Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

[six_wheeler]

Hey guys,

The brake warning light is on in the dash (I know that front pads are worn out already.) But I tried a panic stop the other day and the rear wheels locked. Could this indicate that the ABS isn't working? Is there a way to know for sure if I have a bad ABS unit? Any way to fix it if it was bad?

TIA,
Shady

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

The ABS on these trucks sucks. Just remove it :2cents:

 

[VermontTy]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Get rid of the thing. A 3800lb truck with sub-par brakes is only going to stop so well anyway. clean up the engine bay and get rid of it. There are many threads regarding how to do this....

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Stock abs system sucks.. Remove it if you don't need it but if you would like to trouble shoot your issue here's info taken from http://home.swbell.net/loeryder/tips.html#ABS

ABS Trouble Codes

Code 21: Right Front Wheel Circuit Faulty wheel sensor or open circuit.
Code 22: Right Front Wheel Circuit No signal. Remove the wheel. Check for a damaged sensor or loose electrical connectors.
Code 23: Right Front Wheel Circuit Intermittent signal, indicating a loose electrical connector.
Code 25: Left Front Wheel Circuit No signal. Remove the wheel. Check for a damaged sensor or loose electrical connectors.
Code 26: Left Front Wheel Circuit Intermittent signal, indicating a loose electrical connector.
Code 27: Left Front Speed Sensor Circuit Faulty sensor or loose electrical connector.
Code 28: Speed Sensor Signal Erratic brake action at low speeds and pedal pressures indicates a fault in the speed sensor circuit or speedometer.
Code 29: EHCU Circuit A loss of signal from all four sensors indicates a loose EHCU connector.
Code 31: Right Rear Speed Sensor Circuit An intermittent code indicates a loose electrical connector.
Code 32: Right Rear Wheel Circuit No signal. Remove the wheel. Check for a damaged sensor or loose electrical connectors.
Code 33: Right Rear Wheel Circuit Intermittent signal, indicating a loose electrical connector.
Code 35: Left Rear Wheel Circuit Intermittent signal, indicating a loose electrical connector.
Code 36: Left Rear Speed Sensor Circuit No signal. Remove the wheel. Check for a damaged sensor or loose electrical connectors.
Code 37: Left Rear Speed Sensor Circuit An inconsistent anti-lock action at low speeds and pedal pressure is a sign of a fault in the speed sensor unit or connectors.
Code 38: EHCU valve circuit A pulsing pedal indicates a defective wheel sensor or faulty EHCU valve.
Code 41-66: 4WAL control unit or motor circuit Check for a loose ground connection at the motor circuit. Clear the code and drive the vehicle. If any of these codes return, the EHCU valve may be faulty.
Code 67: Motor circuit Check the motor for loose electrical connections.
Code 68: Motor circuit A locked motor or an open circuit. Check the motor for loose electrical connections.
Code 71: through 74 4WAL control unit Clear the code and drive the vehicle. If any of these codes return, the EHCU valve may be faulty.
Code 81: Brake switch circuit Make sure the driver hasn't been riding the brake. Check the brake switch adjustment and electrical connections.
Code 86: Anti-Lock warning light Check the light and wiring for a short circuit.
Code 88: Brake warning light Check the light and wiring for a short circuit

To clear the ABS code from the ECU memory: With the ignition On, place the jumper between (A) and (H) for two seconds, remove for one second, and replace again for two seconds.
The Antilock/Brake light should light, then go off.

 

[steve-o]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

If it were an ABS issue, I would think the ABS light would come on.

If the brake light is on, it's either low brake fluid/pressure (either a leak or master cylinder crapping out), or pull the parking brake release handle and pull up on the pedal.

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

If it's the ABS light, just get used to it or pull the bulb. Ours has been on as well as the "Check Engine" and "Brake" since we bought the truck, and you just learn to ignore it:rotf:

 

[gjp]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

I just pulled the conector on the abs unit and the light went out.

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

get the abs delete kit from hood, costs like $20

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

I just pulled the conector on the abs unit and the light went out.

lol I drove around for like a year and a half with the abs module unplugged. It won't hurt anything you just won't have abs is all.. then when you get around to deleting it or if you have your heart set on keeping it, trouble shoot it then.

 

[six_wheeler]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Thanks guys, that's a lot of information indeed! I'll let you know if the light goes out when I change the front pads.

