Majority modern cars are equipped with an anti-lock braking system at the factory, and drivers are already quite accustomed to the constant assistance of the ABS during braking. Despite minor shortcomings, the ABS turned out to be one of the most effective systems that made it possible not only to shorten the braking distance, but also to maneuver during emergency braking.
Any car without ABS, when trying to brake on slippery road and at the same time make a turn / lane change, it is guaranteed to go into a skid, which can end very badly. Therefore, it is enough to drive a car with ABS quite a bit to get used to this level of comfort, and if it breaks down, most car owners are completely unprepared for this. It often happens that the ABS light is on on the panel, but no action is taken from the driver's side to correct this situation.
Why does the ABS light come on
ABS lamp located on dashboard, serves to timely inform the driver about the malfunction of this system. So, every time the engine is started, the ABS system undergoes a self-test, during which the indicator is always on. For determining possible malfunctions it takes no more than three seconds, after which the indicator goes out. If this does not happen, you can be sure that with careless braking on any surface you can forget.
Since the ABS is a rather complex system, then in order to understand what the problem is when it caught fire bulb ABS, you need to imagine what it consists of. There are three main elements of the system.
- Electronic unit - it is he who makes decisions and manages the entire system.
- The hydraulic unit is responsible for the pressure in the braking system, and at the moment of blocking the wheels caused by pressing the brake pedal, it reduces the pressure in the brake system, allowing the wheel to rotate.
- Sensors that read the number of revolutions of the wheel. They are located on each hub and constantly transmit information to the central unit.
If the ABS is lit on the instrument panel, the error code, the alphanumeric designation of which is displayed on the display, will help you to figure out what the reason is. on-board computer... You can decipher it by reading the operating instructions for the car or looking for information on the Internet.
Advice! If at the moment of starting the engine the ABS icon lights up, it is not recommended to start driving. Despite the fact that there will be no car without brakes, it will be difficult for the driver to quickly get used to the need to brake in a new way. In addition, the performance of some other driving assistance systems also depends on the ABS.
The ABS icon is on - possible causes of the malfunction
Despite the sufficient complexity of the system, when the ABS and an exclamation mark are on after starting the engine, there may be relatively few reasons for this:
In the event that the ABS ESP bulbs come on, it is still not recommended to continue or start driving. It should be understood that if the malfunction is related to sensors, wiring or a battery, it is quite possible to eliminate them with your own hands, but malfunctions of the central or hydraulic unit will require the intervention of professionals with the appropriate equipment. It is possible to independently try to climb into these complex nodes only if you have the necessary knowledge and experience.
What you can do yourself if the ABS light is on
The very first thing to pay attention to when the ABS lights up code is the error code that appears on the on-board computer display. Having deciphered it, it will become clear what exactly caused the malfunction and whether it is possible to try to fix it on the spot. If the problem is in the sensors, then before looking for a faulty sensor or damaged wiring, you can try to turn off the engine for a couple of minutes and start it again - in some cases, the ABS lamp goes out.
If this does not help, you will have to lift the car on a lift or check each sensor, consistently jacking up all the wheels. The work is not clean, but it must be done. You should first arm yourself with a multimeter that can work in ohmmeter mode, since the main method for diagnosing sensors is to measure the resistance of each of them. If testing the sensors did not reveal a malfunction, you should carefully inspect all the wires that connect them to the central unit. The insulation must be intact, and all connecting terminals must be free from signs of oxidation and dirt.
The consequences of a faulty ABS
In the event that the ABS indicator comes on for an inexperienced driver who has never driven a car without anti-lock braking system, the consequences may not be pleasant, especially in winter. It will not be easy for the driver to remain without the support of this system, and if he habitually tries to fully depress the brake pedal on a slippery road, and besides, making even a small maneuver, he will easily fly off the road on locked wheels.
