Should my '98 SLE chime at me when the ABS kicks in? Today I was driving normally, and depressed the brakes to slow at an intersection. I felt a quick shimmy in the steering wheel (almost like traction was lost for a second) and my dashboard "dinged" at me. No warning lights came on, and my gauges all read normally. It was the same chime that sounds when fuel is low, but I still had 1/2 tank. All I could think of was that maybe the ABS activated... although that doesn't seem too likely, since it was sunny and dry at the time.

The problem has not repeated itself, but I wanted to check to see if this sounded familiar to anyone.

That is a strange one. It certainly isn't supposed to ding when the ABS kicks in. I have a similar problem to yours -- mine dings when I press on the brake pedal when I first start the car up in the morning. It doesn't do it any other time, and there are no idiot lights on the gauges to suggest a problem.

In a lot of ways I just think its the electronics getting old!

If it happens again you might want to do something about it, otherwise I would suggest forgetting it and chalk it up to a glitch.

Did you check your break fluid? Or possibly, your car almost died. Mine has done that a couple times and chimed at me. It was coming to a stop both times. The shimmy might be the power steering pump momentarily losing power.

That sounds possible... hopefully it was just a glitch. I'll check my fluid levels just to be sure, otherwise will just keep my fingers crossed!

Or potentially just fluid sloshing and giving you a warning. It'* that time of year anyways, check and top it all....

Hmm, that could be bad. :?

No other warning lights yet, just that one-time chime... but I'll certainly be on the lookout. Thanks!

Mine started that dinging once turned out it was VERY slightly low on brake fluid it would do it when hard braking and when hard accelerating turns out I had some leaky wheel cylinders in the rear (CURSE OF THE REAR DRUMS) so i replaced the shoes/whl cylinders and had it flushed and filled hasnt don it since.

I think you guys are getting closer and closer. My brake fluid is low, which means I have a leak *somewhere*, and that'* probably why my engine has tried to die (and has in the last few days) when I slowing and parked on a slope... causing the chime mentioned in my original question!

I haven't topped off my brake fluid yet, as the manual said only to use new fluid from a sealed container. Anyone know how important this is? The partial bottle I have is from a brake job about 5 years ago.

well watch out because i had the master cyl and cvacuum boster die w/ in a month of eachother... was a PITA......mine was leakin too but showed no signes og it ANYWHERE... and i beleive its pretty important to use a new container as brake fluid absorbs water quickly, or so i was told......

Good thread here. Everyone'* on the right track I think, but remember, the ABS system won't chime. The chime is strictly for your primary braking only. Even with ABS or Traction disabled, the braking still works, and will chime for a low level or low pressure.

Now might be a good time to check all 4 wheel cylinders for leaks, as well as the master, bleed the brakes by the book twice (almost a full flush if you keep at it), and use Dot4 fluid.