ABS acting up

[JStumpalump150]

ok heres whats going on, when i press on the brake sometimes the ABS will kick in and it does that rapid braking thing and takes an extra like 10 feet to stop. i thought maybe it was cuz i was pressing the brakes to hard but when i try to make it do it to show my dad it wont, and i was really slaming on them. but when i am just driving around and go to stop it goes crazy. and this is very bad cuz i was at the mall today and a mini van cut me off so i had to hit the brakes and almost smashed into the woman cuz the ABS came on and would not let me stop, and once i got home a kid ran across the cross walk and i nearly hit him cuz the damn ABS kicked in. but those are just two instances where i slammed on the brakes, but heres one that is just a random ABS kick in, when i was driving out of the school parking lot i was driving slow and did not hit the brakes more than i usualy do and the ABS kicked in. it realy pisses me off cuz one of these times my brakes are going to do this when i need them most and someone is going to get hurt, has this happened to anyone before cuz i need to know what is going on

thanx

[Lances133]

I hear ya man, it's happened to me with both my 2.2 and 2.4 it does it in the snow/ice and it's done it a couple times in my 2.4 in regular driving conditions, the one time i really remember I was going at a good speed and had to brake quickly and hard so I didn't miss my turn, I can't stand when it does that, but I have no idea why it does it.

[JStumpalump150]

i aprreciate it when it kicks in when it snows or rains or whatever but not in perfect weather and just need to stop quickly, and i have noticed it only does it about once a month for a day or two but i did not know if this was something dangerous that i needed to check out or what but all i know is it sux when this happens

[twistedtech]

Is there gravel in your parking lot that you try to come to a stop in?When the tire can not bite to what it is stopping in,it cannot assist.Make it basic,Tire no bite=Can't give feed back to brake controller=Can't give you limited braking.Bottom line,no pavement, no REAL abs.One more thing,don't trust a GM ABS,I'm not sure that I have run across one that works right yet.

[millrtime]

seeing as how i dont have abs on my 03 i couldnt really tell you, but it sounds like a bad sensor or something. most abs runs off on how far the pedal is pushed down....the sensor could be stuck or something like that. but its just a guess

[matthewdaye]

My 01 Cav Z24 does the exact same thing, the original owner said that is was the only problem he ever had with the car and it had happened to him like 30 mins after he took it off the lot. He said it was a sensor, Cavaliers have wheel speed sensors that can get dirty/clogged or malfunction. I am looking at getting mine replaced because as you said, it can kick in and actually reduce your braking distance. I have come up to cars that are stopped and go to hit the brakes and surprise! takes an extra 5 feet to stop, scares the bajeez out of me.

[matthewdaye]

Its funny because I couldn't get mine to do it either when trying to show my dad, but from my experience it will gradually get more frequent and worse. Mine used to only do it every couple of weeks, now I can expect it to happen every day...I always brake very slowly the first few times until my ABS light comes on and then I just have normal brakes.

[JStumpalump150]

Originally Posted by twistedtech

Is there gravel in your parking lot that you try to come to a stop in?When the tire can not bite to what it is stopping in,it cannot assist.Make it basic,Tire no bite=Can't give feed back to brake controller=Can't give you limited braking.Bottom line,no pavement, no REAL abs.One more thing,don't trust a GM ABS,I'm not sure that I have run across one that works right yet.

nope, its asphalt and im happy cuz it did not do it today but i bet it will tomorrow

[Derk_eliso]

does it make this weird digital sound in your steering column when it happens? just like a short series of clicks while it does it. If so, then mine also does the same thing. Usually when it's wet out, or if I slam them on it will do it shortly after, like the next couple time I stop. It doesn't really affect me that much, it just takes a little while longer to stop, it only lasts for about 1-2 seconds...if that sounds like what yours does to

[JStumpalump150]

yeah, i just heard that clicking noise for the first time today while it did that. but it was rainy out and there was a cop flying up behind me so i had to slam on them and the abs came on. but this time it was supposed to so i was happy bout that.

[muff34]

What I have been told by the local G.M shop is that the back brakes have to be cleaned up and re adjusted. they claim that they do that with there own service sunfire . Try it before you start buying parts . mine does the same frigging thing that you are describing ,I just have not done mine yet.
Muff

[fajita23200]

I had a 98 cavy. My Best friend who was a mechanic for 13 years, and my regular mechanic told me what happens with alot of G.M. A.B.S. problems. They both claim it's the ring gear around the axle. That , there are teeth missing or broken. Anyways, this is what I was told. I already sold mine. Don't fall for the wheel speed sensor code. I put 2 in mine. The dealership tried to pull the same thing. That's what I've been told. I hope it helps.

[chevyguy93]

i had the same problem with mine. after reading articles on the net, and how recently, abs is the cause of most accidents, i decided just to pull the fuse. My dad just bought a new chevy blazer and also started having the problem. he also pulled the fuse. No more abs.

[JStumpalump150]

OMG!!! which fuse is it, wait.....stupid question cuz its probly labled, but thanks for the info cuz i did not know you could just do that

[muff34]

Originally Posted by JStumpalump150

OMG!!! which fuse is it, wait.....stupid question cuz its probly labled, but thanks for the info cuz i did not know you could just do that

did that on mine but other dash lights come now,but if you can live with that go for it ...LOL I may pull mine again. My friggin Silvy did it the other day GRRRRRR ......LOL
muff