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anti-lock warning

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Old Jan 22, 2012 | 02:05 PM
  #1  
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anti-lock warning

I have a 2004 Explorer that the anti-lock brake light comes on. Brakes work fine. Any ideas on what to look for first ????

Thanks,
 
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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 06:48 AM
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If you're certain it's the ABS light rather than just the Brake light, there have been several other threads in this forum regarding rear wheel speed sensors (mostly on earlier Explorers) as well as starting by removing the various wheel speed sensors and cleaning any metal particles from them.

Beyond that, you're going to need a scan tool that can pull ABS codes (most consumer-grade tools only access powertrain codes) or, ideally, can monitor the ABS parameters real time in datastream mode.

Do the ABS brakes or traction control do anything unusual such as engage regularly when coming to a normal, non-aggressive stop? The more details you can provide to the forum, the better chance the forum will have in guiding you in an efficient way.

-Rod
 
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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by shorod
If you're certain it's the ABS light rather than just the Brake light, there have been several other threads in this forum regarding rear wheel speed sensors (mostly on earlier Explorers) as well as starting by removing the various wheel speed sensors and cleaning any metal particles from them.

Beyond that, you're going to need a scan tool that can pull ABS codes (most consumer-grade tools only access powertrain codes) or, ideally, can monitor the ABS parameters real time in datastream mode.

Do the ABS brakes or traction control do anything unusual such as engage regularly when coming to a normal, non-aggressive stop? The more details you can provide to the forum, the better chance the forum will have in guiding you in an efficient way.

-Rod
Every thing works normal when stopping. My 99 F150 had the same problem and it was the rear wheel speed sensor. I wasn't sure if the newer model Fords were any different?
 
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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 07:46 PM
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Some of the 2004 models have a wheel speed sensor for each of the four wheels. Without referencing the service manual, I believe if it just has ABS is only have 3 sensors, but if it also has traction control or AdvancTrac/RSC it will have 4 sensors. I don't recall reading about the rear sensors failing as often in the 2002 and newer Explorers, but it may just be because they were not as old then as they are today.

-Rod
 
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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 09:21 PM
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our 2002 did that. I pulled out the rear sensor in the top center of the pumpkin and cleaned all the crud off of it. Worked another 4 months and started doing it again. I bought a new sensor and it has been o.k. for 3 years.
 
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