whoops, moved this to the right place I think...

I had this posted earlier under the Sunfire section, but after actually reading the directions I think I was supposed to put it here. Sorry! If you read it already, get ready to just skip this, ok? Thanks!

I purchased a 2001 Sunfire this June, and I really loved it all summer long. Now that winter has arrived in Canada though, it's acting a little strange. In cold wet weather, my ABS have been kicking in pretty much every time I touch the brakes, even if I'm barely moving. The car vibrates and sounds like when you drive over those rumble strips on the roads, and everything just feels like it's locking up. I took it to a mechanic I know who said that the system looks fine and my brakes look fine... so why is it freaking me out like this? If anybody can tell me what an appropriate sacrifice would be to the Pontiac ABS Gods to make this stop, I'd appreciate it...

Thanks a bunch, and have a great Christmas!

Caro

You may have cheap tires that are getting less grip at the lower temps. There is a temp rating on the side of the tire. If you start to lock up the ABS will kick in and cause this.

Thanks, I'll check that when it's daylight... I never thought to check the tires. I think they are all-seasons though, so shouldn't that be good enough? It's really only been right around the freezing point, barely even real winter yet. Arghh...

that should be good enough. Perhaps you got something on them like ArmorAll.

Thanks for trying to help... but I think I have to rule out tire problems. I've had the car since June, and it only started doing this in the last couple of weeks... no armorall on the tires or anything. Weird...

Could you have a loose / dirty connector at one of the wheel sensors? Perhaps something obstructiong the tip of the sensor????

Other than that I am all out of solutions.

Sorry about the tire lead but you have to start with the easiest stuff first.

Oh my goodness, don't be sorry... I really appreciate any help I can get! I think I'll have to take it back to my mechanic buddy and get him to check out the sensors, that really sounds like what it has to be. I'm not sure what he looked at when I took it to him last week, I just asked him to check the ABS and brakes and he said it all was working fine. I doubt he would have looked all that closely at the sensors, though, more than likely just checked it all to make sure it worked, which obviously it does, haha. If he looks a bit closer at the sensors, maybe I can get to the bottom of this. Hell... it's still better than my old '91 escort wagon anyway!!!!
Thanks again!
Caro