If the ABS lamp does not burn constantly, but only periodically flashes for a certain time during the movement, this will also negatively affect safety. The fact is that if during the movement the ABS is periodically deactivated, then at the moment the system starts operating, the electric pump begins to take away part of the brake fluid... If you press the brake pedal at this moment, it will simply fall into the floor - it is very easy for an inexperienced driver to get confused in such a situation, especially at high speed. Of course, after a moment, the performance of the brake system is restored, but sometimes these seconds may not be enough for a timely stop. vehicle... If possible, it is still better to contact a professional to diagnose the entire system - how this is done can be seen in the video:
- the first and widespread system active safety car. In Europe, compulsory ABS equipment for manufactured models is completely legally established, so it is not surprising that even cars belonging to the budget category are equipped with it. But in such cars it is almost the only one, in the versions of the middle and premium categories, the number of such systems is voluminous, and many of the additional systems are built on ABC.
The anti-lock braking system eliminates complete blocking of the wheels during braking, which increases the effectiveness of the brakes and maintains controllability of the car by preventing skidding. ABS is useful, but at the same time it is another component of the car, which includes a number of structural elements and assemblies. And the more complex the machine and the more additional parts it contains, the less reliable it is.
System features
ABS consists of two parts - electronic and mechanical. The "weak" link in it is electronics. It is sensitive, so even the slightest negative impacts lead to interruptions in work.
The car, which is equipped with ABS, has a warning mechanism that signals the termination of work. And he does this by means of a warning light on the dashboard.
When the ignition is switched on, this lamp comes on as a self-diagnosis is taking place. The system checks its performance, and if no violations are noticed, the lamp goes out, indicating that the ABS is in working order.
But drivers are faced with the fact that the ABS warning lamp lights up while driving, and this can only happen under certain conditions. For some, the signal may not go out at all, for others, the lamp lights up only when a certain speed is reached. The flashing warning light confuses the owners, and the reason for this is simple - ABS works with the brakes and they perceive a system malfunction as the appearance of problems with the brake system, which is wrong.
ABS is an addition to the braking system of a car, which increases its efficiency. Therefore, even in the event of a malfunction ABS car retains the ability to brake, but you need to get used to the work of the brakes.
The anti-lock braking system is designed in such a way that when a malfunction is detected, it is immediately completely disabled so as not to have any effect on the operation of the brakes.
Car enthusiasts solve the problem of the ABS: they remove the fuse responsible for the operation of the system and postpone the elimination of the malfunction until a suitable occasion. But this will not work if a number of security systems are installed on the machine and some of them are built on ABS. In this case, it will not be possible to continue driving, since the electronics, due to a malfunction, will block the operation of a number of components and systems. It is better not to postpone the elimination of the cause of the malfunction of the anti-lock braking system.
Why did the ABC lamp light up?
Video: The ABS light is on on the dashboard Braking signals do not go out
As already noted, breakdowns occur in the electronic component, which includes sensors mounted on the wheel hubs and a control unit. The mechanical component does not cause problems.
The "culprits" of the ABS warning light coming on:
- fuse;
- sensors for determining the speed of rotation of the wheels;
- setting elements of sensors;
- wiring;
- Control block.
Because of what, the ABS failure can be detected by checking the listed components is not difficult if the car is equipped with an on-board computer with a display on which error codes are displayed. This will significantly narrow the range of searches, since by the code you can find out which sensor is junk.
In a car without an on-board computer display to determine the malfunction and connect it to the diagnostic connector to determine what caused the failure.
Note that the definition of the error code will facilitate the search, since the diagnostics will not give accurate information, it will indicate where to look for the malfunction. Therefore, you can even do without scanning.
Looking for a reason
Troubleshooting should start with the fuse. If this element burns out, the ABS will not work. Note that it is not always necessary to climb into the fuse box, since the behavior of the system itself can give a "hint" regarding the health of the fuse. For example, if the ABS lamp on the instrument panel lights up only under certain conditions, but after turning off the power to the ignition switch and restarting the engine, the problem disappears, then the fault is clearly not in the fuse. It should only be checked if the warning light is on continuously.
The sensors are located in a place that cannot be called well protected. Therefore, dirt adhering to it will easily cause a malfunction, due to which the system will shut down.
Sensors can simply break down during the repair and maintenance of the chassis. Careless work, the use of percussion tools during disassembly often cause internal damage to the sensors. Since they are not repairable, the damaged element will have to be replaced to restore the ABS functionality.
