ABS/INOP light on

[98maro]

My cars has the abs/inop light on. Any idea what the problem could be?
The car breaks with no problm
also the botton for the abs dnt show when it's on or off. I changed the switch n still don't work
any one had that problm before?

[35th-ANV-SS]

Probably a wheel speed sensor that is bad.

[0rion]

could be a few things with the most common being the wheel speed sensor like he said. Will probably have to bite the bullet and pay someone to scan it that can scan abs codes. Call some shops around and see who can scan abs. That will tell you in a hurry what the problem is. Unfortunately there's just not a lot of abs capable scanners out there. Dealership would be my last choice just due to the price they're going to charge to scan it.

[35th-ANV-SS]

Like Orion stated, either have a mechanic you know with a Snap-on scanner or the like scan it or last choice a dealership. Unfortunately the scanners that places like Autozone and Pepboys have do not read ABS codes.

You could simply crawl under the car and look at your wheel speed sensors and make sure your connections are good and clean. The rear (2) are on the backside of the backing plate and look like a small black solenoid. One bolt holds it in if I remember right. If a front one is bad, that is going to be a bit more expensive to replace as it is part of the entire hub assembly.

A scanner will tell you which sensor is bad though so you aren't guessing. It could be even a pinched wire or a bad ABS module. 95% sure a wheel speed sensor though.

Dealerships will most likely charge you around $80-$100 just to scan it...at least the ones around here do. You might be able to buy a cheap scanner at Autozone or online for that price and just have it on-hand for later use.

[98maro]

Thanks fir the help
my rear end was messed up but the mechanic said that's why the lights were on.
But that wasn't true
I been havin a hard time to find o shop to scan the abs
the dealership they r expensive I took some other cars before n they charge me 1 hour of work for something that takes 5 min to knw wat it is

if I buy the scanner is it easy to use?.

[ntimid8r]

Yes, scanners are very easy to use. Pretty much just plug it into the OBDII port and either it'll automatically scan for DTC codes or you just select it to scan. Once you see all the codes....look them up as to what they are. Then open this link to see what the code is. Then you can go from there as far as isolating the problem.

[98maro]

Ok thanks I think I'll do that jst in case if I need it in the future
thanks for the help
in case that I can't do it. There's no way to messed up the computer right?

[ntimid8r]

Ok thanks I think I'll do that jst in case if I need it in the future
thanks for the help
in case that I can't do it. There's no way to messed up the computer right?

Can't mess it up....as long as it's just a reader. If you use one which can modify/rewrite the parameters, then you can potentially cause a problem. Unless you're spending hundreds of dollars....you'll only be getting a read only device.

[35th-ANV-SS]

If you buy a scanner, MAKE SURE it is an ABS scanner. Not all scanners read ABS codes.

[pajeff02]

If you buy a scanner, MAKE SURE it is an ABS scanner. Not all scanners read ABS codes.

Exactly. They do make a separate brake code scanner as well as combo scanners. I have no idea if Autozone, or any of the other chain stores, will scan for brake codes like they do for DTC's.

[98maro]

Thanks for all that great info
the mechanic where I went told me the scanners they are not the same
so I have to make sure it's for abs
with the reader once I knw wat it is and Its fixed I can turn the light off?

[0rion]

once you correct the problem the light will go out on it's own. Does the car have factory sized tires on it or are the fronts and backs different sizes or anything like that? Reason I ask is it will set abs codes if the tires are different diameters.

[98maro]

Ok thanks
n if I disconect the battery will that work? Jst in case
it has the same size of rims. Some ugly chrome rims 17s
the previous owner had em there
my last car has the zo6 18s in the bk and 17s in the front and that never happnd
I think the front abs sensors are messed up

one other thing
the break light it's always on.
They checked the fluid and it's fine
it's where it has to be
idk wat the problem could be

[0rion]

usually those lights are related....so you'll just have to get it scanned to see what's going on there. Disconnecting the battery won't help.....the only way to get the abs and brake lights off are to fix whatever the issue is.

[98maro]

I checkd the scanners on eBay n they go for 150 to 500 dollars lol

I thought the same bout the battery
I talked to my friend and a friend of him has the scanner he's gonna check it for free

I was readin another thread and the guy said something
bout if the abs light is on or the abs sensor is bad the gas peddal won't go all the way in?
Cuz I feel that on my car
n it feels lazy

[35th-ANV-SS]

Never heard of that. The only thing that I know of related to ABS is TCS (traction control). If your ABS Inop light is on, your TCS light will be on. TCS cannot work without ABS working. If you fix your ABS, both light will more than likely turn off.

[98maro]

Oh ok thanks
cuz I feel the peddle kind da hard for some reason
do you have an idea how much the front abs sensors are?

[35th-ANV-SS]

Oh ok thanks
cuz I feel the peddle kind da hard for some reason
do you have an idea how much the front abs sensors are?

Check out gmpartsdirect.com and see if they have them. I know the rears run about $50-$60...the fronts are a lot more though since you have to get the whole assembly which they are mounted to. $200 maybe? Total guess.

[98maro]

Ok thanks
I thought the rears were more expensive
I was thinkin bout gettin them used

[0rion]

you you have traction control on the car? Didn't you just pull your intake and stuff part? Was it doing this before that? Maybe you unplugged something while you were under there.