2003 Explorer ABS light on/off/on/off..etc.

[lee308]

This is most frustrating, the light will come on one day, go off the next. No rhyme or reason, dry pavement, city, highway.

The brake fluid is near full, also, the cruise quits working when the light is on.

Any thoughts?

[sreve]

find some one w/an abs capable scanner it's trying to tell you something.

[lee308]

Originally Posted by sreve

find some one w/an abs capable scanner it's trying to tell you something.

Yes, its telling me I glad I don't drive new vehicles!

This is the very reason I refuse to buy new vehicles. I drive a 12yr old ford F150, no power anything, no ABS, old design rear end, standard transmission, plain jane. Guess what, I've had NO PROBLEMS in 12 years! This Explorer belongs to a neighbor.

The only fender bender I was ever in was while I was driving a company vehicle with, take a guess, ABS BRAKES!!!!!!, ON DRY PAVEMENT, the damn things kicked in during a hard stop and I bumped the vehicle that pulled in front of me and stopped. GGrrrrrrrr......tight jaw!

"Rant off"

[XLT03]

The codes that you'll come up with are C1235 and C1236. The fix is to replace the rear ABS sensor. PN should be 5L2Z-9E731-A ABS Sensor Assembly. How do I know? I had same problem. My 03 was 250 miles beyond 36mo/36K warranty but fortunately I had extended warranty with $50.00 deductible. Let us know if this fixes your problem.

[lee308]

deleted cynical post.

[lee308]

Dear XLT03,

Looks like you were right. The light stayed on one day, but now, three days later has not returned!

If seems fixed! My neighbor says thankyou.

The part cost less that 20 bucks at the Ford dealer. It was a pain to change being on the top of the rear end, but I managed.

Regards....

[XLT03]

lee308

Cynical remarks deleted noted. No problem.

Unless you had the OBD2 code scanner with the ability to read chassis codes there is no real way for the home tech to diagnois and to clear the code after the repair. The reason why the light went away was because the fault condition no longer existed after your replacement and the computer needed multiple readings of no faults to finally to clear the light. Same goes for the Check Engine Light.

Onward and forward.

Regards.

[lee308]

I give up,, neighbor says the ABS light is back. Just not as often. Gotta love electronics.

Oh, did I mention MY truck has no ABS brakes and I' ve NEVER been in an accident with it. But I was in an accident with a vehicle that had and CAUSED the accident. Gotta love progress.