My antilock brakes on my 1998 Cavalier quit working. I took it to a local mechanic and it didn't show any codes. He didn't really know how to use the diagnositc tool and I think he might have dumped them. When you first start the car the ABS light is off. When you start to move the light comes on. I was thinking that it might be a wheel cylinder. Is there any way to check them? Does anyone have any trouble shooting methods for tehm?
Check the fuse first, then brake fluid, and then your wheel sensors.
Brake fluid is ok. I'll check the fuse, then wheel cylinders. Is there any way to check them? I thought a bout unplugging them on at at time and using a ohmmeter across the terminals and seeing if one read any different. Anybody done this before?
Wheel cylinders wont really trigger a abs light unless there leaking and there is no fluid in the master cylinder..........you want to check wheel speed sensors....but to check those for proper operation you need a scan tool and tap into the abs data stream and see if any of them are not working......if im not mistaken i thought there was a wiring harness in the front somewhere for the front speed sensors but i dont know the details on that......
i have seen wheel cylinders freeze up on some fords causing an overactive abs in the front because the front brakes cant handle the load and stopping power of the entire vehicle....hope this helps
I wish my 04 had ABS.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
I thought ABS was standard? My Sunbird and Sunfire both have it, best thing to have, especially in the Winter. They did work today, and made a strange noise almost like something scrapping. Wasnt sure what it was till my dad was riding with me, and told me that they had kicked in, and thats what i was hearing. For above, id check the fluid level, wheel speed sensor, and maybe see if theres ice or snow clogged up in there somewhere. Far off thought, on my Sunbird, day before the Alternator went out, my ABS light kicked on, and it was due to it, for giggles, i locked them up, but it takes quite a bit of braking to do that.
I noticed, as did Ender Wiggin , that the ABS light comes ON with alternator output low.
Mine came on, Alternator charge light DID NOT, when the Alternator output cable to battery crimped connector failed.
The charge light circuit was still intact and the alternator was good, so charge light stayed OFF, but the ABS system light sensed the battery voltage was slowly going down.
Wouldn't hurt to check, with a voltmeter, for 14/14.5 volts with the engine running.
Also make sure the two connectors at the modulator/master cylinder are properly connected (If you have them).
Alont
u can test wheel speed sensor with a Volt meter/multi meter
simply unplug the connector, put the positive and negative probes on the prongs in the PICK-UP on the wheel/hub, spin the wheel, if it works, voltage will go up and down at the eciter ring passes the magnetic pick-up
where woukd the abs fuse be?.. i had remote start put in ever since the ABS and EBRAKE light are BOTH on.. could this be the same fuse at all?.. where would i find the fuse? i cannot find why the damn lights are on for nothing
Check under the hood, left side, by the washer bottle airbox area, or by the driver door, the panel under the dash.
how do u know if those big ones are blown?