The system can also be shut down due to the driving elements of the sensors. They are installed on the hub, and during operation they can also get covered with dirt, which will disrupt the functioning of the sensors. Inaccurate maintenance of the undercarriage can also lead to damage and destruction of the control elements, which will affect the performance of the ABS.
More often the problem occurs due to the wiring. Oxidation of the contacts, chafing or interruption of the wires coming from the sensors - this leads to a malfunction of the system and the operation of the warning lamp. Sometimes in the process of servicing the chassis, the wiring is disconnected from the sensors, and then they forget to connect it back. Therefore, when looking for the cause, inspect the wires for damage, their terminals, and only then pay attention to the sensors.
Malfunctions due to all of the above system elements are considered mild, since they are easy to fix and inexpensive. Worse if the problem is due to the control unit. In this case, either a flashing of this element or a replacement is needed.
Anti-lock braking system malfunctioning due to damage constituent elements and nodes near which the sensors are located. The ABS is disabled if the wheel bearing is badly worn out. Because of this, the hub is very loose, which leads to a malfunction of the ABS sensors, and this is the reason for the emergency shutdown.
Video: ABS lamp is on! How to read the error? Mitsubishi self-diagnosis
Before the introduction of "ABS" systems in cars in the 70s of the 20th century, they were less safe when compared to today's modern cars. This was especially true of the moment when the driver had to move either on a wet or on a snowy, icy road. In those years, old cars, as a rule, were equipped with not very high-quality wheels (tires), not entirely reliable rear wheel drive as well as a conventional and simple braking system without any electronics. But today, as you know friends, everything has changed in better side... These days, most of the drivers do not even think about the modern braking systems on their cars. Today, each of us (drivers) feels confident and reliable while driving a car, even when driving or in particular when it is icy. The point is as follows. Majority modern machines nowadays they are equipped (equipped) with front-wheel drive, which gives the drivers confidence when driving a car. Moreover, these cars are also equipped with the latest modern electronic safety systems that control the grip of the car with the road surface, and excellent modern rubber, which demonstrates just some miracles of adhesion on a slippery road. One of the most important systems in any modern car today is anti-lock braking brake system(ABS), which significantly reduces the braking distance of the car and prevents the wheels from locking, which can lead to a loss of traction and, accordingly, further to a skid.
The "ABS" system has already become a standard equipment in the automotive industry, it is nowadays installed on virtually every modern car produced by automotive companies. As we have already written more than once, this system"ABS" consists of several parts, namely, speed sensors that are installed specifically on the wheels of the car, from the electronic control unit for the anti-lock braking system and also hydraulic valves, which, according to a certain signal from the electronic unit, immediately regulate a certain braking force without resorting to the driver's assistance (without his participation).
Wheel sensors "ABS" monitor the speed of rotation of each wheel of the car and constantly transmit data to the auto-computer. As soon as the "ABS" system unit begins to notice (see) that the wheel stops rotating, then it immediately activates the valves of the hydraulic brake system and it, in turn, immediately begins to reduce brake pressure in this very wheel. As a result, the pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel immediately drops and the braking force decreases, which further contributes to the unlocking of the wheel and the return of traction. This process is repeated through the car's computer several times per second and until the car comes to a complete stop or the driver releases the brake pedal himself.
The "ABS" control unit and the vehicle computer automatically carry out a self-test of the anti-lock braking system each time the ignition is switched on. That is, every time you start the car, an automatic test of the "ABS" system occurs immediately. In the event that during the self-test the auto-computer receives insufficient data from the sensors, from the ABS control unit and from the hydraulic valves of the brake system, the warning lamp with the "ABS" icon comes on. For example, if the car computer or the same "ABS" control unit did not receive a feedback signal from the hydraulic pump of the brake system or from the same valve installed on each wheel, then the "ABS error" signal will immediately light up on the dashboard (on the panel), - in the form of an icon (indicator).
