ABS problems

Hi;

I have a 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager 3.8 L engine. My ABS just started to act up on occasion. When I break, every once in awhile the Abs will pump ie: act like they do when I'm on ice. I can hear it and feel the pulsing on my brake peddle as if I'm on a slippery surface. My ABS warning light came on about 2 weeks ago and stayed on for approx 1/2 hour. Hasen't come back on since.

Has anyone had this problem before or know of a probable cause.

What safety feature have the ABS on these vans have ie: if the ABS fails do you still have manual brakes. Can the ABS be disabled? I hear they are expensive to have repaired:(

All of my breakes are new in the last six months. Back breaks have new drums, cylinders and shoes. Fronts have new pads and rotors.

Thanks:)

The ABS on my 96 caravan started failing last year with no warning light. Got a bad grinding sound and very long distance stops. Pulled the fuse for the ABS, put black tape over the warning light(comes on after pulling the fuse) and it brakes just like a non ABS system does.

Yes, you have normal braking. The ABS light indicates the ABS system has been turned off because of a failure in the system. Recommend you go to Autozone, Pepboys, or the like and have them read the failure codes with a DRB II scanner. They will do it for free. The code will tell you if its a wheel sensor or other component. Let us know what you find out.

Thanks for the reply PIP and Mbriggs;

I'm in Ontario, Canada and I don't recall there being a Autozone or Pepboys here but I will try to locate a dealer who can do the scan, but I have a feeling that it won't be free.

Maybe it will be a component that I can replace myself at a reasonable cost. I was more concerned about the safety issue if the ABS were to be disabled.

I don't know if this means anything but The ABS usually acts up more if I am making a left turn and braking at the same time. There is one on ramp I take when I go to work where it curves left, the ABS always activate there but usually no place else......go figure.

Chippie

Sounds like a wheel speed sensor. Go here to learn all about it. Just click on the headings under Bendix System 4 on the right column and scroll down to read it all. http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/10/d8/b2/0900823d8010d8b2.jsp