Weird problem with my ABS. Basicly not working!

[Mike Wakeham]

Hey All,

Been a while since I'v been on here, well nearly 3 years infact but I'm back with my latest MX, a 1996 V6 in blaze red

Typical my first post back is a problem

Anyways please help me. I've got a weird problem with my ABS on the car, it doesn't work! The weirdest thing is, I have no fault light up on the dash. It comes on with the ignition and then goes out as normal when the engine is started??

I haven't done any checks as yet as I only noticed it lunch time in work when I stamped on the brakes and the car locked up with a massive screech. I'll pull the ABS codes (if any) tonight when I get in (nice one Marc for the ABS code how too BTW ) but in the mean time would any one have any ideas as to the problem. I'm thinking hydraulic pump but could be wrong as I thought this would make the warning light come on.

A bit of history about the car if it helps. Bought it about 2 weeks ago, it had been stood in a Pub carpark for approx 6 months. When I test drove it the brakes felt a bit squishy and the rears were siezed on. Since having it I've freed up the rear brakes (pads stuck in the carriers) and resurfaced all the rotors, changed out all the fluid and bled the system too. All the claipers seemed fine and moved freely, no leaks. Brake feel has improved but still not as good as I like, pedal still feels a tad soft and travels a bit too far before any braking force is felt. All ABS wirinig seemed ok, no leaks, all pipework looked good.

Nice one to all you great folk for any suggestions!

[Flyer]

Who needs ABS anyways?

EDIT: Is the ABS fuse even in?

[Mike Wakeham]

Yea I know it can be a pain at times, but it's a requirment for the UK MOT test, if the car is listed as having ABS fitted it has to work. Still the test sequence for the dash light works and my MOT aint due till then end of May, so I have time!

Yup fuse is in place and not blown too.

[marcdh]

Hmm that's odd. Try the codes for sure. When my ABS motor died the ABS light was on. Are you making enough braking force for the wheels to lock? Pads glazed? Tried it on gravel?

[Mike Wakeham]

Hey Marco, nice write up with the ABS codes fella. Yea I'll try to pull the codes, just gotta find where I've hiden my led's in my garage

Yea it locks up well first time I did it just the rears locked, every time I've tried after that the fronts lock up and screech to a standstill. Can't feel any kick back from the ABS pump or anything Other than the pedal traveling a tad too far (not by much inch or so before they start working) the brakes are otherwise working fine. The pedal gets rock solid too if the engine isn't running so I think that can rule out the servo being at fault.

I cleaned the pads up with some abrasive paper when cleaning up the all the brakes front and rear. They are still bedding back in I think after the work I did but still surely the ABS should still kick in?

I'm hoping if I don't get this sorted by May it should still pass the MOT as the warning light is working as it should, just hope they don't lock it up when they put it on the test rollers

[Nd4SpdSe]

If it's put throwing codes, would they know? Or would they actually go out and test it?

[Mike Wakeham]

If it's put throwing codes, would they know? Or would they actually go out and test it?

They won't road test it anyways. As far as I know they only check the test sequence for the warning light and then test the braking force on a set of rollers, sort of like a reverse dyno. Not sure if they'll fail it if it locks up on those though.

Just scared me a bit cos I was expecting the ABS to kick in but it just locked up instead

[onlytrueromeo]

Try cleaning the sensors by the brakes if you havent already. Also, check to make sure your ABS light even works. Under the passenger seat is the ABS module. Unplug it. If the ABS light does NOT come on, then either the bulb is dead, something is shorting it, or the previous owner removed it!

[marcdh]

Also, check to make sure your ABS light even works.

I thought of this too, but then realised Mike said it comes on at start up

[onlytrueromeo]

lol oops, I must have missed that! Well definitely clean all the sensors then. The light doesn't always come on when they're dirty, and cannot read well.

[Mike Wakeham]

Nice one for all the suggestions

That's one thing I didn't do was give the sensors a clean will do that over the weekend and see how we go.

Didn't manage to pull any ABS codes, d'you think I could find my stash of led's, nope! Gonna have to pick up one on the weekend. Any one know if you can use a normal bulb or does it have to be an led to pull fault codes, ABS or engines codes?

[onlytrueromeo]

I think it's low voltage, so thats why LED's work well. You can try a light tester, that would probably work too.