Testing ABS

[onehot951]

my dash light comes on when the car first starts, im assuming as a system check and then goes out. yet i can drive down the road and nail the brakes, and if i dont throw myself through the dash it will lock up the wheels. isnt abs supposed to pulsate the brake pedal? anyone else seen this?

Thank you

Jeff

[ERAU944]

depending on how you mash the pedal, you can override the ABS. the pedal pulse of the ABS in the 951 is very subtle, but i do know it works on mine...

not sure what to tell you really, anyone else with some ABS expertise chime in?

[AaronM]

Year, model (i.e. 944, 944S, 944S2, 951)?

ABS was optional on most 8v 944's IIRC, and even on cars without ABS, the dash light was there and would light up on startup. It's possible that your car doesn't have it.

[onehot951]

sorry 88 951....

i thought all 951s had it....

[ERAU944]

nope, definitely an option, however the 951S had it 'standard' (as in it came with the options package), and in '89 all turbo cars had ABS since they were all to 951S spec.

i don't recall off the top of my head what the option number is, but you can check the sticker by your spare tire to see if you have the option. this may not work for everyone though, my cars has NO options listed on the option sticker, but it is a 951S... go figure!

[Crumpled952]

Try looking at your hubs to see if you have ABS sensors on them. They are right at the top IIRC.

[onehot951]

it has the sensor, i know this because the rubber around them started to fall off the car yet the wheels will lock up. possible relay failure?

[Crumpled952]

I found a procedure for testing for faulty ABS sensors on the Rennlist that had my ABS up and running in an hour, after I located and replaced the bad one.

[onehot951]

would one take both out? i thought that was the point of the large red explanation point on my dash.... wouldnt it show a system fault?

[Crumpled952]

My warning light remained on after running through the start up cycle so it may not be sensors. If your ABS is working it should be very difficult, if not impossible, to lock up your wheels.

[onehot951]

they lock up alot, hard to do, if i didnt have seat belts id be in a world of hurt, but they do lock, and have for 6 years, is there a relay i can test?

[nize]

it's easy to lock up the wheels (and test abs) on dirt.

and if you have the light, you should have abs. if you did not have abs, the dash will not have the abs light.

unless the dash is not factory stock to that car or something.