How To Clear Abs Codes Without A Scanner

You are sitting in traffic, and yous notice the red lights glowing on your instrument cluster.

Shoot… You lot think to yourself, have I been driving with the emergency brake on the whole fourth dimension?

You reach for it but notice it's not engaged. It has to be something to do with the brakes.

In this article, we volition discuss 5 common causes of why your ABS light could exist on, how the anti-lock restriction system works, and finally how to reset ABS low-cal (how to turn off the abs light afterwards repair or just get rid of information technology if information technology's on).

How Does an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Work?

In brusque, it's an electronically controlled prophylactic measure out that keeps you from skidding when you finish in less than platonic conditions.

Vehicle brakes are a hydraulic arrangement where when you apply pressure level to the pedal it applies a boosted pressure level to the brakes on each wheel.

This though is the part when it becomes tricky. Hydraulics like virtually things in nature like to follow the path of least resistance. Added to this when you restriction, the weight of the vehicle moves. Throw in uneven and muddied road surfaces and you have a recipe for disaster.

Less weight on the wheels means information technology's easier for those wheels to end i.east. or uncontrolled skid. When showing off, skidding is absurd but when trying to stop not so much.

Prototype Courtesy of How a automobile works

It tin can cause you to lose control equally it reduces the vehicle'due south directional stability. Thus enters the A ntilock B raking S ystem as well known as the ABS system;

Comprising of the:

ABS pump
ABS Hydraulic unit and the
ABS module.

Which is able to regulate the stopping forcefulness sent to each wheel.

The ABS system collects information from the wheel speed sensor and hydraulic unit to make up one's mind which cycle is almost to skid; it, in turn, reduces the force on that bicycle and applies it again 100's of times a second, giving that familiar pedal shudder we all have experienced when you slam on the brakes. ABS brakes don't necessarily rake faster merely exercise help keep command when braking.

The ABS system detects when something isn't inside the intolerances. Most vehicles have a yellow and a red ABS low-cal.

Yellowish ABS lights generally are associated with a error in the machine'due south electrical system.

Red ABS lights unremarkably signal to hydraulic associated faults in the ABS systems.

In that location is no difference between regular car brakes and anti-lock brakes. The departure is the brain.

5 Mutual causes for ABS lite Being On

one. Low Brake Fluid

Because the brake organization is a hydraulic arrangement, yous won't exist able to create enough resistance if the brake fluid is depression considering it relies on hydraulic pressure.

The ABS module measures the fluid amounts to warn yous if it gets too depression. This will often be indicated by a cherry-red warning calorie-free. Worn restriction pads can also decrease the braking fluid level.

2. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor

The ABS control module needs constant information from the wheels to know which one is about to sideslip. The speed sensor (sometimes referred to as the ABS sensor, ABS wheel sensor, or bicycle sensors) located on each wheel, measures the rotation speed of the wheel.

Epitome courtesy of Hella

If information technology is faulty it won't tell the ABS module what the speed of a wheel is compared to the other wheels.

In turn, the ABS module doesn't know if information technology must apply more or less pressure to that specific wheel. This can be the result of damaged wire from the speed sensor. A mutual tell-tale sign is an inaccurate or erratic speedometer.

This malfunction volition activate the ABS calorie-free. If y'all are certain the sensor is working properly reset the low-cal on the dashboard and inspect the wiring. Potential issues associated with speed sensors are damaged or corroded wires and connections.

Pro tip: A bad wheel bearing, miss-matched bike size, or a severely underinflated tire, can cause false readings even on a healthy ABS cycle speed sensor.

3. Faulty ABS Module

Though they rarely fail; if an ABS calculator module fails, y'all might hear a strange ticking dissonance or feel erratic braking where you feel no resistance when braking, or even feel too much resistance.

This can sometimes be identified with a error code, just often volition crave that you eliminate all sensors that feed to the module. This will trigger the ABS warning low-cal.

The trouble code should requite an indication of which sensor is causing the anti-lock restriction light to illuminate.

Modernistic vehicles utilize an all in ane blueprint for the module, pump, and hydraulic regulator. This makes it an expensive prepare if yous were to replace the whole unit.

Inspect the control module, sometimes rust or dirt may interfere with communications between it and the entire system.

iv. Worn ABS Pump

The ABS pump(hydraulic pump) acts every bit the middle of the anti-locking brake system. And just like a heart, if it's failing, information technology'south a serious trouble and the vehicle should not be driven.

A failing pump motor doesn't effectively pump the brake fluid used to use the brakes, leading to the inability to finish the vehicle.

A difficult or overly soft brake pedal, and decreased responsiveness from the brake pedal are all signs of a failing ABS pump motor. This likewise will calorie-free the ABS light in red.

