OK to drive with ABS light always on?

[edfauver]

Recently purchased 1998 Cavalier. The ABS light comes on (not always) and stays on. The BRAKE light also comes on sometimes. Except for anti-lock function, the car seems to run fine.

Can I ignore it and continue to drive?

[richtazz]

I would be nervous of the brake light staying on. That normally indicates a brake system pressure problem, and that could cause a brake failure. The Abs light is more than likely just a bad abs sensor, and isn't critical, unless you get into a situation where you need the abs.

[Classicrocjunkie]

I've had mine stay on for a little bit of time before too... causing by doing doughnuts in the winter but but i just shut my car off and let it sit for a couple and turn it back on... light goes off... or maybe you just need to get your e-brake adjusted or whatnot... or maybe a bad sensor like rich said..

[veeko]

Same thing is happening to me. Any suggestions?

ABS and Parking Brake light stay on. The only way I can get them to turn off is, start driving, while the car is rolling turn off the car for a second or 2 and then fire it back up. The lights then seem to go off. I haven't tried resetting the computer yet. I was put in a situation where I had to pull the parking brake and these lights haven't turned off since.

Any suggestions?

[Ghost-CAVy]

my dad had that problem with his 96 S-10 but he had a problem where everyonce in a while the brake would become soo stiff it was like the truck wasnt even on in the first place...almost drove into a wall when parking when his brakes did that
but his abs light and park brake light were both on and all he did was took the fuse for the abs out..his abs light is always on but the park brake stopped coming on for no reason and he just drives around with no abs

[veeko]

Originally Posted by Ghost-CAVy

my dad had that problem with his 96 S-10 but he had a problem where everyonce in a while the brake would become soo stiff it was like the truck wasnt even on in the first place...almost drove into a wall when parking when his brakes did that
but his abs light and park brake light were both on and all he did was took the fuse for the abs out..his abs light is always on but the park brake stopped coming on for no reason and he just drives around with no abs

I would give it a try if I was looking for a work around but I really want everything back to normal. Thanks for you help tho.

Any other suggestions? I am going to disconnect my battery for a bit on my lunch break.

[nhstiger75]

My S-10's park brake light stayed on. I'd have a shop look over it if you can't find pressure problems yourself. With mine it was just a bad wire and we just disconnected the light. I would be careful with taking out ABS though. It's saved my life a few times.

[mAxxx]

my brake light is always on in my car, it kinda froze last winter, nothing wrong with my break, and i unplugged my ABS fuse cuz they are more dangerous than safe IMO. Check in your fuse box if the owner b4 didnt remove it, but i recommend not plugging them

[Ghost-CAVy]

you dont NEED abs cuz im sure you did fine with older vehicles before abs came out...and if you dont know how to use a brake maybe you shouldnt drive dude lol

[fajita23200]

Originally Posted by Ghost-CAVy

you dont NEED abs cuz im sure you did fine with older vehicles before abs came out...and if you dont know how to use a brake maybe you shouldnt drive dude lol

My ABS light has come on for about 3 years. It will slide every now and again. I don't mean you'll slide an inch or two,I mean you'll slide almost 6-7 inches. ABS is not imperitive, but, I've noticed the difference betwen when it worked and when it did not. I've asked if anyboby has had this problem many times. Many people with a 98 cav have had this problem. But, no one can tell me what causes it. I'm pretty much forced to believe it's a recall that G.M. is ignoring. Call me crazy, but no one I've had look at my brakes can tell me jack-$%^&. So, I'll keep on wating for the answer to my brake (ABS) mystery.

[fajita23200]

Originally Posted by veeko

Same thing is happening to me. Any suggestions?

ABS and Parking Brake light stay on. The only way I can get them to turn off is, start driving, while the car is rolling turn off the car for a second or 2 and then fire it back up. The lights then seem to go off. I haven't tried resetting the computer yet. I was put in a situation where I had to pull the parking brake and these lights haven't turned off since.

Any suggestions?

Still looking for an answer, I hope somebody finds out something soon.

[pearlgirl]

Mine has popped on and off for about 6 months (maybe more). When I had my brakes done under warranty - I wanted them to pull the code at Midas but they wanted to charge an extra $70 just to pull the code - what a scam. I didn't notice a big difference in my braking - the light is just annoying. I was told your basically just working off of a standard brake system which won't stop your brakes from locking up in a sticky situation.

With all the responses on this, I almost believe it is a faulty light, especially since the mechanic said he couldn't see anything wrong (which doesn't mean alot) with my ABS when he was replacing my brakes, and it goes on and off.

[fajita23200]

Originally Posted by pearlgirl

Mine has popped on and off for about 6 months (maybe more). When I had my brakes done under warranty - I wanted them to pull the code at Midas but they wanted to charge an extra $70 just to pull the code - what a scam. I didn't notice a big difference in my braking - the light is just annoying. I was told your basically just working off of a standard brake system which won't stop your brakes from locking up in a sticky situation.

With all the responses on this, I almost believe it is a faulty light, especially since the mechanic said he couldn't see anything wrong (which doesn't mean alot) with my ABS when he was replacing my brakes, and it goes on and off.

Yeah, but mine will actually slide like the brakes are not working at all. I've had everything possible checked. I paid the $70 to have the code pulled. They said it was an ABS speed sensor. I had it replaced. It worked for about 3-4 days, then it was the same old situation. It just seems weird all the people I've talked to that have had the same situation, but no one can actually figure it out. Anyways, thanks for the info.