RABS Manual Code Check and Light Reset
My problem... I had my ABS light come on. After research here, i decided I would replace the RABS sensor located on top of the rear differential. I did that but the ABS light continued to burn. I took my truck to a friend who has a scanner that will read ABS codes and it indicated that my trucks ABS codes could only be read manually. It gave some very brief instructions on how to accomplish this, so i took that information along with other information I was able to gather on the internet and successfully diagnosed and reset my ABS system.
If your vehicles ABS light is burning, do not assume that you can automatically follow this how to. I would recommend using a scanner first to make sure that the manual method is necessary. I don't know how each individual system will respond to this method. GET YOUR TRUCK SCANNED BEFORE YOU DO THIS!!
**I was able to do this process after using information gathered from other Ford models and years based on this subject. I cannot verify that anything here will apply to your specific vehicle. I only know that it worked for mine. My truck is a 1996 Ford Ranger 2wd 2.3L 4cyl with REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ONLY.
The only tools you should need are a small flat screwdriver, small socket for the negative battery clamp, and a length of electrical wire that will reach from the battery to underneath the passenger side dash.
Step 1: Attach one end of your long electrical wire to the NEGATIVE battery post. I loosened the clamp and inserted the wire and then retightened the clamp. Take the other end of your wire to the passenger floorboard where you will use it later.
Step 2: Remove the passengers side kick plate. This will expose several wire harnesses shown here:
You will be concentrating on the connection that has a wire that is BLACK with an ORANGE stripe.
Step 3: Remove this set of wires from the panel.
Then remove this connector from the larger cluster.
Step 4: Turn the ignition switch to the run position. The vehicle does not have to be running. Turning the switch to the run position simply gives power to the electrical systems necessary to read the codes.
Step 5: Using the flat screwdriver, disconnect the two halves of this connection as seen below.
NOTICE THAT EACH SIDE OF THE CONNECTION HAS DIFFERENT COLOR WIRES. ONE SIDE HAS A PINKISH COLOR WIRE AND THE OTHER SIDE HAS A BLACK WIRE WITH AN ORANGE STRIPE(IN ONE PHOTO THE FLASH MADE THE ORANGE LOOK A BIT YELLOW BUT IT IS ACTUALLY ORANGE) THE BLACK/ORANGE SIDE OF THE CONNECTION IS THE SIDE YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH. *****DO NOT USE THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS CONNECTION*****
Step 6: With the ignition in the run position, take the connector with the Black/Orange wire in one hand and the wire that is connected to the negative battery cable in the other. Touch the Black/Orange connection with the ground wire for a couple of seconds max. This will start the vehicles ABS light blinking on your instrument cluster.
There is no need to rush because the series of blinks will repeat until the ignition is turned off. What you will see is a series of short blinks followed by 1 long blink. Count the short blinks as well as the long blink to obtain a count.
**Counting the long blink is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY in order to get a correct count.** For example a series of 5 short blinks plus the 1 long blink will equal a total of 6 blinks, thus giving the error code of 6. Not counting the last blink will give an incorrect error code. Since the blinking will continue, take time to get an accurate count by counting the blinks multiple times just to verify that you've counted correctly.
Step 7: I will not post the list of codes that I found because I cannot verify their accuracy. Please research your vehicles codes for the corresponding fix for your error code.
Step 8: This step will address the reset of the ABS light. An ABS system that is free from problems should give the error code of 16 (15 short and 1 long blink). If the problem is not corrected, reseting the light will not work because the module will still see a problem.
To reset the light, simply turn the ignition to the off position while the male and female connections are separated. Once the ignition is off, reconnect the male and female connectors. This will clear the module of all error messages provided that the issue has been resolved.