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ABS light + Brake light = $1,600? (kinda LONG)

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cjarnesen

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Well, just as the D rolled over 110,000 miles, the ABS+brake light lit up. Last time this happened it was a wheel speed sensor, my local family mechanic (been going to him for years) checked it out. Doesn't seem to be wheel speed sensor, and he checked the relay and cleaned up some of the connections.

He believes it to be the ABS module, not a cheap replacement is my understanding. He says about $1,600.

The light isn't on when I first start the car. It seems to first light up when I'm driving a ways, like been on the highway for an hour or so. After it comes on then, I can shutdown and restart and it's gone, but comes back within 5 minutes. I had a panic stop on the freeway the other day, and luckily it was dry and sunny, so no need for ABS, but the brakes seemed fine (still barely adequate D brakes) but no worse then normal. So I think this just affects my ABS and not normal braking.

I've checked my fluid level, is there anything else I could check visually?

Any chance its something else? Can I get a module for cheaper? Think I can install it myself, I work on Jeeps, and have swapped master cylinders, and installed whole steering systems?

Thanks for everyone's help as always.

P.S. - I owe some pics thanks to swingshiftworker. I got a front grill guard, and rear light guards. They look great. Those and the black CB antenna, with the 32" BFG MT are making the D look mean.
Also owe my 100,000 mile pics! What a great truck!

Thanks
-CJ
 
#4 ·
Did he scan for ABS codes? The ABS module should have status, unless it totally shot. I'd be pressed to believe it's 1600 for a used module.
 
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#5 ·
There's another sensor on the tranny itself that often doesn't effect the speedo.
I'd get that done before I plunked down money for a module
Its up on the side of tranny and when you pull it out it'll leak a bit of fluid.
Put the new one in right away and you're good to go
Steve
DOC Pres
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Do you have a part number? or a more specific description? I just don't know about sensors and the like. My Jeep is a 1981, mostly all mechanical. Thanks for the help. Crossing my fingers that its that sensor. That would be nice.

THANKS!

-CJ
 
#7 ·
I had my local dealer change module for 600 out the door.
 
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#9 ·
cjarnesen said:
Do you have a part number? or a more specific description? I just don't know about sensors and the like. My Jeep is a 1981, mostly all mechanical. Thanks for the help. Crossing my fingers that its that sensor. That would be nice.

THANKS!

-CJ
Click to expand...
It's called a speed sensor as well
Contact Alan our cooperate member at 888-486-0757
he can get it for you
It's definitely worth a try
Steve
DOC Pres
 
#10 ·
definitely have the codes read? this is a lot of money to fix by shotgunning?

unfortunately, a standard OBDII reader won't read the codes? I think you need to use a Chrysler DRB or MDS to do it?

?tom
 
#11 ·
CJ, do you have 4 wheel or rear only ABS? This makes a big difference.
 
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#12 ·
tomk said:
definitely have the codes read? this is a lot of money to fix by shotgunning?

unfortunately, a standard OBDII reader won't read the codes? I think you need to use a Chrysler DRB or MDS to do it?

?tom
Click to expand...
This is absolutely true. Very bad if you don't have access to one.
 
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#13 ·
How long has it been since the entire brake system was flushed? Level can be correct, but if it's with bad fluid it doesn't help.
 
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#14 ·
That's correct, the OBDII scanner won't do it. You need a DRB, Snao-On or other to access brake codes. If a dealer looked at it, they should have done it.

Steve,

I know you posted that it affected the ABS before but where's the information on that. The transmission sensors have nothing to do with the ABS. The ABS is looking at the wheel speed. The two front and rear axle. Plus, when the transmission speed sensors go, they'll trigger an OBDII code
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
So I went out and crawled around in the D.

I can't seem to find the repair report from when I took it in for the ABS light and they replaced the relay. If I remember correctly it was like code 63 or 64, however I'm not sure of the was a OBDII code, or the other codes used by the brake system. I'll call and see if they have a copy and ask what scanner they used.

It appears that I have 4 wheel ABS. 5 brake lines coming out of the ABS module. Looks like 2 in, and 3 out. I've always thought I had 2 wheel (rear) ABS, but I guess I have 4 wheel.

About the fluid being changed, I have no idea. It had its 100,000 mile tune-up etc in Feb 07. But not sure if that was included. Would old fluid set off a sensor? That would be cool.

Thanks for all the help. It'd be nice to track this down, vs just trying things till it works and wasting more money.

You guys rock

-CJ
 
#16 ·
The D just came in for a landing, I'm going to go out and snap a pic of the M/C area, beacuse if you have rear ABS, I have a story.
 
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#17 ·
It sounds like you have 4WAL?

the 2-digit codes sound like ABS codes? though there's no 63 or 64 on this system (assuming 98 is identical to 99, which is the FSM I have?)

if you can get the codes, I can translate them? at least until my venerable '99 FSM set moves on to its new home?

in the meantime, just for yucks, you might want to unplug the connectors at the controller (there are three, I think), look to see if anything looks corroded, and reconnect them?

The system is a Kelsey-Hayes EBC325, if you want to google around and get confused ;)

?tom
 
#18 ·
Does your master Cylinder area look like this? If so you have rear only (RWABS)
 

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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Nope.

MC looks the same, as does the proportioning valve. But that's about it. My ABS system has both lines coming out of the proportioning valve going to the ABS module/system. Then it sends 3 lines out, presumably front left and front right, and then a rear.

Thanks for the picture though.

Doing some searching turned up and old forum thread from autohelper.com

http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic266665.htm

Maybe some people can help me. Is the module not the whole ABS "system" for lack of a better word? If it's just the computer type stuff with relays etc, on the top, that seems to be a pretty easy thing to replace. If I need to replace everything (ie. reattaching brake lines etc) then its a tad bit more involved, and properly bleeding the ABS system much be a chore. I guess you'd bench bleed it like you do a new MC.

I guess it seems to be maybe two levels of replacement, whole unit $1400-1600 and just the black module for like $400-600.

Does any of this make sense?

Thanks all!

-CJ

edit- read more on the old forum post. Here's to hoping its the brains/module and not the accumulator/hydraulic control unit.

Anyone know how to reset the ABS light without going to the dealer. The two times, and two times only the D has been to our dealer it got a HUGE dent in the hood (new hood) and they broke the rear axle (who knows how they did that.) So I'd prefer to not go to them. Is the flashing ABS light that comes about after a module change something a normal repair/mechanic shop can reset?
 
#20 ·
I don't see how you can get to a $1600 bill in either case.

If you have to replace the pump/valve ("HCU") assembly bleeding a bit of a chore, but not all that difficult if you have a scan tool that can twiddle the CAB and do the bleed proicedure.

Alldata shows the HCU replacement to be 1.6hr, and the controller replacement to be 1.0hr? and either of those parts is less than $400? so we're off by at least a factor of two here?

oh, I forgot to include what the Cartalk boys call the "Boat-payment Factor"?
 
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