ABS Light always on
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ABS Light always on
If anyone can help me with this...
Several months ago the ABS light would flash, or it would pop on and stay lit after I drove the truck a minute or two. I had the brakes replaced but no one could seem to find the problem with the ABS light. It now remains lit all the time. Occasionally, when I brake (even ever so lightly) the brakes will grind horrendously (worse than if the ABS kicked in during an emergency situation) and my 97 F150 XLT pumps to a stop, but yesterday it did this and the truck wouldn't stop until I was halfway out into rushhour traffic with people swerving to avoid hitting me. I was pulling out of a small parking lot, was not going fast and tried to stop for traffic to make my turn. The truck had another thought...tried to scare the daylights outta me. The rest of the day, the brakes acted normally and the ABS light remains solid on. I've got a 15 year old new driver who is learning on this truck and if the ABS ever goofs up on her, I shudder to think what could happen. Do I have a problem with the sensor, fuse, or the ABS itself? I know that if the ABS is lit, I'm not supposed to have ABS operation, but this is confusing the heck out of me. And how do I find a trustworthy place to have this fixed once I know exactly what's wrong? Any help appreciated.
Several months ago the ABS light would flash, or it would pop on and stay lit after I drove the truck a minute or two. I had the brakes replaced but no one could seem to find the problem with the ABS light. It now remains lit all the time. Occasionally, when I brake (even ever so lightly) the brakes will grind horrendously (worse than if the ABS kicked in during an emergency situation) and my 97 F150 XLT pumps to a stop, but yesterday it did this and the truck wouldn't stop until I was halfway out into rushhour traffic with people swerving to avoid hitting me. I was pulling out of a small parking lot, was not going fast and tried to stop for traffic to make my turn. The truck had another thought...tried to scare the daylights outta me. The rest of the day, the brakes acted normally and the ABS light remains solid on. I've got a 15 year old new driver who is learning on this truck and if the ABS ever goofs up on her, I shudder to think what could happen. Do I have a problem with the sensor, fuse, or the ABS itself? I know that if the ABS is lit, I'm not supposed to have ABS operation, but this is confusing the heck out of me. And how do I find a trustworthy place to have this fixed once I know exactly what's wrong? Any help appreciated.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 88
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From: Garden City Kansas
First thing is to figure out what is wrong with the abs. If the abs light is on then the abs module has stored a code. If you have 4-wheel abs you have to take it to the dealer and have them scan for codes. If you have just Rear abs then you can read them yourself. To do that remove your passenger side kick panel. Just take out the screws on the plastic panel that goes on your floor board by your door and remove it and then the kick panel just slides out. Then look for a wire and connector- one wire has a brown/orange and the other should be red if i remember right. disconnect it and then with the key off ground the brown/orange wire. Then turn on your key and the abs light should flash a series of codes. Ex. code 16 will be one flash pause then 6 more flashes. Post what the code is and we'll help you from there
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 88
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From: Garden City Kansas
There is a connector that you need to disconnect. The wire going into it is red and the wire going out is brown with an orange tracer. After you take the connector apart you need to use a jumper wire and attach one end of it to a good ground and the other end to the brown/orange wire. As far a if ur expy has rear or 4wd abs im not for sure but im sure someone will be along that knows.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Arlington, Texas
I had a similar problem back in September with my F-150. It seemed like it would take a while for the brakes to work. They ended up replacing the whole ABS sensor...said it had gone bad. Haven't had a problem sense.
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Thanks, dickboyd 69. I'll try it. This is the most intelligient answer I've ever had as to what could fix the problem. Usually, I get "could be the sensor", "could be rust", or "could be..." but without a possible thing to "look for". I'll let you know what happens. Cynz
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I am having the same problem(abs and brake light on all the time). I did the test dickboyd69 said and got a series of four flashes with the last of the four being longer. Then it repeated this over and over till I turned the key off. I already replaced abs sensor on diff and abs module. Can you tell me what this code means. Thanks Jordan
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anix31 1999 expedition
Help I know my abs sensor for the rear brakes is bad. Everybody says it's on the diff. I have a 1999 expedition. I looked all over and its not on top. Do you know where it is????. thanks Rick Also is there 1 for each brake in the rear?????
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: BC, Canada
Hi anix31 and welcome to the forum 
The Expy only uses one sensor at the back and it's on the top front of the middle of the rear diff. If you look up above where the driveshaft attaches you should see it.
It has one bolt holding it on and one electrical connector.
The Expy only uses one sensor at the back and it's on the top front of the middle of the rear diff. If you look up above where the driveshaft attaches you should see it.
It has one bolt holding it on and one electrical connector.
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Joined: May 2002
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Hey CYNZ.
Before i would dig into the ABS problem, i would start with the basic mechanical brake system, ie the shoes, pads, hardware, springs. Your brakes should not grind. This tells me there is somethinng else that needs a look over first. Pull the wheels off and look at everything. let us know.
Before i would dig into the ABS problem, i would start with the basic mechanical brake system, ie the shoes, pads, hardware, springs. Your brakes should not grind. This tells me there is somethinng else that needs a look over first. Pull the wheels off and look at everything. let us know.
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Thanks Racerguy
I and thanks for the info. After i got mad at myself a did look at the front of the Diff. and found the sensor and replaced it. Just an FYI a friend told me that if you remove the battery leads and than turn on the light switch this will drain any voltage in the residing in the system. He said if you leave it like this for 15 minutes it will kill the computer memory. I tried this to reset the ABS light and it seemed to work. thanks again Rick
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