Pay your friends your attention specifically to that, namely, despite the malfunction of the "ABS" system and the appearance on the dashboard of its burning "ABS signal-icon" in the car itself, as a rule, the mechanical brake system still continues to work and you can safely without fear of continuing to drive the car, but without this electronic system by blocking the wheels during braking. That is, in other words, we can say that if the ABS system breaks down, you can safely use your car. However, in this case, you must be extremely careful when braking on a wet, snowy or slippery road, as without this "ABS" system, the wheels of your car can periodically block. Therefore, friends, we do not recommend that you, in the event of a malfunction of the "ABS" system, operate your car without proper repair for a long time. Thus, all drivers should understand that if the auto-computer issues an "ABS error", it is necessary to establish the cause of this malfunction as soon as possible and eliminate it as soon as possible.
Malfunction of the "ABS" system.
And so let's say. In your car, a warning light or icon on the dashboard lights up to warn you of problems with the anti-lock braking system. What should be done in this case?
Firstly, first you need to make sure that the illuminated indicator of the icon indicates a problem with the "ABS system", and not a malfunction of the entire brake system of the car.
To do this, you need to listen carefully to your car when braking and turn your attention to the brake pedal. If, when braking, you start to hear extraneous noises (whistling, knocking, squeaks, etc. sounds) or the brake pedal in the car has become too soft (softer than usual), then your task is a direct road to a technical auto center, where specialists must conduct a thorough diagnosis of the entire braking system of the machine. Please remember that all these signs indicate a serious malfunction of the entire braking system of the car, which can lead you to an accident while driving. Therefore, friends, remember that if the brakes of your car become very bad, soft and not quite normal, we do not recommend that you go on a public road with such brakes, as it can be very dangerous. In this case, you need to call a tow truck.
Also, in order to specifically find out that the illuminated icon-symbol "ABS" of the malfunction was the cause of the car's anti-lock braking system, you also need to make sure that no air has entered the car's brake system, that the brake pedal on the car is still stiff and has not become too soft, and also make sure that the brake system is not. To do this, you must first check the brake fluid level in the reservoir, and then only all brake pipes and hoses for leaks or breaks.
Among other things, you must remember that when the ignition is on, you should never panic when you see such an illuminated "ABS icon-symbol" on the dashboard. Maybe this is just a common mistake of the car electronics itself. Therefore, in such a situation, it is necessary to turn off the ignition and remove the key from the lock, and then turn on the ignition again and check again whether the "ABS symbol" icon appears on the dashboard (on the panel). You need to repeat this process several times. It is quite possible that this is really a mistake of the car's computer and after several such switching on and off the ignition, this error of the "ABS" system will simply disappear.
If, nevertheless, after several attempts to turn the ignition on and off, this error of the "ABS" system on the dashboard does not disappear, that is, does not disappear, then you have two options:
First; - go to a car service and conduct a thorough computer diagnostics the whole car. The main feature of the "ABS" system diagnostics is as follows, that is, in the electronic interrogation of the "ABS" unit with the help of special equipment for all kinds of errors in its system.
With the help of such a diagnosis, a specialist will be able to quickly determine the "code" of an error in the "ABS" system, which specifically led to the appearance on the dashboard of the signal "ABS symbol symbol".
Also, this very "error code" will give a specific hint where exactly to look for the cause of the malfunction of the entire "ABS" system.
The second option is needed only for those drivers who want to get to the bottom of this very truth on their own and on their own. In order not to use (not use) expensive diagnostic equipment for testing the "ABS" system, you need a service manual for your car (a book on the repair and operation of your car model), also a simple car tool that is sold in any auto shop and of course a multimeter high impedance (high impedance). If you cannot find on sale the necessary book on repairing your car model, then please look for it on the Internet or download it to your computer or to your smartphone.
We draw your attention to the following, friends, that in some cars you can get direct access to the diagnostics of the same "fault codes" that are stored in the car's computer, and all this without using a special diagnostic scanner. To do this, you need to check each electronic unit of your car (including the "ABS" control unit) using the old proven method, namely, using two simple wires that you must connect to the corresponding connectors of the electronic systems of the car. For example, you can connect these two wires to check the circuit closure in the same "ABS" control unit, for which you need to connect these two wires directly to the connector of the "ABS" control unit and close the wires with a pin or a paper clip. If after this procedure carried out, the error of the "ABS symbol-symbol" from the dashboard disappears, then the cause of such an error is located in the control unit of the anti-lock braking system itself. In the same way and in the same way, you can connect with a paper clip or a pin and without using wires, other specific and necessary contacts.
