ABS light on/off

ultimate007 · Jul 16, 2006

Hi everyone,
so about 2 months ago, I took my car to the dealer to get the brakes checked because I thought they weren't working properly. They charged me $75 to tell me there was 60% of the pads remaining and for removing the shim of the front driver wheel which was rubbing on the rotor. I believe less than a week later, the ABS light would turn on at intervals. When on, the TCS OFF light is activated. Last week, I took the car to the dealer and he hooked it up to a scanner. The ABS light started flashing multiple times and turned off without coming on again. I had the guy drive the car around the block but that damn thing would not come one again. He said the scanner did not see any code stored in memory.

So I took the car home thinking the fault was reset. The next day, the same thing happened again. I didn't really figure out a pattern but it seems the light comes on when the car is very hot. Are my ABS sensors failing? If so, why doesn't the light stay on?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Mike97gt · Jul 16, 2006

If your ABS light was on then a code would have been stored. Was the light on when you brought it in? If it was not on when you brought it in the computer sensed that the fault was no longer there and cleared the code.

Bring it in to be scaned when the light is on. BTW your TCS is part of the ABS system so it deactivates automaticly when there is a ABS fault.

Pennywise2 · Jul 16, 2006

I had the same issues but, I went to the Ford Dealership
for a brake flush and refill.Two weeks later after going to
the Dealership my ABS light was flashing on and off.I took my car to my mechanic witch I have known for years.He scanned it and told me that my ABS module had
internal failure and was ruined.Me and my mechanic both
know for a fact that the brake tech at the Ford Dealership ruined my ABS module and if I could prove it I
would take the Ford Dealership to court but,I can't.
Just watch out for shady Ford Dealerships because they
are not all honest people and will mess with your car so, you will come back to get more work done.
Most of the time if your ABS light flashes on and off it
is a bad ABS speed sensor/s that needs to be replaced
or your ABS module itself is ruined.

Mike97gt · Jul 16, 2006

Pennywise2 said:
I had the same issues but, I went to the Ford Dealership
for a brake flush and refill.Two weeks later after going to
the Dealership my ABS light was flashing on and off.I took my car to my mechanic witch I have known for years.He scanned it and told me that my ABS module had
internal failure and was ruined.Me and my mechanic both
know for a fact that the brake tech at the Ford Dealership ruined my ABS module and if I could prove it I
would take the Ford Dealership to court but,I can't.
Just watch out for shady Ford Dealerships because they
are not all honest people and will mess with your car so, you will come back to get more work done.
Most of the time if your ABS light flashes on and off it
is a bad ABS speed sensor/s that needs to be replaced
or your ABS module itself is ruined.

How do you KNOW that the ford tech destroyed your abs module. Just because you had some brake work done then a little while later you had a ABS problem does not mean the Ford tech destoryed the module.

Why and how would he do that. How does he know he will get the car back to him so he would make money fixing the abs? He would not get any benefit from that becuase the chances are the next time you come in a different tech would work on it.

You do realize the ABS module is a sealed unit that attached to the HCU, it's not somthing easy to damage even if you try.

Plus don't ya think the other mechanic has just a tiny little bit of motive to say "yeah don't go to that ford shop, they messed your car up" Like he was going to tell you they were great and you should go back

Kilgore Trout · Jul 16, 2006

Mike97gt · Jul 16, 2006

Kilgore Trout said:
I think he did it with his "x-ray trashing eyes" myself

Yeah I edited that part out.. I lost my temper then felt bad. pennywise is a good member here and I don't want to BASH him, just want to let him know I don't like bashing of shops/dealers/techs or Ford with no proof. so I went back and changed my post. I really am starting to get sick of the bashing ford and it's dealers get for everything.

