ABS light (again)
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ABS light (again)
I know this has been a recurring problem on the Explorer and have seen many posts on this subject but just for my piece of mind 1 more time......My 1992 Exporer EB has the ABS light on and I have tried many fixes to no avail. I have tried cleaning the sensor, changing the rear brakes and adjusting them, and even tried to read the codes but can't get the light to blink out codes for me (I tried grounding the blk/orange wire under the dash but nothing happened). I ordered a new sensor and the new one is totally different but the dealer says it is a new and improved version so I tried it but again no change....light is still on. Could it be the ABS valve or the module? Please HELP!!! Thanks in advance!
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From: Virginia
Is your ABS light on all the time, or does it come on after the vehicle has been idling a while? If it comes on while idling, it may be that the modulator valve is failing and not keeping pressure. If it is on all the time, it could be that the unit has completly failed or that another component is not working. Neither of these are all that desirable. My 93 sporadically does this, especially when I let it warm up in the driveway before heading out or sometimes even when sitting at a traffic light. Tough call without more info, but it sounds like the ABS unit is failing or has failed.
Eric
Eric
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Eric, yes, the light is on at idle and while driving, too. I just installed a rebuilt trans and am trying to work out all the bugs. I did notice that the front brakes are warped and probably need replacement. Could that have any effect on the rear ABS? Also, on the new RABS sensor when I tested the ohms it was at 1.9 ohms and the old sensor was at 1.43 ohms. The Haynes manual says it should be between .8 and 1.4 ohms. Could that be another problem? Any thing else I can check? Thanks for the quick reply! **ED**
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From: Virginia
Ed,
It sounds like you have run through just about everything aside from the ABS unit. I think the resistance issue may be a factor because the ABS unit works on micro-tolerances when deploying. My guess would be that your RABS valve is not functioning though. I don't think the front rotors would be affecting the RABS. I can tell you from experience on the 4wABS, if the rotors are out of true or the pads are worn, this will cause the ABS light to come one, but this shouldn't be the case with RABS. I would bet you could pick up a RABS unit at a junkyard pretty cheap. There are lots of 91/92 Exp. out there. Beats buying the part and then not needing it, but it sounds like you have rule everything else out. You could also just unplug the bulb in the dash. Considering most of your braking will come from your front discs and everything else is operating normally, that may be the cheapest way out. Still irksome though.
Good luck, Eric
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From: Virginia
Ed,
I have bled the brakes as a normal system and then been chastised thoroughly by mechanic for doing so. I didn't notice a problem, I used the good old fashioned wife in the seat, me under the fenderwell method. The Haynes manual makes note of not ever doing this, but I am not certain of the specific reason. I suspect there is a piece of equipment used to bleed ABS systems to avoid getting any air in. I hope someone else is reading the forum and picks up the question. Might try over at the Expy forum and search a thread about bleeding ABS. I personally have suffered no ill from it.
Sounds nice to have an extra Expl for parts. How do you resist the urge to get it on the road or off as the case may be?
Eric
I have bled the brakes as a normal system and then been chastised thoroughly by mechanic for doing so. I didn't notice a problem, I used the good old fashioned wife in the seat, me under the fenderwell method. The Haynes manual makes note of not ever doing this, but I am not certain of the specific reason. I suspect there is a piece of equipment used to bleed ABS systems to avoid getting any air in. I hope someone else is reading the forum and picks up the question. Might try over at the Expy forum and search a thread about bleeding ABS. I personally have suffered no ill from it.
Sounds nice to have an extra Expl for parts. How do you resist the urge to get it on the road or off as the case may be?
Eric
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That sounds like the same system I used to bleed my wife's 91 Explorer EB (her sitting in the seat & me under the vehicle)! Brakes were still a little mushy but seemed to stop better than without bleeding. Yea, I have 3 Explorers that run and 1 that I wish was running. Had to rob a few too many parts off that one to keep the others going!! ED
