ABS greif
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2004
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ABS greif
I have a 99 4x4 ext. cab 4L auto. My problem is when I am coming to a stop while making a slight turn to the right (as if I was pulling up to back into a parking space) my abs will activate for no reason. I have new brakes all around the tires and air pressure are all correct. There is no abs light on and my mechanic has scanned the truck and found nothing. He has also tried cleaning the sensors. I don't really want to just start changing parts blindly. Also I got so sick of the abs activating and knowing that it was going to cause me an accident that I pulled the fuse, but with the fuse out the abs light came on, but also my spedometer stopped working. Is this normal or is it a clue to the problem with my brakes? Any ideas?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2004
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The problem is that the ABS is activating when there is no apparent need to(ie on a dry road during a slow stop). It is happening during the last stages of a complete stop while the truck is turning right. The truck does have 4wheel abs. I have all new brakes and the sensors have been checked and show no apparent defects, the tires are good and I have tried rotating them with no change in the problem. I have a feeling that the problem lies with one of the sensors being too sensetive but I'm not even sure if it would be the right or left one. The fact that pulling a 10a fuse to disable the abs also caused my spedo an odometer to stop working puzzles me. Why would it be so easy to stop your truck from running up milage, perhaps this is a clue that there is another problem present with a speed sensor or somthing?
Any suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.
Any suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.
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Joined: May 2004
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When you say your abs is activating, does this feel like brake fade where your pedal seems to go to the floor. If so I have the same problem when slowing and turning to the right just as I stop. Also if I'm on a steep dirt road using the brakes coming down this will also happen. I have a 97 ranger 4x4 and also would like to know what is the problem. Ron.
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Cross-Country
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Your problem
When the abs activates it does feel like brake fade except you should be able to feel a slight pulsing, or maybe a grinding feeling. Also it comes on quite suddenly and the pedal does go to the floor. It sounds like the same problem, I've heard from a few people with the same problem but none that have solved it yet. Still hoping, let me no.
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Cross-Country
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Thanks for your intrest, actually the tires are a few years old (I got them with the firestone recall). The problem started about 6 months ago, I changed the front brake pads myself knowing they were getting due. The truck was fine for awhile then this problem started. Thinking that it must be the rotors I took it to a shop, they replaced the pads and the rotors, I thought that would solve it but the problem persists. Do you think that when I changed the pads but didnt touch the rotors that this could screw up the sensor. The brakes did run hot for awile but that is somewhat normal for break in isn't it?
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Cross-Country
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From going through alot of these ranger problems it seems that this vss sensor is the cause, do you think that this could be the cause of my intermitted abs problem or is that just for rear wheel only abs trucks? As I said before it does seem odd to me that the abs fuse when pulled disables the spedometer and odometer.
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From: SW Va
Well the ABS, speedo, & cruise control, take their que from the rear speed sensor, located atop the differential.
If your cruise control is acting up or is inoperative, the speed sensor is likely the culprit.
All that said, pulling the ABS fuse will likely kill the speedo & will disable the cruise control.
The brake pedal going all the way to the floor isn't normal operation at all & the root cause must be found pronto.
Are you saying when you pull the ABS fuse, all this nonsense with the brake fade, shuddering & pedal going to the floor, cease????
If your cruise control is acting up or is inoperative, the speed sensor is likely the culprit.
All that said, pulling the ABS fuse will likely kill the speedo & will disable the cruise control.
The brake pedal going all the way to the floor isn't normal operation at all & the root cause must be found pronto.
Are you saying when you pull the ABS fuse, all this nonsense with the brake fade, shuddering & pedal going to the floor, cease????
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Cross-Country
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Yes with the abs fuse removed then the brakes work normal. I am fairly sure the pedal going to the floor is a result of the abs activating. It is the same effect I get when I am on ice or snow only it is happening know on dry pavement wich is increasing my stopping distance.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: SW Va
This sounds like something is amiss with the ABS motor, just what, I'm not shure.
Have you had the computer scanned for codes????
If not why not run by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost scan & see if it'll point to something specific.
Or maybe someone with specific knowledge of the ABS motor will be able to comment with some detail.
In any case if the brakes are normal with the ABS disabled, I'd leave the fuse out, until you can sort this out, as it's less risky running without ABS, speedo & cruise control, than having your pedal hit the floor while trying to stop.
This is a new one on me, will be mighty intersting to hear the root cause.
If you can't do the troubleshooting yourself, have a pro do it pronto, this isn't a safe situtation. IMHO
Have you had the computer scanned for codes????
If not why not run by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost scan & see if it'll point to something specific.
Or maybe someone with specific knowledge of the ABS motor will be able to comment with some detail.
In any case if the brakes are normal with the ABS disabled, I'd leave the fuse out, until you can sort this out, as it's less risky running without ABS, speedo & cruise control, than having your pedal hit the floor while trying to stop.
This is a new one on me, will be mighty intersting to hear the root cause.
If you can't do the troubleshooting yourself, have a pro do it pronto, this isn't a safe situtation. IMHO
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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I had a similar problem with my Aerostar a year or so ago. Just after I changed my brakes the ABS seemed to engage at random times. I got so frustrated I changed the brakes again as well as the master cylinder...bled the lines thouroughly and POOF! Problem stopped. Try bleeding the lines. And top off your fluid. I know it seems like it should have nothing to do with your problem, but it takes 20 minutes and it may save hundreds in repairs.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: South Jersey
These are the things Ford wants you to look at for un-wanted ABS activity...
Anti-Lock Control
PINPOINT TEST D: DTCS C1233, C1234 AND C1237 — ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE
Note:
Any time an anti-lock brake sensor is removed, thoroughly clean the mounting surfaces. On front anti-lock brake sensors, apply High Temperature 4x4 Front Axle and Wheel Bearing Grease E8TZ-19590-A or equivalent meeting Ford Specification ESA-M1C198-A.
² D1: CHECK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR PIDS
² D2: CHECK FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR DAMAGE AND LOOSENESS
² D3: CHECK FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR INDICATOR DAMAGE
² D4: CHECK ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT AT EEC-IV 60-PIN BREAKOUT BOX
² D5: CHECK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT
Anti-Lock Control
PINPOINT TEST D: DTCS C1233, C1234 AND C1237 — ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE
Note:
Any time an anti-lock brake sensor is removed, thoroughly clean the mounting surfaces. On front anti-lock brake sensors, apply High Temperature 4x4 Front Axle and Wheel Bearing Grease E8TZ-19590-A or equivalent meeting Ford Specification ESA-M1C198-A.
² D1: CHECK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR PIDS
² D2: CHECK FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR DAMAGE AND LOOSENESS
² D3: CHECK FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR INDICATOR DAMAGE
² D4: CHECK ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT AT EEC-IV 60-PIN BREAKOUT BOX
² D5: CHECK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT
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Cross-Country
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Thanks to everyone who offered their advice. I finally broke down and took the truck to the dealer, they found the problem fairly quickly to be the front right abs sensor assembly. It turns out that there was a high resistance fault. Well it shows that the dealers diagnostic equipment is far superior than the independent garages for these tricky little problems.