ABS light on 98 explorer AWD 8cyl.

[jerryls]

The light came on a month ago. I was told by a repair shop offering a free inspection that I needed rear brake pads. I changed the pads and the brakes work fine but the light is still constantly on. My question is : Does it have to be reset or should it clear itself if there are no problems. I have a code reader for the CEL but that doesn't give me any ABS codes.
Thanks

[taillight]

Disconnect the battery for a few minites. That should reset the lite. If the lite comes back on check the trouble code.

[jerryls]

Thanks- I'll try that. I thought they would design it so it would reset itself after a while if the problem went away?

[fraxinusalba]

Check the rear ABS sensor. Its prone to go bad and will turn the ABS light on. Its located on top of the rear differential, just to driver's side of center. Disconnect the wire and remove the retaining bolt. Twist the sensor while pulling up on it and it should come out easily. Use an ohm meter to check the sensor. If it has no or infinite resistance, its bad. Cheap fix, $11 for sensor at NAPA.

I'd check this sensor first before paying to have the codes read.

Be sure to clean around the sensor well before removing it so you don't get grit or rust into the differential.

[shorod]

Needing brake pads will not cause the ABS light to come on. If the pads were very low, and the fluid level dropped to make up the difference in the pad thickness, the red "Brake" light would come on, but not the ABS light.

As Fraxinusalba suggested, the ABS light is likely due to a sensor issue, and the rear sensor is a good place to start.

-Rod

[jerryls]

I read about the rear sensor problem in another thread. Thanks for the detail instructions on testing it. It's also good to know that the warn pads will not cause the light to go on. I needed to change the rear pads anyhow as they were worn and squealing. I thoght for sure that I would have to change the rotors also, but the squeal was from the metal tab that they had on the end of the pad that rubs on the rotor just before the pads ruin the rotor. I see some pads have that and some don't. It's a great idea and I wish all pads had it.
Thanks to both of you!

[shorod]

Somewhere along the way I was informed that that metal pad wear indicator tab was intellectual property of GM and they weren't licensing it for other manufacturers or OEMs, hence the reason that simple device is not found on a wide variety of pads. Maybe only pads that were made by their OEM?

Again, just something I had been told by a pretty reliable source, but not something I've spent any time attempting to confirm.

-Rod

[jerryls]

I finally took off the speed sensor. It was an open circuit. I purchased one from Napa for $11.00. It fixed the problem.. thanks for everyone's help, it saved me lots of time and money.