I really am considering NOT opening a mustang shop like I planed to. The first time somebody bashes me online for no reason I would loose my cool and probally end up at there house.

ultrashock2112 · Jul 17, 2006

ultimate007 said:
Hi everyone,
so about 2 months ago, I took my car to the dealer to get the brakes checked because I thought they weren't working properly. They charged me $75 to tell me there was 60% of the pads remaining and for removing the shim of the front driver wheel which was rubbing on the rotor. I believe less than a week later, the ABS light would turn on at intervals. When on, the TCS OFF light is activated. Last week, I took the car to the dealer and he hooked it up to a scanner. The ABS light started flashing multiple times and turned off without coming on again. I had the guy drive the car around the block but that damn thing would not come one again. He said the scanner did not see any code stored in memory.

So I took the car home thinking the fault was reset. The next day, the same thing happened again. I didn't really figure out a pattern but it seems the light comes on when the car is very hot. Are my ABS sensors failing? If so, why doesn't the light stay on?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

I had the same problem with mine. All of a sudden my ABS light would come on for about 10 minutes and then go back off. I brought it into Ford and they scanned it and told me it was malfunctioning and quoted me $1300CDN for a new control module (Ford parts are way more expensive in Canada). I found the whole hydraulic unit + module off a 2001 GT on eBay for $12 (used of course), I just took off the control module and put it on the existing hydraulic unit and it's worked ever since!

ultimate007 · Jul 17, 2006

That sounds like my problem. Can you tell me the exact name of the unit and where it is located?

Thanks

ultrashock2112 · Jul 17, 2006

ultimate007 said:
That sounds like my problem. Can you tell me the exact name of the unit and where it is located?

Thanks

The unit is located in the front of the engine compartment (near the radiator), on the passenger side. You'll notice it has 6 brake lines going into it.

Look at this link on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-04-Ford-Mustang-GT-ABS-Control-Module-and-Pump_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33560QQihZ019QQitemZ8015082091QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Edit: This is the NON-TRACTION control one. You'd need the one with traction control.

This is the WHOLE unit (that I got used). You only need to replace the black part (which is the computer), there are 6 screws that hold it on. It is much easier to just replace the module and not the whole hydraulic unit because you'd have to get your brake system bled by someone who has the proper equipment to bleed an ABS system. The hard part it replacing the module with all the brake lines still connected. Here's a post I did a while back with a quick description of how to do it:

ultrashock2112 said:
You can replace the ABS module without disconnecting the brake lines, I just did mine because the ABS light was coming on intermittently. It is a little awkward to do though. To do it you have to remove the bracket that supports the HCU. First remove the bolts that hold the bracket to the car, 2 on top and one underneath. Then remove the bolts that hold the HCU onto the bracket, this part is a little difficult because the one closest to the radiator has very little clearance and needs to be removed from underneath. Then you can remove the bracket and let the HCU "hang" by the brake lines. Now you can fit a torx bit on a 1/4" socket wrench and undo the 6 screws that hold the ABS computer module onto the HCU. Put the new one on and reassemble in reverse.

Hope this helps...

Good luck!

Mike97gt · Jul 18, 2006

WOAH!!!!! before you go and replace the ABS module many many different problems can cause the abs light to go on the go off like that. Most often it's a sensor.

Sure it might be the module, but it could also be a sensor, or a damaged wire making intermintent contact, so when it makes contact the light goes out.

Just go get the codes scaned from the abs module and post the code in this thread and PM me if I don't notice your post.

ultimate007 · Sep 24, 2006

ABS on when engine is warm

Hi,
I have noticed a trend in the problem since I last posted. I can drive in the morning about five minutes before the ABS light turns on. It is normally on when the engine temperature starts going up. Does that help narrow down the problem?? Again, the code doesn't seem to be saved in the memory of the control module.

I just rented a Scan Tool from Autozone and there were no codes present in the memory. I have no idea what is making the ABS light come on.

By the way, I did purchase a used module from ebay. I don't want to install it before making sure the one in my car is defective. Thanks.

ABS light on/off

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