ABS,light on and then off,cleaned senors.

Hi everyone,I have the ABS light going on then it will turn off.I did a search on ABS system and found one that said that they had cleaned them,so I cleaned the front sensor and they were dirty.Next I did the rears,since that the sensor is buried,I took off the sensor from the brake assembly.The sensor was coated with a large amount of dirt.I cleaned them off and I looked inside of the hole that the sensor fits into and noticed the dirt on the gear.I did not clean the gear yet,if the light turns on again I will clean the gears.Anyother ideas from anyone ? Thanks 1996 3.8 109,000 miles.

Definitely continue with the cleaning.

Make sure the tires are all the same radius. Even/same wear on all. Air pressure proper .. perhaps on the "high" side.

My tires have a max pressure of 46 psi. I run 40 - 41psi. Not recommending that you go that high ... just telling what I do.

If all efforts fail, you may have to go to dealer or brake shop to get code read. (My point of ref is a '99.)

my abs light on my 2000LX started comming on the last week or so. but it only does it on the highway. not all the time, just once in a while. and i've noticed that it comes on right when i hit around 80km/hr. but once i turn the van off, and then back on again in a second or two, the lights off.
this happened to anyone before?

HI...
Just today I fixed this same ABS light problem on my 95 Windstar, with info from archives in this forum... TOP UP the brake fluid, even if it looks okay - take it right to the 'max' line. It solved my problem of ABS light coming on sometimes - also brake light would occasionally flash on then go off.

I did check the brake fluid level and it is not at the "max" line,good point I will top it off.My wife said that today the ABS light did go on and off.The light was on right after she started it up and then went off.I drove the van and did not have the luck of having the light turn on.Next step is to clean the rear gear teeth and find out where all that dirt came from.

bobinkski,

I am looking to clean my sensors with the hope of getting that darn light to shut off on my 1999 Windstar. I checked the fluid and fuse and etc.

I can see the front sensors, and the bolt that holds them in place. Front brakes are disk.

My rear brakes are drums.

What needs to be removed to get to the rear sensors for cleaning? Is it very involved?

Thanks
steve_o

Steveo

I think the rear sensors can be removed from the back of the backing plate. The toothed gear needs to have the drums off for access.

Bobinski,

The dirt can come from anywhere, road dust.... I don't think this type of dirt would have a huge effect on the ABS sensors. However the brake dust from the shoes wearing can also accumulate. Since these are (or can be) metallic and the ABS sensor is a magnetic pick up I suspect this is where the dirt causes a problem.

Steve O and DRW1000,I just cleaned the tooth gear today and needed to remove the drum,gear wasnt to bad but did srubbed it with a tooth brush and they are clean now.Steve O,take the drum off and clean the gear and the senor.The sensor is a black looking metal bar right up against the gear.The sensor is like a magnet, it will put up metal dust.I also topped off the brake fluid reservoir,so we will see what happens in the next day or two. Good Luck guys

Let us know how it works Bobinski

So far so good,it has been @ 3 days and no ABS light turning on.The light was turning on and off almost evey day.We will see what happens in about a week.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the brake fluid may very well have been the problem child here. As I had the same scenario.. on my 96' Windstar. Looked for fuses /relays/ brake wear etc etc.. and simple fix was the top up! I've learned to go to the top of the forums and input "my headaches" and review then do /go thru the easier stuff first!! ;O)

It has been about a week now and no ABS light on.Thanks to all of you who had the same problem and post what you have done.I saved myself about $200-$300 on repairs if I took it to a mechanic. :smile:

bobinkski,

I have a 1999 LX, this weekend the weather and time were on my side.

I did what you suggested - cleaned each sensor. Its been 3 days and no light. That light has been on for almost a year.

The rear were as you indicated, very dirty, coated with black soot. If I am to do it again, I might only do the rear to start. They were far more dirty and easier to remove. The front sensors seem to be pressed in with a tighter tolerance, and oddly there exposure to the elements actually made them cleaner, if you can believe it.

The only problem I ran into was not being able to remove the rear drums completely. They are probably due to be replaced. Is there some easy to understand way to release them?

I read somehting about using a screw driver from the back, but it is difficult to see directly into the back of the rear brake drum assembly, to see exactly what to do. This is where a picture might be worth a thousand words.

Thanks again.

Steve O,I have never had the drums stuck,but Haynes manual says to pull the rubber plug and with one screw driver push the adjusting lever off the adjuster star wheel and another screw driver turn the star wheel.Not sure which way to turn them.There is no easy way to release them. Good Luck, and no ABS light on my 96.