ABS triggers randomly when I hit brakes; guages go haywire
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Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Philadelphia, PA
ABS triggers randomly when I hit brakes; guages go haywire
Hey guys,
Go figure with this car that when I fix my fuel leak another problem surfaces. This time, its the ABS system that randomly goes off when I hit my brakes. This started last night when I pulled into the supermarket. I hit the brakes and I felt the ABS kick in for no reason at all. I then saw my guages and lights flicker and soon realized that my ABS light was on, my TRAC ACTIVE light was on, my TRAC OFF light went out (I turn off the TRAC because its a PITA), and my gas guage read empty. The tach read 1200 rpms so I knew the engine didnt stall. It did this for a few seconds then all the warning lights reset to normal, and I restarted the car to make sure my gas guage was working (thank god it worked). I thought this problem was just a one time deal (thinking I would be lucky), but the car did the same thing again about 5 times on the way to work this morning. The first time it did it at the bottom of my street it even stalled out! I will let you know that I have a problem with my battery cables where I randomly need to wiggle the starter wire coming off the battery to get the car to crank. My question to you all is this: will a bad battery connection cause my car to have an ABS problem? Please help, the next stop is a cheap price for the car while it is put up for sale.
Go figure with this car that when I fix my fuel leak another problem surfaces. This time, its the ABS system that randomly goes off when I hit my brakes. This started last night when I pulled into the supermarket. I hit the brakes and I felt the ABS kick in for no reason at all. I then saw my guages and lights flicker and soon realized that my ABS light was on, my TRAC ACTIVE light was on, my TRAC OFF light went out (I turn off the TRAC because its a PITA), and my gas guage read empty. The tach read 1200 rpms so I knew the engine didnt stall. It did this for a few seconds then all the warning lights reset to normal, and I restarted the car to make sure my gas guage was working (thank god it worked). I thought this problem was just a one time deal (thinking I would be lucky), but the car did the same thing again about 5 times on the way to work this morning. The first time it did it at the bottom of my street it even stalled out! I will let you know that I have a problem with my battery cables where I randomly need to wiggle the starter wire coming off the battery to get the car to crank. My question to you all is this: will a bad battery connection cause my car to have an ABS problem? Please help, the next stop is a cheap price for the car while it is put up for sale.
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Posts like a Northstar
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 538
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From: southern California
Lots of bad things happen when there'* a problem with the battery/cables/alternator.
The fact that more than just the ABS system is having problems suggests a power problem. I'd check the battery cables, battery, and alternator.
The fact that more than just the ABS system is having problems suggests a power problem. I'd check the battery cables, battery, and alternator.
Thread Starter
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Yea I redid the positive power cable yesterday, problem solved. I suppose that the alternator was sleeping while the connection was lost, and then it had to wake up causing a jump in the system. I knew it wasnt anything related to the ABS itself like the module or the wheel sensors because the gas guage reset once and the car stalled. I must redo them completely now. Some idiot before me has two red cable covers with a bolt on the positive lead, its supposed to be one. I used to have to go out and wiggle the starter wire to get her to start.
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