If dear motorists, your car is equipped with a more modern computer, where diagnostics of error detection is carried out only by connecting the scanner to the "OBD II" (On-Board Diagnostic) diagnostic port, then in order to establish the reason for the "appearance of the ABS symbol" on the dashboard, you you only need electronic diagnostics, which you can do either in the technical center or yourself, but with the help of an inexpensive error scanner you bought to the "OBD II" port.
Suppose the following, that you do not yet have any information about the errors in the car computer, which led to the appearance on the dashboard of the "ABS symbol". Do not rush to carry out computer diagnostics. First, check the fuse for the "ABS" control unit yourself. After all, a common cause of malfunctioning of the "ABS" system is the usual fuse of the anti-lock brake system control unit.
And so we follow, you checked the fuse of the "ABS" control unit, which turned out to be in working order. What to do now? Now you have to use a multimeter to check the voltage and resistance in all electronic parts of the "ABS" system. To do this, familiarize yourself with the operation and repair manual of your car, namely, with all the corresponding reference values of voltage and corresponding resistance in the sensors "ABS" and in the electronic unit "ABS".
True, we must not forget to check the main wiring harness that is connected to the "ABS" control unit before doing this. Carefully inspect the entire wiring harness responsible for the performance of the entire "ABS" system for damage. Also, remove this harness connector from the ABS control unit and carefully inspect all pins in the connector for contamination or oxidation. All contacts on the wires in the bundle must be clean. If the contacts need cleaning, use a special aerosol spray to clean electrical contacts and connectors to take and clean the connector of this contamination.
Also, when inspecting the ABS wiring harness connector pins, note the pins are corroded. Please remember that even microscopic chemicals of oxidation and corrosion can seriously affect the resistance in the electrical circuit of the "ABS" system. As many know, a small voltage of electricity (millivolts) is transmitted along the wires and even the slightest increase in resistance due to contamination of the connector contacts can lead to malfunction of the entire electronic part of the "ABS" system, as well as cause an error in this system, which leads to light up on the dashboard display "ABS".
If the ABS controller looks intact and operational, and disconnecting the ABS wiring harness connector from the anti-lock braking system did not solve the problem of the burning ABS symbol on the dashboard, then it is time to check the health of the speed sensors wheels that transmit information to the "ABS" control unit. To do this, you must initially measure the resistance of these sensors by comparing them with the reference values specified in the repair manual for your car.
If this resistance is within acceptable limits, then proceed to visual inspection the wheel speed sensors themselves, the wires themselves suitable for them and for the inspection (inspection) of the state of each gear axle (or on each wheel hub), which are installed in the machine on each wheel. As a rule, such sensors related to mechanical sensors were installed on old cars.
Also, today many modern cars currently use sensors that need to be powered by electricity. As a rule, "ABS sensors" based on the "Hall effect" (a semiconductor plate is installed inside the sensor) are used, which, when interacting with a magnetic ring on the wheel hub, record the change in the magnetic field itself and the rate of formation of electrons on the plate inside the "ABS sensors".
Unfortunately, not all cars have these "ABS sensors" and the wires through which the signal from the sensors is sent to the control unit for the "ABS" system are reliably protected from the aggressive environment. Ultimately, they can fail due to damage and dirt.
In order to check the condition of the wheel speed sensors and the "ABS" system wires, you must first remove the wheels from the car, namely, alternately raise the car with a jack from the right side and remove each wheel.
This gives you free access to the sensors and wires.
If, when inspecting the ABS wiring harness and wheel speed sensors, you find any damage (or the wheel speed sensor is not securely attached or is loose), then you can assume that you have found the cause of the error on the dashboard, which informed you about a malfunction of the "ABS" system.
But if, when inspecting these wires and "ABS sensors" you did not find any external damage on them, then remove all the speed sensors of the "ABS" system from the hub (or from the axle) and check their resistance, as we said, using a multimeter ( if you haven't done so before). Control values of resistance in wheel speed sensors can be found in special books on the repair and operation of your car model.
