I recently got it back from the dealer as they were replacing my clogged up cats, and when I got it back, BAM, ABS light turned on. The dealer said because they didn't touch the brakes it's not their fault. I asked nicely and then not-so-nicely for them to fix it and they insist on charging me.

Anyway, I looked for plug wires touching the ABS harness, didn't see anything weird. Fuses look good, but I certainly do not have ABS brakes at the moment (I checked.)

What else should I look for? All the harnesses at the ABS motor/pump under the hood and the sensors at each wheel are connected.

If I have the engine running and pull up the e-brake handle, the "LOW TRAC" light flashes on the dash, but the car does not have traction control. If I hold the brake pedal the light stops flashing and glows steadily. I can hear the ABS relay ticking under the hood when the LOW TRAC light flashes.

I looked under the car and didn't see any disconnected harnesses, but I unplugged them and plugged them all back in one by one, no change. None of my taillight bulbs are out.

You know how the ABS motor cycles periodically? Mine doesn't really do that anymore, but I've noticed that my voltmeter will now drop to ~11.5V occasionally when I come to a stop, so I'm wondering if a wire got pinched and/or shorted somewhere in the ABS system?

Thanks for any help,
Chris

 

Pulling the e-brake while driving or haveing the e-brake on and trying to drive (even if just 3feet) will make the ABS nop lite come on.

I think you have to put the the ignition to Acc (dont start the car them tap the brake pedal 3 times turn the car off then start it to turn off the abs light

It is something like that just do a search for abs nop light.

 

Well the ABS INOP light is ALWAYS on, pulling the e-brake handle in park or gear with the engine running results in the LOW TRAC light flashing. I did a search for common causes of the ABS INOP light illuminating, but found no parallels with the LOW TRAC light coming on in a non-traction control equipped car. Weird.

 

There are 50+ codes that the ABS system can throw. You need to get the code number to narrow down the cause. Unfortunately engine scanners don't read ABS codes; it's a different scanner system. You might need to pay the dealer to read the code; then you'll know where to look to find the problem. It's not uncommon for the sensor in the differential to get dirty. You might pull the sensor (top of the diff. housing) and clean it.

 

Yeah, I heard that too, the dealer said they scanned it and found no ABS codes. How is that possible (I wouldn't put lying past them though)?

 

I had the same ABS INOP light come on in my car and it turned out to be the third brake light(in the Hatch) was burnt out. I guess the bulbs are on the same circuit as the ABS or something. Hope that helps

 

Yeah, already checked that too, all lights are working fine. I just had another thought though:

What if the tech at the dealer plugged in one of the TCS pluygs by accident under the car (assuming there is one of course) not knowing that the car doesn't have TCS. Are there any additional plugs or harnesses that may plug into the tranny or something that I should check?

 

if they scanned the abs system and got no codes then something isnt plugged in somewheres or a wire got cut.... triple check EVERYTHING

 

Mine comes on then disappears after turning off then starting again. It occasionally comes on.

 

So if something is disconnected or cut, it doesn't throw an ABS code?

 

The low traction light comes on when the tire slips. It doesnt mean you have traction control. I am think ur light came on because the ebrake was on and some one put it in gear and tryed to drive. That will set a code for it. Try disconecting the battery for about 5 min to rest it (or search for what i said before tapping the brake 3 times with the ignition in the on postion or some thing like that maybe call the dealer and ask how to reset the abs inop light.

The samething happened to me that is how i know i just cant remember how to rest it exatly

 

Ok, didn't know that about the low trac light, so I'll try resetting the battery. I did notice the light will go off sometimes if I just start the engine with the e-brake on, or if I come to a stop, set the brake and put it in park, the light will also go off occasionally. But as soon as I move again it goes on again.

I'm going to call a different shop today to see if they can scan it for ABS codes, I have a feeling the original dealer was trying to scam me.