97 Police Lumina

[BostonKev]

Hi Guys, I have 2 quick issues on a unit i just bought at an auction. Just wanted to see if anyone had ideas on what to look at first.

1. ABS light is on

2. When you turn the lights on, the digital speedo goes blank.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you

[maxwedge]

You need a scan with an abs function scanner to check for codes and look at speed sensor inputs, possible the dimmer for the dash lites is turned down or the inst panel lite fuse blown?

[richtazz]

[Daghara_terry]

hook computer up and put in codes problem should be just low voltage check battery or alltenator may be starting to go

[BostonKev]

great ideas. Thank you

[Hearts88]

Originally Posted by BostonKev

Hi Guys, I have 2 quick issues on a unit i just bought at an auction. Just wanted to see if anyone had ideas on what to look at first.

1. ABS light is on

2. When you turn the lights on, the digital speedo goes blank.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you

I have a '99 Police Lumina with the digital dash. There is a switch to the left of the steering wheel (where a little cubby is on most Lumina's). One switch for Odometer, Trip/Reset. The other switch says DISPLAY, ON/OFF.

It should work, that if your lights are off and you put the DISPLAY to off, then your digital speedo should be off. But as soon as you turn on your lights it should come on.

So if the digital speedo goes off, try the dash dimmer and make sure if it not turned so low that it turns out the display.

Otherwise start checking fuses.

Hearts88

[richtazz]

Nice tip on the dimmer switch Hearts88.

[BostonKev]

I like the ideas and I will definitely check them out when I have some time this weekend. Unfortunately, the female trooper noted on the turn in sheet about the issue and she had the car for some time so I'm thinking it might be a little more intricate but who knows. Obviously the state techs couldn't figure it out quickly unless it happened right b4 she turned it in.

[BostonKev]

ok guys so I checked all the fuses and played around with the headlight and "display on/off" switch and no digital speedo or radio lights when the headlights are on. Any ideas on the next thing to check? Could it be the headlight switch itself?

[jeffcoslacker]

If no dash lighting reacts when you change the dimmer position it may be the dimmer itself. I don't know if that's integral to the headlight switch on yours.

[BostonKev]

just wanted to give an update. I took apart the headlight switch/dimmer and cleaned some contacts and it seems to work now. I am still working on the ABS light but from what I've read I believe it has to do with the fuse box under the hood. Thanks for all the help.

[radioman2002]

Lumina Police has a blank dash option, a switch is located to the left of the steering column. Sorry I see you checked it.Mabe the switch itself is bad.

[radioman2002]

Have you fixed the ABS light yet, if not take a look at all the plugs that connect the wheel sensors the the car chassis. I know that some agencies and even dealers, remove one wire to disable the ABS. Some agencies do not want ABS, and this is how the disable it without voiding the warrantee.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by radioman2002

Have you fixed the ABS light yet, if not take a look at all the plugs that connect the wheel sensors the the car chassis. I know that some agencies and even dealers, remove one wire to disable the ABS. Some agencies do not want ABS, and this is how the disable it without voiding the warrantee.

It's possible, but they generally will do that on RWD models, the police are used to using wheel lockup and spin to enhance driving (as most performance drivers are), but ABS and traction control actually get them INTO trouble, when they aren't accustomed to it. You turn a corner fast on rain and punch it, and anticipate the rear end to wag out (oversteer drift) so you put in a countersteer for a wheelspin that never comes, and the next thing you know your're hitting the telephone pole on the other side of the road. Stuff like that.

FWD is a little more (or less, depending how you look at it) suited to ABS, the effects of traction control are welcome in the same scenario, where FWD throttle understeer would cause you to plow diagonally in the same situation if wheelspin occurs, and you'd have to use the E-brake to force the rear end to swing around, "countersteer with rear" I like to call it, but outside of the driving skills of the average cop.

[BostonKev]

I haven't checked all the wheel sensors yet but I will on sat. I checked everything else, car runs awesome. I will probably have it on Ebay as soon as Monday. Thanks for the help.