Very troublesom ABS problem

[Clark White]

We have had a fair amount of flooding here the last two days, so I have been through quite a bit of water. Today while fording a particularly deep road I came across a family of Einsteins who had tryed to drive the road in a little Pontiac (standing water was half way up my doors, so you can imagine how well that went). I pulled up along side them and had them crawl through my windows and then took them to the waiting fire trucks (the road was flooded this deep for about 1/4mi). However, while waiting for them to climb in, I got about 1" of water on my floor boards. Not too long after, my ABS light came on. I blew it off as a wet sensor, and the next time I started my truck it went away. Fine and dandy, except now the ABS is activating VERY early, WAY before my tires ever begin to skid. As you can imagine, that can make it VERY hard to stop. Thankfully it only seams to do this when I'm moving slow and not breaking hard (ie., pulling up my driveway, or to a stop sign downtown, etc.). If I jam on the breaks while it's doing this I can still get the breaks to work ok, but I really have to jam on them. Any ideas on what would cause this? I don't think the water inside got deep enough to get anything, but I'm not 100% on where the ABS module is either. Would this be a sensor or module problem?

Thanks guys!
Clark White

 

[Clark White]

Is it possible to remove the ABS ECU with out breaking any of the break fluid lines?

Clark

 

[alosix]

I'd wonder if 1 of the sensors isn't a little annoyed. That can confuse the ABS into coming on a little early when all of the wheels don't agree.

I'd first start with finding your ABS fuse and pulling it. That should turn it off until you can get the rest figured out.

if its a 4 wheel abs setup the sensors will be around the wheels somewhere. Normally a 'tone ring' on an axle shaft. I'll look for something plastic screwed into the knuckles up front.

Thinking you probably got some mud and gunk on one of the tone rings from the deep water.

Jason

 

[Clark White]

That's what I'm thinking/hoping. That or water in a plug. Honestly I just want to unplug it for good and turn off the ABS light. I've never had any trouble controlling skid my self, and the fewer things run by a computer on my truck the better! I'll crawl under there tomorrow and start opening things up to see what I can see.

Clark

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

A Perfect Example of why I will never buy a New Truck.

I'm Sorry you have to deal with this!




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[keezer36]

It's typical to run wiring under the plastic rocker cover (I think that's what it's called) at the door/edge of carpet. I wonder if there is any connectors under there coming from the rear speed sensors that feed to the skid control. Might be worth a little contact cleaner and see if it's very wet.

 

[Clark White]

Well today I went through everything I could find related to the ABS and checked/cleaned it. All the sensors were just peachy, the ABS deal on the right fender was fine (though I cleaned the connectors and packed them full of dielectric grease just for kicks), and the little computer thing on the passenger kick panel. The connectors on the computer thing had a little bit of water (though not enough to cause a short) on them, so I took the whole box apart, cleaned the whole thing with electronics cleaner, and put it all back together. It hasn't been engaging prematurely today, though the ABS light did come on during one drive. It has not come on since though...maby what ever it was has dried out and all is good now?

This got me thinking though...what if I put an on off switch in the cab tied in with the fuse, that way I can turn the abs on and off if needs be?

Clark

 

[Skim]

Check your stop light switch which is mounted to the brake pedal bracket under your dash.

Could have water contamination that it is not designed to deal with.

 

[Clark White]

I'll have to check that when I get off duty tomorrow afternoon, hadn't thought of that. I also noticed that my seatbelt light flashes from time to time, even though both those sensors have been disabled so the truck things we're all wearing our seatbelt all the time. My doors also locked and unlocked themselves a few times. All seems to be going back to normal as my floor boards dry out though, let's hope it keeps getting better!

Clark