5. Diddled fuse

Every bit the ABS module and sensors rely on electricity. A blown fuse can crusade the ABS light to come on. Fuses are there to protect the electronics, and a diddled ABS fuse can exist a sign of a curt.

The automobile owner's manual or a quick bank check on Google tin can point out your car's specific fuse panel location. The location can be different depending on the location of the driver'due south seat.

Inspect the wiring especially leading to the speed sensors. If non damaged, replace the anti-lock brake fuse using the fuse removal tool supplied. After y'all alter the abs fuse plow the abs light off. If the fuse blows again, have the vehicle inspected by an automotive electronics mechanic.

If the dashboard light turns on again audit the sensors.

Please note, the light is there as a alarm that something is faulty.

Ignoring and just resetting the low-cal does non brand this problem get away and tin lead to expensive office repairs and worse vehicular accidents. Fault lights should only be reset one time y'all identify and prepare the problem

In that location are two ways of resetting the light:

The easiest way is with the ignition off, remove the battery terminal cables starting with the negative battery final and first positive cable.

Using a battery jumper lead, connect the ii terminals to each other. Open up the driver'due south door and turn the ignition on for 20-25 min. The vehicle will not outset, merely this volition drain the remaining power in the electrical arrangement clearing the light. Reconnect the concluding positive cable first.

The other requires you lot to jump two ports in the OBD II CONNECTOR. To do this safely, it's recommended to apply a fused bridge wire not to crusade damage in example you lot accidentally bridge the wrong ports.

By using either of the above methods, the lights should turn off and only render if the fault persists.

Cheque Out How to practise a Quick Reset to your ABS System:

Using a scan tool (OBD code reader) is the fastest method to identify and reset the ABS light. You exercise not need a specific abs scan tool. OBD scanners allow y'all to access the car'due south key calculator, where it tin can detect mistake codes stored in the system retentiveness.

First, find the OBD II port in your vehicle. (Most vehicles post-1996 have it and a quick Google will assist you to locate it in your vehicle). Plug in the scan tool and plough the ignition to the second position (lights on the musical instrument cluster will be lit up simply the motor will be off.)

Select clear fault codes. Turn off the ignition and unplug the scanner.

And you lot're done.

Here is Another Helpful Video:

FAQ's

Will Disconnecting The Battery Reset The ABS Calorie-free?

Yes, if the car battery is disconnected long enough information technology volition reset the ABS light.

Why Won't My ABS Calorie-free Go Off?

One or more components of the ABS system experienced a mistake. It tin be an intermittent fault similar a voltage drop from a bad battery to an ABS arrangement failure. Either way, it won't become abroad and will need to be reset.

How Practice You Drain ABS Hydraulic Units?

To drain the hydraulic unit you need to squeeze the air out of the system. If y'all didn't supervene upon or loosen any hoses at the booster or ABS unit you volition but need to forcefulness the air out the brake line to each brake caliper.

What you will demand is the right size spanner for the drain nipple. A articulate Flexi hose that fits on the nipple located on the caliper, and an extra person to depress and concur the restriction pedal.

Starting with the rear brakes, have the assistant depress the brake pedal 4-8 times until they experience a fleck of resistance and so they must hold the pedal down. With the dust cap removed and flexible hose over the nipple slowly open the bleed nipple for a second. A small corporeality of liquid and bubbles should come out.

Close the nipple all the while your assistant keeps the force per unit area on the restriction. Repeat until all the bubbles are gone on that caliper.

Cheque the restriction fluid level and repeat on all four calipers.

Pro tip: If you lot struggle to get the air out of a caliper and the brake fluid isn't flowing out, apply a big syringe to suck the air out on the end of the flexible tube. This process will remove air from the caliper and brake line.

If the air was caught in the ABS hydraulic unit of measurement, you will likely demand a scan tool to cycle the pump, for instructions on that please follow this link.

Will Autozone Read The ABS Codes?

Aye at Autozone you can read fault codes complimentary of charge.

Tin can You Bulldoze Without ABS?

Aye, yous tin can drive only volition demand to exist cautious.

Because the ABS isn't working the wheels will lock upwardly when you apply as well much restriction force. In an emergency state of affairs, you might need to pump the brakes to mimic the part of the ABS and reduce the bicycle lock.

Concluding thoughts

ABS is a vital safety machinery to keep you safe.

Though you can drive with the anti-lock alert light on, care volition be needed if you decide to drive with information technology inactive. If the alert lights are on and you lot feel little to no brakes y'all demand to take your brakes checked immediately.

Hopefully, with the assistance of this article, you should feel confident enough to fault notice, repair, and reset the ABS low-cal.

Source: https://axlewise.com/turning-off-abs-light/