid code has been obtained, go to the appropriate pinpoint test for that code.
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abs light diagnosis help
Well, after some looking, I did not find the connector ANYWHERE under the dash. However, next to the EECIV connector under the hood, I found a round connector with 3 prongs, one of the wires being black with an orange stripe. It had a label that said "brake test" attached to it. What the heck do I do with that? Does it have to go to the dealer? By the way, I tried grounding the black/orange wire, to see if it worked the same as it would have had that connector been under the dash. It didn't. No ABS light blinking. Next question: I just want the damn ABS light off. What can I disconnect and turn it off? I may just go in the dash an take the bulb out. I know how to properly brake a vehicle, and the lack of ABS won't bother me at all. I'm in Houston, so no snow to worry about. HELP!!!
