After Brake job, got ABS light - SOLVED

[Straightup]

I'll try to make this short. About 1 1/2 years ago I had a Silhouette van that I got the brakes done. When I left the garage my ABS light was on (And traction control). Drove right back and they looked at it and said total coincidence and ABS unit was out (About $325 or so to fix). Van was old and had many other problems - I traded it off and never fixed it.

Fast forward to last friday. My teen just got a '98 Skylark with 93K miles and got the brakes done - same shop. My wife calls me and says the ABS light is on. Drove it a couple of miles, no light for me. Drove it to work this morning - light is on... Now after the 2nd time this is sounding fishy. I really like the owner of this shop, but right now I am miffed to say the least.

Last time this happened he told me there's no way the brake job could affect the ABS.

Any comments appreciated.

Jeff

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Yes a brake job can affect the ABS sensors.Sounds like someone does not know how to do a brake job.They may have pulled something loose on the sensors.I have also heard that compressing the calipers without opening the bleeder screw can force fluid back through the master cylinder and cause problems with the ABS.
I always compress mine with bleeders cracked open and never had a problem..

 

[Windykid]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Also need to clean the sensors, and speed ring after thier dirty paws were all over them.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

would have to know the fault code before you can say what happened .sounds like possibly the contaminated fluid is in the hcu and has a valve sticking . unless they cracked a sensor they should be fine .

 

[jeeperman]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Disconnect the battery for 10 minutes or so then see if the light still comes on. I found on my Tahoe that the ABS light only came on with the first brake pedal push after doing the front brakes.
I guess it thought the more than normal pedal travel was something for the dealer to "investigate".

 

[Straightup]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Thanks for all the suggestions. I forgot to mention that the battery light was also on, and that the ABS light is coming on after a mile or so of driving.

I've checked and the alternator is bad and the battery is low. I have a new alternator that I am putting in it tomorrow and will be charging the battery.

I'm hoping that maybe the the ABS light could have been coming on from getting low voltage?

We'll see after tomorrow.

Jeff

 

[_brad_]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

May want to check and see if the traction control is functioning as it should. That is, if it has traction control. I know on my 95 Bonneville the traction control went out and caused my ASB light to come on.

Don't ask why, but it did. After I had the traction control sensor or something replaced it worked fine. I guess the traction control sensor was linked up with the ABS light? I don't know...

 

[Straightup]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light

Got new alternatort in. ABS light hasn't come on since. Thanks for all comments. Jeff

 

[BF]

Re: After Brake job, got ABS light - SOLVED

yes, in the past it happened to me that the first outward indication of alt failure was an ABS light... this vehicle had full gauges including a voltmeter, and there was no "idiot" light for the alt/batt. As soon as the ABS lit, I scanned the gauges and saw I was a bit under 12V, so knew it was a low voltage complaint....

good to hear it's solved.