ABS just gone

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 19, 2004 | 11:41 AM

aurgathor

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,899

Likes: 2

From: Lynnwood, WA

ABS just gone

Was driving to work less than an hour ago when I heard a strange sound, akin to letting the air out of a pressurized container. About 10 - 20 seconds later I noticed that my ABS light is on -- checked the breaks right there, they worked. Later, on a more suitable stretch of the road I checked the ABS and it wasn't working.

Any idea what may have happened and how to fix it? The car is a stock '95 XL w/351 and AT.

TIA

Aug 19, 2004 | 02:41 PM

broncobillybob

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 1,276

Likes: 0

From: Auburn/ Opelika

Start checking your lines for a break. Do you have any brakes at all?

Aug 19, 2004 | 06:13 PM

aurgathor

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,899

Likes: 2

From: Lynnwood, WA

Yes the breaks are working just fine (that was the first thing I checked after I saw that the ABS light was on), but things are getting a little strange. I let my car stand for like 5 hours, went home for lunch, and the ABS light never came on during that time (10 miles total). Hmmmmm, very strange.

Anyhow, on my way back from lunch on a wet spot I tested the ABS again, and as far as I could feel, it was working just fine. On the very same spot, it was failing when I was coming to work with the light ON. BTW, I checked the break fluid, and the level is OK.

Could it be that some sensor going haywire? Aside from the obvious loose connection, what can trigger the ABS light?

Aug 20, 2004 | 09:09 AM

Will_01_GT

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 279

Likes: 0

Was it raining out ? I had a similar problem in the rain or wet snow, check the driver side inner fender, you'll notice a couple small holes, the ABS wire connector is located near these holes, I black taped the connector up really good and tight, Never had a ABS light come on again. My guess it the connector was getting wet and shorting out.

Aug 20, 2004 | 05:51 PM

aurgathor

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,899

Likes: 2

From: Lynnwood, WA

We've been dry for a week or so, so a short by water is not very likely, though
something else might be shorting some relevant line.

I'll probably spend some time over the weekend to check the connectors and clean them if necessary, plus bleed the brakes -- that can never hurt.

Oct 5, 2004 | 02:23 PM

aurgathor

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,899

Likes: 2

From: Lynnwood, WA

Now, it's really gone, and the speedometer, too.

I've heard some loud "bzzzzzzzz" that was louder than my radio -- ABS light came ON and my speedometer started bouncing all around. I guess that's a catastrophic failure of the sensor unit. Where's the sensor, how, and what do I need to replace? ('95 Bronco w/351 & AT)

TIA

Oct 5, 2004 | 03:46 PM

greystreak92

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 9,182

Likes: 12

From: Gateway to the West

Sounds like you lost the VSS. Its mounted in the top of the rear differential housing. The sound you initially heard may have been the ABS motor running hard because it lost signal while the truck was moving. It may have defaulted and run the brake pressure up high in the system to compensate for the sudden loss of signal.