ABS activates at every stop

[tommygunn]

CV axles changed about 2 years ago (this did not cause or cure the problem--ABS kicked in every stop both before and after replacing these)

Struts changed out in September, along with the sway bar links

The ABS light is not on, and there are no CEL/OBD codes related to transmission or ABS.

Could it be one of the ABS wheel speed sensors? Very occasionally, and even then only when it's cold, the speedometer won't work for about a tenth of a mile and then it comes in at the correct speed. The odometer always works.

Brakes were replaced 2 years ago, rear pads, front pads, and front rotors. Brake fluid was also flushed at that time.

 

[Roadkingnc]

What are we working on?

 

[vssjim]

any chance we could find out if this is a Cadiallac or a Rolls Royce before we try to answer.

 

[yonyon]

I vote for a Lincoln Mark VIII or a Nissan Maxima. Tommygunn, buy one of those and this will be easy.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
I vote for a Lincoln Mark VIII or a Nissan Maxima. Tommygunn, buy one of those and this will be easy.


Another easy one would be GM trucks and SUVs.

 

[yonyon]

Yes, but too common. No fun.

 

[simple_gifts]

I'd say a Renault Fuego, just because I want to say Fuego on BITOG.

 

[redhat]

Any rate this is an F150? My Grandpa had the same issue and it was because the aftermarket NAPA brake rotor did not have an ABS tone ring.

 

[gregk24]

Probably a GM. Something similar happened every now and again in our Uplander, when you press on the break it would vibrate and pulsate like the abs was on. CHECK FOR CODES! ours had an intermittent abs light but the code was stored even with no light on. And apparently its not cheap to fix the issue we have either, so we are just rolling with it.

 

[bdcardinal]

I's gonna assume a Reliant Robin, as such you should find a country cricket match and do donuts and it will fix it. Plus you can count how many times the car falls over.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: gregk24
Probably a GM. Something similar happened every now and again in our Uplander, when you press on the break it would vibrate and pulsate like the abs was on. CHECK FOR CODES! ours had an intermittent abs light but the code was stored even with no light on. And apparently its not cheap to fix the issue we have either, so we are just rolling with it.


I once had a chevy cavalier that would do this and it would literally drag you thru stop signs and such. you would hit the brakes even a little it would pulsate like mad and keep going unplugged abs and no more issues.

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I's gonna assume a Reliant Robin, as such you should find a country cricket match and do donuts and it will fix it. Plus you can count how many times the car falls over.


Were those ever available with 4-wheel ABS?

 

[tommygunn]

whoops sorry about that, 1996 ES300 (Camry)

 

[dishdude]

A speed sensor is on it's way out.

 

[vssjim]

ABS sensor on way but you need to have a scan tool that will talk to that ABS system to watch sensor drop out at low speed. you can also measuse the four sensors and see if the two fronts and two rears are close to each other on ohm's scale. the only other way would be with a four channel scope which most people don't have. Spec's should be on line some where and you will probably find one that is alittle high and don't assume all four are the same spec as on alot of toyotas I see front set different than rear set.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I's gonna assume a Reliant Robin, as such you should find a country cricket match and do donuts and it will fix it. Plus you can count how many times the car falls over.


Were those ever available with 4-wheel ABS?


Only if you count the steering wheel as the 4th wheel.

OP, I would suggest finding out your manufacturers method for testing wheel speed sensors and follow it.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
A speed sensor is on it's way out.



Agree. I have seen this before on an older CTS, a Ford Taurus and a Camry. Fortunately I have the proper scan tools to diagnose this issue - but all three times it was a speed sensor which most of the time means you have to also replace the hub bearing because they are integral parts.

 

[artificialist]

The ABS wiring in a 1990s Lexus ES300 is very fragile. Them seem to break after a car gets a major repair, even if the guy doing the repair is extremely careful. Also, even though there is an OBDII connector, to get an ABS error code from that version of the ES300, the manual states that there is a diagnostic port under the hood of the car, and you have to put a jumper between certain terminals of that underhood diagnostic port. Once you do that, the ABS warning light will blink a certain number of times.

What really sucks is that those ABS sensor and cable assemblies aren't cheap.

A Haynes manual is cheap, and might have what you need.