ABS- failure!!!

**SuperSSguy** · 07-03-2012, 04:42 PM

Okay here goes..I have an 02 SS 67,000 MI. With the ABS not working anymore!

The ABS-inop light stay lit...The ''Brake'' light stays lit...and the ''ASR'' light stays lit..also ASR (Traction control) button doesnt work...Ive read that its the module on the ABS unit under the hood thats bad? Supposedly you have to remove the black plastic unit from the ABS unit and send it in to a couple companies that do this..Any suggestion on this? The car stops but it stops like a non-ABS car would and even locked up once when going about 50 mph when i had to stop fast and sent me into a 180 skid!! NOT GOOD !

**Mean Green Z28** · 07-03-2012, 04:53 PM

does sound like it. Had the same issue on a friend's car due to a short and we just swapped out the whole ABS unit with a take off unit; also spliced in a new connector cos it was also melted. Worked great!

**SuperSSguy** · 07-03-2012, 05:02 PM

Were did you get the unit and how much? Ive seen new units as much as $2,700 and re-furbished in the hundreds? Im sure salvage yards have them but how good of shape are they?

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Were did you get the unit and how much? Ive seen new units as much as $2,700 and re-furbished in the hundreds? Im sure salvage yards have them but how good of shape are they?

- - - Updated - - -

Were did you get the unit and how much? Ive seen new units as much as $2,700 and re-furbished in the hundreds? Im sure salvage yards have them but how good of shape are they?

**Mean Green Z28** · 07-03-2012, 05:06 PM

It was actually off of a friends drag car so pretty damn cheap lol never really checked price; didn't know they were so much!!!

**matt evans** · 07-03-2012, 08:21 PM

depends on if your car is a 3 channel or 4 channel abs. I have a 3 channel abs box id sale you if you need it. If you cant find one for a decent price let me know. Or to make things easier call steve at SJM Manufacturing and get an ABS delete kit. much cheaper way to go.

**SuperSSguy** · 07-04-2012, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by matt evans

depends on if your car is a 3 channel or 4 channel abs. I have a 3 channel abs box id sale you if you need it. If you cant find one for a decent price let me know. Or to make things easier call steve at SJM Manufacturing and get an ABS delete kit. much cheaper way to go.

Thanks ill keep that in mind...yeah not sure of the # of channels. Ive had to do high speed stops(@ a police training course for citizens) with ABS and they are well worth any price to have them Fixed! I did full on slam the pedal to the floor mashes with their impala/crown vics @70 + MPH and with ABS.... and steer away from stationary objects easily. without ABS the car would have locked up into an uncontrolled skid. But thanks for your info!! I appreciate it.

**planemech2** · 07-04-2012, 04:27 PM

Have you had your ABS codes scanned? The code scanners at O'Reilly's can check them. My S10 has a bad wheel sensor and my ABS and brake lights stay on all the time. Your ABS unit is not necessarily bad. Get your car scanned before buying anything.

**Firebirdjones** · 07-04-2012, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

I did full on slam the pedal to the floor mashes with their impala/crown vics @70 + MPH and with ABS.... and steer away from stationary objects easily. without ABS the car would have locked up into an uncontrolled skid. But thanks for your info!! I appreciate it.

Just have to go back to driving school

**Mean Green Z28** · 07-04-2012, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by planemech2

Have you had your ABS codes scanned? The code scanners at O'Reilly's can check them. My S10 has a bad wheel sensor and my ABS and brake lights stay on all the time. Your ABS unit is not necessarily bad. Get your car scanned before buying anything.

Yeah, that too

**SuperSSguy** · 07-04-2012, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Just have to go back to driving school

Is that an attempt at humor?

**SuperSSguy** · 07-04-2012, 11:00 PM

Yeah thanks for the help... thats what most of us come to forums for to hear what others who have ''constructive'' comments and advice to give. As far as checking before buying huh yeah im all for that!

**Too Fast** · 07-05-2012, 02:49 AM

I've never heard of our cars needing a new ABS control unit. This problem is almost always caused by a wheel speed sensor, go get it scanned somewhere. Your car is a 4-channel ABS, since you have (dreaded, IMO) traction control. If there is an ABS issue, this disables the TCS also, hence all the lights.

I like ABS, I don't like TCS. My right foot is my TCS!

Front sensors are the wheel bearing hub assembly, ~$160 at local parts stores. If you can change your front brakes yourself, the hub assembly is not much more work.

