Next stupid question...
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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Next stupid question...
I have a "rear abs" light on the dash. Now, I'm not overly concerned about having abs, but what I'd like to know, is which fuse is in charge of the abs? I figure, if I pull it, I won't have to deal with the abs, then I can just pop the bulb. My truck didn't come with the fuse panel cover, so I don't know which fuse I should yank. Thanks!
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Hmm, I'm interested as well, cuz when I got my truck my abs light was on, and from what I was told, if the abs light is on, you fail an inspection, so my light panel is one long piece of electrical tape. It took me 4 tries to get the tape on straight with no air bubbles. Unless I tell you its tape, you can't even tell.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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I do suppose it's possible to fail inspection as well due to this. I've been ok this far in life without any abs on my trucks, and I'm not real interested in trying to figure out what the problem is. I would rather pull a fuse, and call it a day. But I dunno what fuse to pull.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 1
From: Prince George, B.C.
I can have a look in that day light and let you all know. One thing though, that may be an easy fix... In all 3 of mine, I had to reground the ABS module and that fixed it. I will also add, it does help at least on mine, soon as it quit the rear tires lock at the same time of before the front on both diesels, the gasser wasn't too bad but still a pain at times when there is ice.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
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From: Duluth, Mn.
IMO RABS is about the stupidest thing Ford ever put on a truck. My employees have wrecked My Gasser twice because of it, and the stupid high idle when braking.
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From: FL's Ghettos/Trailer Prk
I will look for you later this afternoon. I won't be home until around 4est. If no one has answered yet I will look and post it.
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Posting Guru
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From: West Valley Utah
Used to be that if the ABS light was on it was an automatic safety failure. The feds changed that a few years ago. The reason was that the repair was often more expensive than the vehicle was worth so pressure from the public pushed the change. The system goes back to a normal braking system so there really is not a brake failure, just an abs failure. You should be able to find a copy of your states safety inspection regs online.
Some folks like abs, some do not. I am a do not.
Some folks like abs, some do not. I am a do not.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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I have a "rear abs" light on the dash. Now, I'm not overly concerned about having abs, but what I'd like to know, is which fuse is in charge of the abs? I figure, if I pull it, I won't have to deal with the abs, then I can just pop the bulb. My truck didn't come with the fuse panel cover, so I don't know which fuse I should yank. Thanks!
However one of the most common RABS faults is a defective speed sensor (on the rear diff), sometimes it only needs to be taken out and cleaned.
Hope this helps.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
but the 87 does not have a speed sensor on the rear diff, so you can eliminate that as a cause.
from day one the rabs did not work properly on my 99. it would either lock up the rear brakes, or go in bypass mode and leave you with no rear brakes at all. within 1 month of ownership, the rabs unit was in the garbage can.
from day one the rabs did not work properly on my 99. it would either lock up the rear brakes, or go in bypass mode and leave you with no rear brakes at all. within 1 month of ownership, the rabs unit was in the garbage can.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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Thanks for all the info so far on this. If it's a matter of rebuilding a ground, or a simple cleaning of a component, then I'm willing to give that a shot. If it's going to mean me getting into more money, then that bulb is getting pulled. I know I got a good deal on the truck, but having just bought it, just replaced the clutch, other miscellaneous odds and ends, it's starting to add up quickly.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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but the 87 does not have a speed sensor on the rear diff, so you can eliminate that as a cause.
from day one the rabs did not work properly on my 99. it would either lock up the rear brakes, or go in bypass mode and leave you with no rear brakes at all. within 1 month of ownership, the rabs unit was in the garbage can.
from day one the rabs did not work properly on my 99. it would either lock up the rear brakes, or go in bypass mode and leave you with no rear brakes at all. within 1 month of ownership, the rabs unit was in the garbage can.
How to figure?
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Elder User
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I did certainly see "something" mounted on the top of the rear diff that's not present on my 85 (Both have Sterling 10.25s). Only thing I know, is right now, sometimes the brakes work perfectly, and sometimes the rears want to grab awfully early. Where and what do I need to look at, as far as checking the ground for the module? Pulling and cleaning the sensor should not be a problem. Should these two attempts fail to solve the problem, what is the best way to rid the truck of this "feature"?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
I did certainly see "something" mounted on the top of the rear diff that's not present on my 85 (Both have Sterling 10.25s). Only thing I know, is right now, sometimes the brakes work perfectly, and sometimes the rears want to grab awfully early. Where and what do I need to look at, as far as checking the ground for the module? Pulling and cleaning the sensor should not be a problem. Should these two attempts fail to solve the problem, what is the best way to rid the truck of this "feature"?
If you look under the dash either near the parking brake pedal or behind the glove box you should find a black wire with an orange stripe with a connector on it. This is the RABS diagnostic connector. With the ABS light on if you momentarily ground this wire the ABS light should blink out a fault code. You could try that.
The sure way to bypass the RABS is to get a short length of brake pipe and use it to bypass the RABS valve body on the left side frame rail.
Hope this helps.