ABS- failure!!!

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

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!

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?

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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?

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!!!

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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Just have to go back to driving school :)

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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.

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Yeah, that too

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Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Just have to go back to driving school :)

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Is that an attempt at humor? :zzz:

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!

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.

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Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

Is that an attempt at humor? :zzz:

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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.

^^^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!

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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.

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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!!!

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?

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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.

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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:hi: 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!!!

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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!

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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....

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.

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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!

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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.

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Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

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:hi: 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!!!

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I understand that completely, and our abs is currently intact and working on our 4th gens (never had to use it thankfully) I'm just not personally excited about buying a control module that may cost thousands, about half the cost of what the car is worth. That's why I'd delete it myself if that day comes.

A wheel sensor on the other hand is a relatively cheap fix. With a scanner it should give you a code and tell you exactly what it is before jumping to too many conclusions. Might be something simple..

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Originally Posted by Too Fast

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.

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:lol: Good ole drum brakes. They always get a bad rap. I personally like them, and with stationwagon wheel cylinders, shoes from Muscle Car Brakes that cut down on the fading problems, they actually do a decent job. Lots of advantages too.


They have more holding power over disc once sitting still
They don't create brake dust
Less drag = better quarter mile times and better gas mileage
Less weight means lighter car and less weight to turn = more hp to the ground.

I have 2 cars with drums all around, I have no intention of changing them to disc. Don't get me wrong, I like disc too, and the cars with disc will remain that way as well.

Okay back on topic :D

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Originally Posted by Too Fast

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.

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Thanks again ..Yeah thats whats happening with my car,and your probably on the money with your diagnosis,I hope so! Ill let you all know what happens, Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

I understand that completely, and our abs is currently intact and working on our 4th gens (never had to use it thankfully) I'm just not personally excited about buying a control module that may cost thousands, about half the cost of what the car is worth. That's why I'd delete it myself if that day comes.

A wheel sensor on the other hand is a relatively cheap fix. With a scanner it should give you a code and tell you exactly what it is before jumping to too many conclusions. Might be something simple..

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Thanks FBJ ..Ill do exactly that! For my sake i hope it is something relatively easy AND cheap! While i like to put money in for mods....I hate using it for fixing things!

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Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

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.

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Thats true ..for some, I have 67,000 mi. and ive only used it once!..But that one time was well worth avoiding an accident which costs thousands of dollars in repairs and insurance premium hikes.I DO agree with you on some technological advances ie: park assist!! Now THATS scary!! So it`s one of those too each his own things i guess...Like for me i dislike TC, Automatic lights,Automatic seat belts,skip shift, Audio Visual accesories(those stupid t.v.`s in cars) back-up cameras etc. So i get where your coming from.Now their trying to make cars that drive themselves.....Can you imagine?

Just out of curiosity what are you driving? i take its a Firebird hence the name but what year?

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Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

While i like to put money in for mods....I hate using it for fixing things!

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:chuckles: that always happens at the most inoportune times doesn't it?

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Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

Just out of curiosity what are you driving? i take its a Firebird hence the name but what year?

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As far as 4th gens they are both SS camaros, the bird is a 70 ram air III formula. The firebird has a catchier user name :D

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Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

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.

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yeah it does. How about adaptive cruise control? What about the eye in the sky, that knows what the speed limit is,and shuts your car down at 5 over? Hey, it could happen! And no, I don't want a car that can park itself lol.

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Originally Posted by Too Fast

yeah it does. How about adaptive cruise control? What about the eye in the sky, that knows what the speed limit is,and shuts your car down at 5 over? Hey, it could happen! And no, I don't want a car that can park itself lol.

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You're scaring me :lol:

So what was the cause of the ABS light? Did it end up being a front wheel speed sensor?

:sillyme:Havent gotten to it yet ...I guess ive been driving it like that for so long now i got used to it! BUT i will definately let y`all know when i get to it!! Thanks for asking though!

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Originally Posted by va2001ss

So what was the cause of the ABS light? Did it end up being a front wheel speed sensor?

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It's probably a $12,000 part failure of some sort. I'll give you $100 for your car, and you won't have to worry about it anymore!

I'll go $150,,,,I mean someone has to take this car off his hands,,,,,it's obviously too dangerous to drive :D