We also advise all car owners from time to time to inspect the wires of the wheel rotation sensors of the "ABS" system, do this even if the car's anti-lock braking system is working properly and the "ABS symbol" icon does not light up on the dashboard. The point here is this, all the wires and wheel rotation sensors are located at the bottom of the car and they are constantly exposed to aggressive environmental influences. Remember friends that the main enemy for wires and sensors is salt, which is contained in road reagent, in water and in snow.
For what reasons is the "ABS" indicator on the dashboard lit, if the sensors and the control unit with the "ABS" wires are in good working order?
If, after testing, you find that all the electronic parts of the "ABS system" are in good working order, and the "ABS symbol" on the dashboard is still on, then most likely the problem itself is related to hydraulic system valves of the "ABS system", which unfortunately cannot be partially repaired.
Novice drivers are often frightened by various lamps that suddenly light up on the dashboard of modern cars. If ABS, then you should not panic. The problem is not the most serious, and large financial investments are not required to eliminate it.
How should an ABS lamp work?
Consists of several functional blocks. This will help you more easily and quickly understand the problem due to which the indicator lights up.
The system consists of rotation sensors - there can be two, three or four of them. The system also includes an electronic module or control unit. In addition, the device has a self-diagnosis module and an indicator light on the dashboard.
If immediately after the start or during the movement, then this indicates that the anti-lock braking system is disabled. Many drivers mistakenly think that when the light is on, there is any problem with the brake system. This is not true. The brake system has a separate diagnostic module and indicator. But this only applies to modern cars with good equipment.
In the first few seconds after starting the engine, all the lamps and indicators that are on the instrument panel are on. If the ABS indicator does not light up at startup, then there is some kind of malfunction in the system.
ABS?
Based on how the anti-lock braking system works, it can easily be concluded that the lamp can burn for the following reasons:
- These may be malfunctions of the ABS sensors installed near the wheels, damage to the electronic unit, wiring. Problems with rims on the wheel hubs are not excluded. Often, parts of the undercarriage can move or change their position, as a result of which the position of the sensors is disturbed. Also, the malfunction can be caused by a blown fuse.
- On some models from VAG, which were produced in the late nineties, there is one feature that is associated with the activation of the ABS error signal, and the fault itself is located in another node.
All of the above can lead to the fact that the ABS light comes on when the car is moving. For example, vibrations caused by an uneven road very often lead to breakage in the wiring. In the process of driving on bad roads or where they are absent altogether, the sensors can become covered with mud and sand.
This will prevent them from transmitting correct information to the electronic unit and will cause the light to burn.
Self-diagnosis
Car diagnostics experts recommend that you initially search for the malfunction yourself. The first step is to visit a car wash and clean it properly wheel disks and hubs, as well as the places where the ABS sensors are installed. Quite often, after washing, the system starts working properly. If after that nothing happened, then you should proceed to detailed diagnostics.
In order to find out why the anti-lock braking system malfunction signal occurs, you can use a very simple test. The vehicle is accelerated to a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour, then the radio is turned off and the windows are closed. If you hear a characteristic noise coming from the area of the front or rear wheels, then the hubs or bearings need to be replaced.
Additionally, you can check other nodes. The fuse box is checked and, if it has defective fuses associated with the anti-lock braking system, they are replaced. If possible, if the ABS light is on, they try to determine the error code - by it you can quickly identify the element that is causing the problem.
It is also worth consulting with an experienced mechanic, describing the situation and the nature of the problem to him. Then you can try with your own hands to restore the correct operation of the anti-lock braking system.
Next, the sensors are checked. You may need to jack up the machine and remove the wheels to access them. It will not be superfluous to conduct a full inspection and tests of the electronic control system of the nodes in the car.
Service station services
If all else fails and the ABS light is still on on the panel, you need to use the services of masters from specialized service centers.
This will cost you a lot more than self-diagnostics and repairs. However, sometimes this is the only true path. Experienced craftsmen will help you find the source of problems, determine further tactics and budget for future repairs. Competent diagnosticians will perform tests and detect errors in the operation of the anti-lock braking system, if any.
So, in a short time period, using scanners and specialized devices, you can collect all important information about the condition in which the main components of the vehicle are, find errors that will help determine the breakdown as accurately as possible.
