Can someone PLEASE answer my question about ABS!

Black04Ranger · #1 12-30-2010, 12:31 PM

Hey there guys,

I tried to make a thread a few days ago, but it didn't get any views or responses (edit: just looked again, there was 1 response, but I need more help), and I've gotta go on Tuesday to get my Truck looked at.

Here is the issue:

So like the title states, I was just driving along yesterday on the highway to work, and bling.... on goes the (ABS) warning light to tell me it was malfunctioning.

I didn't hit any bumps really, I was basically just coasting on flat highway. At first I thought maybe there is a sensor in there that got dirty from all the rock salt we've been having due to the weather.... and my truck was filthy anyways, so I just pulled over and got the car washed. To my sadness the light is still on and the (ABS) is not functioning.

This morning I hit some ice on my driveway while going to leave, and the truck just locked up the tires and slid on the black ice, the brake pedal didn't pulsate like it usually does when the ABS kicks in.

Any thoughts on what I could check? Is there a fuse or somehting for the ABS that could have gone bad?

All help is appreciated. Thanks!

As for my truck:
04 XLT 4x4.

Things I've Checked:
I've checked the ABS 10amp fuse in the internal fuse compartment on the passenger's side and it is fine.
I've washed out the wheel well compartments and brake system.

Things I've not Checked Yet:
Another member mentioned there is a 30amp ABS fuse under the hood... anybody know which number it is? the underside of the fuse panel isn't labeled?

WearyTraveler · #2 12-30-2010, 12:51 PM

Could you be low on brake fluid?

Black04Ranger · #3 12-30-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WearyTraveler

Could you be low on brake fluid?

I can check tonight... but I don't think so because I just had the brake fluid flushed back around October and its been fine since then.

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I did think of one other thing.... I know I need new brakes put on the rear sometime in the near future... as when I did the front brakes I was going to do the rears but the drums were fused on from years of rust and I'd have to cut them off with a torch. Do our trucks come with 4 wheel ABS? Could the need for new rear brakes cause this issue? I mean, the rear brakes don't "grind" or anything like that yet... they only squeek sometimes, so probably not all the way down yet.

tmbrockett · #4 12-30-2010, 01:31 PM

check all your fuses in the truck and under the hood and compare it with your owners manual. i found out my abs didnt work a couple of weeks ago when we got ice. well the next week bam! there came the abs light. i took it to the shop to have them diagnose it and they couldnt get there computers to communicate with the truck. so i went home and looked over every fuse on the truck with the owners manual and found a missing fuse. i put a fuse in and the light went off.

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im not quiet sure why the abs light wasnt on already. it only came on because i started bitching that i didnt have abs. you would think that if there was a fuse missing it would have been on sooner....really wierd

01_ranger_4x4 · #5 12-30-2010, 01:41 PM

in the future, instead of posting a new thread asking essentially the exact same question again just bump the first thread if youre not getting any responses. threads get overlooked and its ok to bump them to bring them back to the top of the section. since you are getting responses here i closed your first one.

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are you hearing any grinding or growling or feeling any vibrating from the front of the truck by chance? sometimes an ABS trouble light will indicate a bad wheel bearing assembly because that is where the sensor is for the front wheel ABS. just one more thing to consider.

Black04Ranger · #6 12-30-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

in the future, instead of posting a new thread asking essentially the exact same question again just bump the first thread if youre not getting any responses. threads get overlooked and its ok to bump them to bring them back to the top of the section. since you are getting responses here i closed your first one.

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are you hearing any grinding or growling or feeling any vibrating from the front of the truck by chance? sometimes an ABS trouble light will indicate a bad wheel bearing assembly because that is where the sensor is for the front wheel ABS. just one more thing to consider.

Thanks for closing the old one, I figured since it was mis-titled nobody was looking at it.

And as for the grinding, no there is no issue there... I had brand new Wheel bearings put on both fronts back in October or so and all is good there.

And I know the ABS was working 2 weeks ago when we had a big snow storm and I had to stop quickly. I could feel it pulsating under my foot and making its ABS noise (hard to explain, but if you've had it go off you know the noise.)

01_ranger_4x4 · #7 12-30-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black04Ranger

Thanks for closing the old one, I figured since it was mis-titled nobody was looking at it.

And as for the grinding, no there is no issue there... I had brand new Wheel bearings put on both fronts back in October or so and all is good there.

