Shifting into 4-Low, ABS light came on.

[Salonika]

I was exercising the 4x4 system today and when I shifted into 4-low the ABS light came on. Truck seemed to shift in alright, and the CD lock light lit up normally. Took it back out of 4x4, lights turned off right away. After 2 more ignition cycles, the ABS light cleared itself. Can anyone tell me what the deal is, or throw up some links. Everything seems to be working ok now but is this a warning sign? I have only recently started exercising 4-low after years of inactivity, but it seemed to be doing fine. I've never had an issue before this.
Thanks.

 

[raysobi]

Hello there,

I don't have a solution for you, however; it actually happened to me once in awhile and the light will eventually disappeared (didn't stay longer than 15 minutes).



Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[Eric M]

Probably just the switches acting up due to disuse. Should rectify itself.

 

[billygoats]

Shifting into 4 low disables abs, so the light coming on is normal. When you go back into high, the light should go away

 

[Eric M]

Shifting into 4 low disables abs, so the light coming on is normal. When you go back into high, the light should go away

ABS shouldn't be disabling if you're shifting into 4LLc.

 

[billygoats]

I'm sorry guys. Disregard. I'm on my phone with tapatalk and thought I was in the landcruiser section!!!

Abs DOES NOT disable in 4 low on the Montero!

 

[nckwltn]

Abs DOES NOT disable in 4 low on the Montero!

it does seem to disable for me sometimes but not always... I find that I prefer it to be disabled when in 4 low anyway.... when creeping down something steep with some loose soil, with ABS on, it feels like there is less braking power.... I'd rather have the wheels lock up and dig in.

I've been tempted to add a switch to break the circuit to the ABS system so I can ensure it's disabled.

 

[Salonika]

it does seem to disable for me sometimes but not always... I find that I prefer it to be disabled when in 4 low anyway.... when creeping down something steep with some loose soil, with ABS on, it feels like there is less braking power.... I'd rather have the wheels lock up and dig in.

I've been tempted to add a switch to break the circuit to the ABS system so I can ensure it's disabled.

I've thought about that too, but I don't know enough about ABS electronics to mess with it like that. I prefer to know it is 100% operational when I need it. On icey roads my truck is a handful braking without ABS. I replaced a wheel speed sensor once due to a cut cable. I was first tempted to solder in a repair on the sensor wire but an electrical engineer advised me not to as the resistance added at the solder point could lessen the signal pulse quality and possibly cause the ABS computer to make bad decisions. I got a new one instead.

 

[nckwltn]

I would add a switch to the fuse. Seems like the easiest way to interrupt the circuit.

Interesting thought about the solder joint, but it makes sense. Most of the sensors work from a voltage differential, where as the more resistance, and greater the voltage differential.

It should be a very minimal difference in a solder joint, but with some systems, probably better not to introduction risk.

 

[Salonika]

I would add a switch to the fuse. Seems like the easiest way to interrupt the circuit.

Interesting thought about the solder joint, but it makes sense. Most of the sensors work from a voltage differential, where as the more resistance, and greater the voltage differential.

It should be a very minimal difference in a solder joint, but with some systems, probably better not to introduction risk.

If I remember correctly the conversation centered around the long-term integrity of that type of repair on that system. Corrosion over the years.....repair would have sat on the upper control arm area. Just not worth the risk with a safety system.

 

[Toasty]

The Montero Owners manuals states that the ABS will disable in 4Low and/or with the R/D Lock (there used to be a scan of this page on 4x4wire) but it's not worded very well, they also claim that the system works in all modes. I typically shift into 4Low and engage my locker to get the ABS to turn off (Light on) before shifting back into AWD or 4Hi, there's nothing like coming up to a stop offroad and having the ABS freak out and not stopping you. I recommend a switch inline at the fuse if your system doesn't like to turn off on it's own or if it doesn't like to come back on in 2WD without a key cycle.

This topic has come up several times over the years, weather it's meant to turn off or not or if only certain years of ABS do this I highly recommend you turn that MF'er off before hitting the trail unless you like things like crashing and possibly killing everyone in your car.

 

[Toasty]

Oh, one more thing... Before anyone posts up "My system works offroad with no braking issues whites ever" or "I love ABS offroad and it would be stupid to turn it off". We need to be very careful with this topic because not everyone has the same definition of 4 wheeling and offroad, a graded dirt road to a maintained campsite with facilities is NOT 4 WHEELING it may be off the main road but it is not OFFROAD. So with that in mind think about the 1%'ers who might be heading down a nasty rutted out hard pack dirt hill complete with gravel on top, what happens when two tires at opposite corners are not touching the ground and the grounded two are on top of marbles? You want it to skid and dig in, it sounds like it would put you in an uncontrollable skid but this isn't ICE we're talking gravel and you need to get to the traction under it. If you have ABS on it's not going to happen.

Just think about it, don't be stubborn we don't need any of our fellow Montero guys getting hurt or killed. Think about what the ABS system actually does and how it can affect the scenario you are putting it in with your style of 4wheeling.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Mine disables in 4-lo and comes back on when out of 4-lo almost like clockwork.