**Firebirdjones** · 07-05-2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

Is that an attempt at humor?

Not exactly. You make it sound like you simply can't drive a car without assistance. Kinda scary if you ask me. But that's beside the point.

If you have money to replace that ABS module then it sounds like that's what you need to do. Personally I'd delete it and toss it in the trash before I spend hundreds $$$$ on a module.

Scan the codes and see what it is before tossing money at it.

**Too Fast** · 07-05-2012, 01:56 PM

^^^delete ABS, on a car like these? I say no way. Dry pavement, wet pavement, ABS makes people a hero when they avoid running into something/someone. Now on snow, I think ABS cars take too long to stop, especially if there is some loose snow that can pack in front of the tires. But leave the TCS/stability control off my cars!

**SuperSSguy** · 07-05-2012, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

I've never heard of our cars needing a new ABS control unit. This problem is almost always caused by a wheel speed sensor, go get it scanned somewhere. Your car is a 4-channel ABS, since you have (dreaded, IMO) traction control. If there is an ABS issue, this disables the TCS also, hence all the lights.

I like ABS, I don't like TCS. My right foot is my TCS!

Front sensors are the wheel bearing hub assembly, ~$160 at local parts stores. If you can change your front brakes yourself, the hub assembly is not much more work.

Thanks Too Fast..Thats something ill definately do! Its been one of the things i had in mind and has been suggested before but since this site has alot of other guys with the same type of cars i figured i`d throw it out there!.Come to think of it a while back i had the front rotors changed..Hmm maybe the guy messed up my sensors!!!

**SuperSSguy** · 07-05-2012, 10:52 PM

OOpps i forgot to ask if you know if it is the sensor will it cause my lights to ''light up'' or will the sensor being bad cause the whole ABS not to work?

**SuperSSguy** · 07-05-2012, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Not exactly. You make it sound like you simply can't drive a car without assistance. Kinda scary if you ask me. But that's beside the point.

If you have money to replace that ABS module then it sounds like that's what you need to do. Personally I'd delete it and toss it in the trash before I spend hundreds $$$$ on a module.

Scan the codes and see what it is before tossing money at it.

Yeah well ok..I think you missed the point though! I personally have driven many many cars (including my first car @16) without ABS or power assist or disc-brakes! While you may have misunderstood my comment about ABS. I never meant to imply that i cannot drive a car without assist.I can drive just about anything and out drive a great deal of guys who ''think'' they can drive..I have quite a bit of real time driving experience and put my share of guys into the wall

Its just that i have driven both and prefer ABS and since i have a modern car that was designed with ABS(and i paid for it when i bought it) I just want it to work. Its not me im worried about its joe-blow the idiot who cuts me off on the highway etc......But thanks for your advice about scanning first!!!

**SuperSSguy** · 07-05-2012, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

^^^delete ABS, on a car like these? I say no way. Dry pavement, wet pavement, ABS makes people a hero when they avoid running into something/someone. Now on snow, I think ABS cars take too long to stop, especially if there is some loose snow that can pack in front of the tires. But leave the TCS/stability control off my cars!

Yup..Thats what i think... ABS just gives you that extra little bit of control on the road.The ability to steer around an object while stopping the vehicle and not getting into an accident is priceless when it comes to keeping that puppy in one piece! and you dont end up with a flat spot on your expensive tires!!! Thanks....

**Too Fast** · 07-06-2012, 02:34 AM

It'd be pretty hard to do a brake job and screw up the sensors/wires. Yes, if a sensor stops working, all the ABS related (including TCS) lights will come on. Normal brakes unaffected.

I'm pretty sure FBJ has driven non-ABS cars, and cars with 4-wheel drum. I have a car with four wheel dumb (drum)! At least the top goes down. You can adjust a 4 wheel drum brake for no drag, and also they are a couple pounds lighter (than same era) disc brakes for the drag strip, but you only have one decent stop before they start getting hot and fading.

**Firebirdjones** · 07-06-2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

^^^delete ABS, on a car like these? I say no way. Dry pavement, wet pavement, ABS makes people a hero when they avoid running into something/someone. Now on snow, I think ABS cars take too long to stop, especially if there is some loose snow that can pack in front of the tires. But leave the TCS/stability control off my cars!

Eh, people have become too dependent on things like this....Now we have cars that will park themselves. What's next? Does this not sound scary to you? Sure makes me wonder.....but you know me, an old fart that doesn't like change or technoligy for that matter.