It’s incredibly frustrating for your car’s ABS light to turn on and not to know why or what to do to correct the problem. And on top of that, it’s a bad idea to keep driving around if your ABS light is on. Here’s what Young Automotive wants you to understand about your car’s ABS light.
ABS Itself Is Off
Not every vehicle allows the driver to turn off the ABS system, but if your car does allow this and you see the ABS light on the dashboard this could be the answer. Double check that the ABS is turned on and see if the light goes away, Sometimes things can get turned off accidentally, and if you don’t know how to turn them back on again it gets frustrating. You might need to check the owner’s manual for details, especially if you’re not in the habit of turning the ABS on and off.
Brake Fluid Is Low
ABS brake systems are hydraulic, which means they require fluid in order to function properly. If your car’s onboard computer has determined that you don’t have enough brake fluid in the brake system, it may turn on the ABS light to get your attention. It can be a good idea to check the brake fluid reservoir to see if you can tell whether the levels are low or not.
Wheel Speed Sensors Are Malfunctioning
Your car’s wheels have sensors that help the onboard computer to keep track of how fast each wheel is moving. This is vital information that the ECM and the braking system can use to help stop the car when necessary. That data also helps the traction control system to allocate power to the different parts of the system to help it function properly. Faulty sensors send back incorrect or no data and the system may turn off the ABS until the sensors are fixed.
Broken ABS Module
The ABS system and the traction control system work together to stop the car safely, but if the ABS module isn’t functioning, the whole system can start to have issues. That can cause the ABS light to turn on, even if there isn’t a problem in the brakes at all. Getting the issue accurately diagnosed can be the key to putting the right repair in place and getting that light to turn off.
Any time you have warning lights you don’t understand or other issues with your car, give us a call at Young Automotive in Sturgeon Bay, WI. We can take a closer look at what’s happening and get the situation resolved for you.
