ABS light on sometimes

[mrstg65]

Hello,

My 98 Windstar 3.8 litre ABS light comes on sometimes when driving. The red brake light does not come on and there are no fault codes registered. My wife drives and it has not happened to me so I don't know if the ABS is actually disabled. Fuses are all good. Front sensors are connected and are tight. Any thoughts on what would cause this problem? Thanks!

[busboy4]

Hi
On my '96 in recent times, the ABS on light has always cleared after I cleaned the rear sensors of brake dust and corrosion.

Best Regards

[mrstg65]

thank you I will try doing that. I failed to mention that the light resets when the van is shut off. Was your light always on until you cleaned the rear sensors or did it sometimes clear on it own?

[tripletdaddy]

I have similarly experienced the same exact situation and tried everything you have and what busboy4 suggested to no avail. I even checked the brake fluid even though the brake light didn't come on, which I assume you believed like me should have come on if the fluid was low. Well, I can't remember if the owner's manual said it or not, but even with the fluid level appearing to be within the markings, I went ahead and really topped it off and that solved the problem. I too questioned the validity of this issue when my wife drove it and it didn't happen to me, but I was sold when it did finally happen to me and was suspicious of the source of the problem when the light came on consistently when hard cornering. I also was suspicious if cold temperatures seemed to cause it to happen more frequently as well. Hope this helps.

[busboy4]

Originally Posted by mrstg65

thank you I will try doing that. I failed to mention that the light resets when the van is shut off. Was your light always on until you cleaned the rear sensors or did it sometimes clear on it own?

Hi

I have had both the constant and on-again-off-again situation. When I last visited the problem the light had been on steady and cleaning the rears did the trick. I have had recently some sporadic light on so I may move towards replacing the rear sensors as they seem to be my larger issue.

[garync1]

ABS light will come on and reset after you fully shut down your van. If it resets most of the time it a sensor. If its does not its usually electronic as far as wires or contact points to the module or sensors or module it self. Also hydraulic unit can come into play as well for constant ABS light on, but usually have signs similar to a bad master cylinder. My situation I have ABS light on and brake warning light. My sensors are clean and the hydro unit is fine not sure yet on the control module. My light will reset after complete shut down and for the last 2 days I have had no light..If you take it to Ford they can pull your ABS codes. Make sure the ABS light is on. Other code scanners wont work unless you pay big bucks for it, and it says it will pull Ford ABS codes. If I decide to spend the money for a ABS code scanner I could fix my problem.. So clean all 4 wheel sensors and see what happens..

[huskerdooo]

If all the above fails, check the fluid level and keep the thing topped off.

The level sensitivity of the fluid sensor on the windstar is notorious culprit in intermittent ABS light illumination.