And I know the ABS was working 2 weeks ago when we had a big snow storm and I had to stop quickly. I could feel it pulsating under my foot and making its ABS noise (hard to explain, but if you've had it go off you know the noise.)

one thing you could check really quick is follow the wire from the hub where is goes up into the wheel well up to just behind the front bumper and be sure its plugged in to the connector. theres one on each side of the truck, ive had mine come loose before. if that all checks out i would have to the ABS code pulled to find out exactly what the code is.

Fordzilla80 · #8 12-30-2010, 02:02 PM

My buddy had a problem with this. Turns out he had somehow ripped the abs sensor wire. If your truck is 4x4, you should have sealed hubs, and the wire is connected to these. If whoever replaced your hub didn't correctly put the wire back up into the holders on the inner fender, then a wire could have drooped and rubbed against something, slowly wearing it down until it finally tore completely. As Pat said, follow the wire and look for any breaks, or loose connectors.

Jp7 · #9 12-30-2010, 02:08 PM

There is a diagnostic tool for the ABS, I don't have it - but a friend of mine does. This should point you in the right direction.

tmbrockett · #10 12-30-2010, 02:22 PM

autozone will do a scan for free. the one i went to had a handheld scanner and they scanned it for free

Black04Ranger · #11 12-30-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

one thing you could check really quick is follow the wire from the hub where is goes up into the wheel well up to just behind the front bumper and be sure its plugged in to the connector. theres one on each side of the truck, ive had mine come loose before. if that all checks out i would have to the ABS code pulled to find out exactly what the code is.

I'll have to look under the truck when I get home to see if the ABS wire is OK.... not sure what it looks like exactly though.... anybody got a picture of what I'm looking for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordzilla80

My buddy had a problem with this. Turns out he had somehow ripped the abs sensor wire. If your truck is 4x4, you should have sealed hubs, and the wire is connected to these. If whoever replaced your hub didn't correctly put the wire back up into the holders on the inner fender, then a wire could have drooped and rubbed against something, slowly wearing it down until it finally tore completely. As Pat said, follow the wire and look for any breaks, or loose connectors.

Is that ABS sensor wire expensive to replace if it is ripped? how do you correctly put the wire back up into the holders?

Black04Ranger · #12 12-30-2010, 02:53 PM

PS... thanks all for your suggestions.... I'll check all the following things when I get home:
1. ABS 30amp fuse in engine bay
2. ABS sensor wire being plugged in still
3. ABS sensor wire, checked for rips or tears
4. Level of brake fluid

Fordzilla80 · #13 12-30-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black04Ranger

I'll have to look under the truck when I get home to see if the ABS wire is OK.... not sure what it looks like exactly though.... anybody got a picture of what I'm looking for?

Is that ABS sensor wire expensive to replace if it is ripped? how do you correctly put the wire back up into the holders?

Pull off your wheel, and look for the wire that comes out from behind your rotor. Follow this wire up towards the upper control arm, into the engine compartment and up the inner fender. The wire is just held in push clips attached to the wire, but they can be a pain to put in, which is why I suspect it may be the wire. If the wire is physically broken, you'll know, because it will be dangling somewhere, and not on the inner fender. If the wire is all the way up the inner fender, then check the connector on the inner fender. You'll have to find it from on top of the engine bay, because I don't think you can see it from the bottom. Check this connector for any looseness. If you find none, follow the wire and look for an abrasions or cuts.

As far as replacement goes, I really don't know if you can just buy the wire. You may have to buy the entire hub.

If you have trouble finding the connector on the inner fender, look at the inner fender from under the truck. You should be able to see the push pin stems protruding through.

Black04Ranger · #14 12-30-2010, 05:22 PM

So I just checked the following:
1. ABS 30amp fuse in engine bay - Fuse is good, not broken.

2. ABS sensor wire being plugged in still - ABS wires are still hooked into the clips located just behind the headlight area. so I dont think that is the case.

3. ABS sensor wire, checked for rips or tears. The wire still looks to be intact, no tears or rips that I could see, I followed it with my fingers and checked it that way too.

4. Level of brake fluid - Brake fluid is where it needs to be.

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS GUYS?

01_ranger_4x4 · #15 12-30-2010, 05:24 PM

well it sounds like its time to get the trouble code(s) pulled to find out what they are.