ABS indicator blinks
When the ABS light comes on, this may indicate a malfunction, and this is understandable, but if the indicator blinks, then the situation is much more complicated. The whole problem is that the sensors react incorrectly to the situation - they incorrectly read and transmit incorrect information to the main unit. After this malfunction, most motorists decide to completely turn off the ABS, since this is an effective measure to prevent serious consequences when driving. So, if the ABS light comes on after accelerating and the system is activated while driving, then this can lead to a very serious damage.
What if the indicator is blinking?
In this case, we can only recommend diagnostics in a car service. If the anti-lock braking system is on a domestic car, then it is much easier and cheaper to turn it off, and not to engage in expensive ABS repairs. It is possible that after it you will need to flash the ECU, but this is only relevant for foreign cars.
Conclusion
So, we examined why the anti-lock braking system lamp on the car is on. It must be remembered that disabling the system is not the best solution to the problem, since on most car models the ABS is simply necessary, its presence is due to design features body and chassis.
A modern car is equipped with various vehicle status indicators. Most of the systems are electronically controlled, but the reverse reaction by which the computer communicates with the driver is the blinking of light bulbs or some kind of light elements.
Young drivers may be alerted to a situation in which the ABS light is on. In this case, there is no reason for critical panic, because the main braking system must remain normal.
The anti-lock braking system assists in minimizing driving and driving impairments when the brake pedal is depressed. There is no wheel blocking, causing the car to turn or loss of control. The car brakes and continues to move in a straight line.
The ABS assists with impulse braking by rotating / locking the wheels in sequence. Skidding during the operation of the system is practically excluded, and there is a smooth decrease in the speed of the vehicle.
V ABS system includes the following elements:
- hydraulic block;
- electronic sensors located on each wheel;
- an element that monitors the implementation of the correct operation of the hydraulic unit;
- indicator light on the dashboard.
Identifying problems
If the ABS light comes on while driving, this is a signal that the entire system or its individual elements are not working properly. A normal sign of operability is when it lights up at the start of the car, and after a few seconds it should go out.
At this time, the ABS is being tested. Signals are sent to all sensors, and response pulses are received from them.
When the ABS icon lights up and does not go out even while driving, this may be the result of such problems:
- communication problem with any sensor on one of the wheels;
- breaking in the control unit;
- poor quality contact in connecting cables;
- glitch in all sensors.
Broken wires occur while driving, as well as with intense vibrations on bad road... The connections in the connectors loosen and rupture occurs. These malfunctions are resolved on their own without contacting the specialists of the car company.
Also, the reason why the ABS sensor is on may lie in the fact that debris or dirt has got on the working surfaces of the sensor located on the wheel. It is enough to wash the car with high quality, and the indicator will go out.
You need to remember how long you visited a car service, because inexperienced craftsmen diagnose the wheels, throwing away the wires from the sensors. After that, would-be experts forget to return everything to its original position, and the light on the panel continues to burn.
Malfunctions with the control unit will be more problematic. They can be identified using the on-board computer, which will issue a system error code. Based on this data, the problem with anti-blocking is calculated. It is unlikely that it will be possible to resolve the issue on your own, so a trip to a car service is required.
Solving the problem yourself
For those who are accustomed to acting decisively, you can advise to open the hood and find the electronic control unit. By disabling battery, inspect the case for damage or water ingress. If necessary, you can dry everything from excess moisture.
In the fuse box, we check all the connections. In this case, it is necessary to know that several fuses can be used simultaneously for the operation of the ABS.
It is worth checking the wires going to the wheel from the ECU. They can come loose or frayed during use. Such diagnostics are carried out on a jacked-up car.
In some cases, it is enough to accelerate on a flat empty road and brake sharply. In this case, all systems must work correctly, and the indicator must go out if there is a temporary failure in the ECU.
In cases where the ABS works normally, but the lamp is still on, it is enough to open the battery terminal for a few minutes to reset the system. Everything has to come back to normal.
When none of the proposed cases of putting the display in order helped, you need to feel free to go to a car service in order to identify and eliminate the error with the help of computer accurate diagnostics.
