Low battery led to ABS / Brake light on?

[dubina]

I had a low battery situation on my 2001 Durango today, leading me to recharge the battery. When I started the car, I got the ABS Brakes / Regular Brakes warning lights lit, and they don't go off.

Trouble code = "P done" which I assume means no trouble code.

I topped of the break fluid reservoir and replaced the ABS fuse in the left front doorwell. No improvement. I disconnected the battery cables for ten minutes and then reconnected. No improvement. I drove the car and didn't notice any abnormal braking behaviors.

I've read of similar problems hashed on this forum several years ago, but no mention of what might have caused the brake lights to come on after charging a low battery. Any ideas? I also read that the 1999 Durango had one ABS fuse in the dash and one under the hood. Does anybody know anything about an ABS fuse under the hood of a 2001 Durango?

Any other thoughts and ideas most welcome. Thanks.

Great site, by the way.

[dubina]

This problem was resolved by resolving itself...after a couple of days, the light went out. I still don't exactly what caused the light to come on in the first place except the coming on followed a situation where the car wouldn't start. I suspected a low battery (and the battery was low) or a defective battery cable or terminal (and I still haven't determined if that might be the case since the car runs OK now).

[steelerguy]

When you say low battery, do you mean you checked the cells with a cell-checker & one was marginal, close to dieing?

If you have a bad or nearly bad cell, change the battery before it goes bad & you get stuck. Batteries that are bad don't usually get better. If you had low water & you refilled it (per instructions. don't overfill), ran it & it charged good on every cell than that's a different story.

I have no absolute proof of this, but I noticed a performance drop on my 99 Durango & after changing the battery for a dead cell, it seemed to perk up considerably. I did nothing else.

Possible reason might be heavy integration of electronics that control everything in the engine & a failing battery could be throwing off the signal strength. Even though I am under the impression that the electrical system is running more off the alternator than the battery once started, power drain from any source could create problems.

Would be curious to know if I am off base on this, but I make it a point to keep battery fluid levels correct out here in Phoenix AZ & I still cannot get much over 2 years out of a battery. I buy the Autozone Duralast Gold & always get a free one out of them. Don't need the receipt. They replace it with my phone # purchase info in their computer. Pretty sweet & much better than NAPA that wants the original receipt, a note from your mother & a DNA sample.

[dubina]

What I found subsequent to the light/low battery problem was that my battery had a bad cell. I replaced the battery and the light problem hasn't recurred.

I assume the light problem had to do with the battery problem, but there was no trouble code so at this point, no way for me to know for sure.

[TomThomas]

Theory: This has the same symptom of a bad ABS sensor. Perhaps, with a weak battery and low voltage, a sensor doesn't function correctly. The proximity to the battery would add to the problem (lights and fuel pump are also as far or further away, but are more tolerant to power sags). Then, when given 100% power, the problem disappears.