ABS riddle

[davidw]

I've done a search and read the potential threads, but couldn't find any that addressed this question. My ABS light has been coming on the past few weeks, seems to happen most when it rains and as soon as things dry out the light is off. As stated, I've read through the threads and know what the suggestions would be to fix this, however, here's the riddle: several people talk about disabling the ABS all together. That got me thinking that perhaps I could try removing the fuse and re-installing it to get the light to go off. So, the last time the light came on I pulled out the manual, located the fuse, took off the cover of the fuse box, hmmmm, the abs fuse isn't shown on the back of the cover?!? So, I look at the space that the manual indicates the fuse should be in and it's not even terminated to accept a fuse. This is peculiar. The light is on, the peddle say "ABS" or "Antilock" on it, but no fuse? Anyone with any knowledge of why this would be? Crazy.

[davidw]

Forgot to mention, this is a 1996 Monte Carlo.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

isnt there an ABS fuse panel under the hood? like a whole separate set of fuses and relays just for the abs? i know on the older Ws thats how it was. how are the brakes reacting? IS the ABS comming on? or just the light? if its just the light i would pop out the cluster and just pull the bulb


-this kindof relates to my Shift Up light comming on in mu AUTOMATIC lumina at 1,500 RPM and shutting off when i turn left, back on when i turn right. hahaha (long story short, sunlight comming through the back of the gauges caused it)

[RedZMonte]

sounds like a bad wheel speed sensor, mine was just doing the same thing.. found rear wheel bearing was bad. repalced the bearing (rears have speed sensor built in) and light is off. fronts have speed sensors seporate from the hubs but the rears have them intigrated into the hubs. If you have ABS you will have electrical connectors to each wheel behind the hubs and would also have a "ABS PUMP" under the hood. if you have a abs light and other anti-lock writing on the pedal then you most likely have abs.

I had to have my mechanic use a scan tool to find out what codes caused the abs light to come on.

S

[davidw]

The way it seems to be correlated to wet weather, it's even come on when I run it through the car wash, I'm betting it is a sensor.

I think you're right, sofaking, that there is a separate fuse box for abs under the hood. That would make sense as to why there isn't a fuse in the interior fuse box. I was just surprised to see it referenced in the owners manual and then not be present. But, the manual was probably copied over from earlier years.

How would I know if the ABS is working? Hit the brakes hard and listen for the chattering?

[pocket-rocket]

When the light is on, ABS is disabled. If the light is off, and you feel your pedal vibrating (a different kind then a warped rotor- as in you don't feel it in the steering wheel) then your ABS is kicking in. Also with the older ones like mine when you start the car with the brake on, when you let off the brakes, you can hear something under the hood for about a half second as the ABS pump does a test cycle.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

when the ABS is activating the light should come on, to indicate its functioning... i believe it flashes though. but if there is a problem i think it goes on steady. and you know its working when you hit the brakes hard (do this on grass or dirt or something that wont kill your tires and that you know you can slide on, and since there is no snow or ice out yet....) if the pedal starts vibrating yup. its on and active... the bad sensor thing for some reason never occurred to me. this would be the guess i would put my money on

as for me? im not a fan of ABS. i know it helps for stopping distances in the winter, but it really screws with a guys driving when youre not expecting it to come on.

[RedZMonte]

when the ABS is activating the light should come on, to indicate its functioning... i believe it flashes though. but if there is a problem i think it goes on steady. and you know its working when you hit the brakes hard (do this on grass or dirt or something that wont kill your tires and that you know you can slide on, and since there is no snow or ice out yet....)

LMAO! done a bit of lawn driving in your day i see!! it should POST (power on self test) when you start the car then it should go off if its working properly.. my pedal kinda vibrates for a second when i start the car if i have brake applied during the POST.

as for me? im not a fan of ABS. i know it helps for stopping distances in the winter, but it really screws with a guys driving when youre not expecting it to come on.

ABS allows you to control (turn) the car while the brakes are applied... they don't help you stop any faster, just maintain control of your steering while braking hard or on slick surfaces.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

they do help you turn yes, but it is proven they help you stop faster in slippery conditions as well.

[RedZMonte]

According to wiki.... we are both correct

"While ABS offers improved vehicle control, and may decrease stopping distances on dry and especially slippery surfaces, it can also increase braking distance on loose surfaces such as snow and gravel"

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

right arm. i dont really trust wiki, if you want you can change that so youre right. lol or i can go change it and say ABS makes the car go faster, its the Anti-Braking-System. lol but yeah i hears ya. its main purpose is to get better control in harder braking applications. i am still 1/15th correct too. ill take my point off the star and away i go. haha
and the two reasons you listed are the two problems i have with it, i dont really have a problem hitting ice too fast. i drive slow in the winter, but i like to play in the snow and i drive on gravel, but i tend to notice (and maybe its how i drive) but ABS on the older cars isnt good enough. ive yet to shit bag anything newer long enough to get a feel for it. but cars as old as mine (91) just dont benefit much from the barbaric ABS of its era. proportional ABS and traction control with AWD and all the electronic shit is fun, but go have a peek in your full tilt rally car, dirt track racer, drifting car or i guess a dragster and if you can point these items out to me i will be astounded.

[pocket-rocket]

It might increase stopping distances in snow and on ice, but I think it's main purpose there is to give you more of a fighting chance of keeping control of the car while sliding.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

just dont slide. lol

[pocket-rocket]

But that's no fun! I got tons better with my drifting in my truck last winter after having the limited slip in there. I think my wife also about beat my arm black and blue too (she doesn't care for sliding, even if it is me driving).

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

ABS makes drifting tougher if ya ask me... i dunno i was better with my truck and car without it than with the company truck with it. or anyone elses car with it. the LSD is always a plus for drifting thats forsure, i had a Mercury grandmarquis with the tractionloc rear axle. lol (LSD) and you never saw a big car drift like i could slide that sum-bitch. lol