Shady

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Thanks guys, that's a lot of information indeed! I'll let you know if the light goes out when I change the front pads.

Shady

it won't we don't have brake pad sensors.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

The ABS on these trucks sucks. Just remove it :2cents:

Just playing devils advocate here:

Lets say you delete the ABS on the truck right? And then you go and get into an accident where you rear end someone or something. (From looking at some of the graveyard pics, it almost seems as most Sy/Ty owners who are in wrecks are the ones at fault). Ok, so you've just rearended someone in your truck, and the truck is totaled. They take it to the tow yard. When the insurance adjuster comes to look at the truck or in the process of the officer filing a police report, it is discovered that the ABS has been removed, do you then run into the possibility of insurance denying the claim because when you signed up for insurance you checked that the trucks did have ABS? Worse off, could the insurance company try and consider that some type of insurance fraud or something?
I am just curious. I have no idea about any of the possible repercussions, just wondering if anyone here does know or has any comments on that?

 

[six_wheeler]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Well if the ABS isn't working and no one can fix it (GM or any other), it's the same as not having it at all! So with all due respect, it sounds like something of a moot point to me!

Shady

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Well if the ABS isn't working and no one can fix it (GM or any other), it's the same as not having it at all!
Shady

I am stating in the instance that the ABS does work and is removed not because of any malfunction, but rather for the quickness-performance advantage. I am just curious, thats all.

 

[midnightbluS10]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

After disconnecting the ABS unit(no removal) in my 95 Blazer, I rearended a woman and totalled the truck. Nothing was ever said by anyone on both sides, nor the officer that was on scene. That was one of my biggest worries when it happened.

 

[SBNova]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Sorry to latch onto this thread, but on my *new* Ty, I just got an ABS light.

I drove it home 660 miles, no probs. Then my buddy says I have no brake lights, so I look into the swicthes by the brake pedal. I confirm I have power there, jumper the wires and then I have brake lights. I take the switch apart and notice nothing wrong. Put it all back together and the brake lights work fine. Hmmm. I put the truck away for the night. Next morning I pull the truck out and now the ABS light comes on at >13 mph and off at <15 mph consistently.

I searched for ABS and found this post with codes. Ive got a 33 and just wanted to confirm that ABS codes are pulled at the ALDL right? Ive never diagnosed an ABS car before, and on my vette (1985) a 33 is a MAF voltage code.

I was hoping I reinstalled the switches a little off when diagnosing the brake light prob but I guess not.

Thanks

 

[vinnieTy]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Just playing devils advocate here:

Lets say you delete the ABS on the truck right? And then you go and get into an accident where you rear end someone or something. (From looking at some of the graveyard pics, it almost seems as most Sy/Ty owners who are in wrecks are the ones at fault). Ok, so you've just rearended someone in your truck, and the truck is totaled. They take it to the tow yard. When the insurance adjuster comes to look at the truck or in the process of the officer filing a police report, it is discovered that the ABS has been removed, do you then run into the possibility of insurance denying the claim because when you signed up for insurance you checked that the trucks did have ABS? Worse off, could the insurance company try and consider that some type of insurance fraud or something?
I am just curious. I have no idea about any of the possible repercussions, just wondering if anyone here does know or has any comments on that?

The cop is not going to waste his or her time to try to resolve the issue on why the accident happened. He or she will write down what you and the other person in the accident state happened. I was working for a family friend as a assistant mechanic YEARS ago and when we had to go on the road to tow a car that was in an accident trust me the cops didnt even care if we towed it sideways.

As for the inspector i dont know. I dont think they will notice it unless they have it written down to look. I knew a few inspectors that would write up an estimate for the damage they see then when the body guy took it apart they will come back and write another check for the internal damage. I think they are looking for things broke instead of things missing.

Just my :2cents:

 

[Robert Lone]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

I took my Sy to the local GMC stealership where it was sold new for the ABS light being on. I was politely asked not to bring it back, ever, when the head tach saw the blower hanging out of the hood.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

I took my Sy to the local GMC stealership where it was sold new for the ABS light being on. I was politely asked not to bring it back, ever, when the head tach saw the blower hanging out of the hood.

haha that's awsome

 

[SBNova]

Re: Brake warning light on - ABS not working?

Found my answer; jump terminal A to terminal H for ABS diagnosis as opposed to A&B for engine diagnosis.