'94 ABS problem

[Joe_Cool]

I have a 94 SHO 3.2L ATX, and just found out last night (with our first snowstorm of the year) that my ABS doesn't work. I have no warning lights on, but the wheels simply lock up and slide.

Where should I start with trying to track down the problem? I do have a nearly complete parts car with working ABS. Is it possible that I can fix this by just swapping out parts?

 

[rubydist]

Yes, but its a lot of work to change out some of those parts. I'd start by having a shop pull the abs codes so you don't spend all winter changing parts.

 

[jpSHO]

I would check to see why you have no warning lights. I suppose you should start with the bulb and see if maybe someone pulled it out or if it's blown. I've seen alot of shady stuff when it comes to buying cars. On my SHO someone removed the airbag diagnostic module and pulled my bulb so I never knew I didn't have airbags until I did my heater core last year.

 

[Joe_Cool]

I would check to see why you have no warning lights. I suppose you should start with the bulb and see if maybe someone pulled it out or if it's blown. I've seen alot of shady stuff when it comes to buying cars. On my SHO someone removed the airbag diagnostic module and pulled my bulb so I never knew I didn't have airbags until I did my heater core last year.

Yeah, that threw me off a little bit. I guess I'll look into that first.

 

[Joe_Cool]

Does the instrument panel come all the way out without removing the dashboard?

 

[jpSHO]

The cluster can be removed without removing the dash.

 

[Eric VerValin]

I'd check your sensors first.. they are the usual culprit. I can't remember off hand, but there is a resistance value for them. You can pretty much unplug them and test for resistance. The manual says to use a breakout box on the ABS harness, but when they test between the 2 pins, its just the sensor they are testing from what I gathered.

If you ahve a second car there, you should have what ya need there. Do yourself a favor.. buy a big bag of those bulbs and just swap them all... I did last time I was in the cluster.. just for peice of mind... didn't want that red oil one burning out anytime soon..

Get a bag of 194's and you'll be good to go..

 

[Joe_Cool]

Sorry to bump such an old thread, but I had some bigger issues come up and now a year later, I might be ready to tackle this. All the dash lights look ok, but there appaers to be no ABS light. Rather than mess with the instrument panel, is there an alternate way to get the abs codes (like how you can use a voltage meter and count sweeps on the EEC test)?

 

[Racer X]

I'd replace the bulb, and then run the test and count the flashes. Needle sweep counting works also.

I don't know the jumper and output pins offhand.

 

[Joe_Cool]

I'd replace the bulb, and then run the test and count the flashes. Needle sweep counting works also.

I don't know the jumper and output pins offhand.

I don't mean the bulb is burned out, I mean I see nothing in my instrument panel that says ABS. You know how when it's not lit you can see that there's a light for the airbag? I don't see anything for ABS. It's entirely possible that I'm just ******** and I'm missing it, though.

Where should it be located?

 

[Racer X]

It's yellow and on the right group of warning lamps, IIRC.

The ABS bulb location should be labeled on the rear of the instrument cluster.

 

[kumba]

On my '95 ATX, the ABS light, as you as looking at the front of the cluster, is on the bottom left-most corner. Reason I know this is because it is lit up all the time.

This sounds like a VERY similar problem I was having with mine. The issue I had was cracked tone rings (toothed wheels, etc) that caused the ABS to act up and go off when trying to brake. It was most discerning when trying to stop quickly or going around corners. Since the CV shafts were good and I didn't feel like replacing the rear wheel hubs either I decided to just pull the 20-amp fuse from the high-current fuse panel that disabled the ABS motor. That resulted in the ABS light staying on.

One of these days, when it needs CV Axles, I'll fix it. Until then I just do without. I also live in florida so ice/snow isn't much of a concern here.

I believe that before I disabled the ABS pump, the light would come on for 3-5 seconds or so when the key was first turned on.

 

[Racer X]

I don't know why I didn't think of this before:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDWgTeVrVUU

It's the one that is illuminated at 0:53

Definitely on the left side.

 

[rubydist]

Yes, all of the warning lights on the dash will "prove out" and illuminate for several seconds when you first turn the key on. If you don't see that, the light is burned out.