94 ATX- ABS cycling even when Key OFF -

[ml98188]

OK - the car has been sitting for a while (1yr) with other issues. Issues solved but when I connect the battery there is a buzzing sound in the engine compartment, drivers side, around the trans, sounds about midway down.
Fire it up and the ABS light is on. rapid pulsation on the pedal. The ABS is stuck in panic mode somehow. Any clues/Help?

 

[hawkeye18]

Sounds like the ABS power relay is sticking/stuck. it's mounted to the radiator support panel, right above the driver side headlamp assembly. whack it with a hammer a few times (not too hard, you'll break the plastic) and see what happens.

 

[ml98188]

drivable now

Jason - thanks for the comeback. Pulled the plug on the ABS 'puter and reset the contacts. Cured the on-all-the-time problem but the ABS light stays on. At least it's drivable now. Probably a stuck/bad sensor or a bad ground somewhere. This northwest climate plays havoc on that stuff if you let it sit for an extended period. It's ready for brakes anyway so while I'm in there........

Thanks again...

 

[hawkeye18]

Well you didn't quite get the relay - but what you did was actually better (actually fixed the problem) so I'd say you did pretty good. The relay is a smaller unit... here, I'll dig up a picture of where it is.



See that little black thing, directly forward of the air box, and to the right of the ABS computer? It's got a mounting tab on the radiator support panel. That's the power relay.

In any case, there is an ABS code reading connector that functions the same way as the EEC test connector, and is actually right next to it. In the picture above, just below and a little to the left of the little trophy thing, you can see two black boxes mounted to the black plastic cover on the firewall. The one on the right is the ABS test connector, and the test procedure is, to the best of my knowledge, identical to the EEC KOEO procedure. The connector is identical to the EEC test connector as well.

 

[ml98188]

Thanks for the location of that relay. This thing is a tough ole bird I guess. Drove it up to the car wash to get some of the grime off it before I really went at it. Ran pretty good for not having being fired up in a while. ABS light was on going up but off coming back. Guess it just needed a little exercise. Probably be best to replace it when I get the chance.
Thanks again.
We can probably close the thread.