1993 Buick Roadmaster - ABS light

Discussion in 'General Automotive Tech' started by Gnugnaf, Jun 27, 2014.

  1. Gnugnaf

    Gnugnaf Member

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    Hi,
    My ABS light has come on again, it goes on and off once in a while.
    Now I want to remove the cluster to remove they annoying lamp.
    Any good advice for a beginner?
     
  2. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

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    It's telling you that there is an intermittent problem with the Anti-Lock Brake system on your car, an important safety system. The solution is not to disable the light, but rather to get the system fixed so you don't lose the ABS feature.

    It might be nothing more than a bad sensor. I'm not sure what there is in Sweden, but I'm assuming auto service facilities have the ability read trouble codes and service ABS systems. I would have this looked at.

    Ignoring this would be like ignoring the "brake" light if it came on. Not a good idea.
     
  3. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    I agree. At least get the codes and see what the problem is. Could be a simple corroded connection or loose wire.
     
  4. Gnugnaf

    Gnugnaf Member

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    Sorry, of course I have the codes from the local shop and he said its a bad ABS sensor.
    Here in Sweden with labour it's going to cost me $950. Thats right, $950.
    Since I don't drive the car much and most of my old cars are over that age before the ABS ever was invented I don't mind driving a car without that feature :)
     
  5. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    I know a few friends here who disconnected the ABS. If ABS was so important the Model T would have had it!:rofl2:
     
  6. Gnugnaf

    Gnugnaf Member

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    Ha ha ha, thats the spirit :cheers:
    I still need to take care of the light before the yearly inspection from the DMW.
    Any tips?
     
  7. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    A big hammer!:rofl2:
     
  8. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

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    This is about as stupid a comment as I've heard today.


    Liability is another issue here. Your friends might be patting themselves on the back for disabling the ABS on their car, but if they were ever in an accident, and it could be shown that they were driving a car that they knew had a compromised brake system, they could be held liable. Ask a lawyer.
     
  9. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    Thanks for the reply on the comment. Sometimes life is not so serious!

    And I am sure you are correct about the illegal to drive with ABS disabled. But some of those cars are not worth $950 to start with and people have to do what they can to have transportation. ABS does not actually affect the stopping ability of a car.
    Had many vehicles been designed correctly this crap wouldn't be defective.
     
  10. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

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    Try this argument in front of a judge some time and let us know how well it works.

    A cry of poverty does not immunize one from legal liability.
     
  11. KevinVarnes

    KevinVarnes Well-Known Member

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    At least you can read ABS codes on your car. I need a GM Tech-I to read them on my Saturn.

    A wheel speed sensor is not that bad to change out if you have some mechanical aptitude. Did they narrow it down to which wheel sensor it is? Bear in mind that wiring can also be bad going to the sensor which would set the same code. It could also be the reluctor ring (broken ring or debris on the ring) that throws the code.

    If they told you which sensor it is I would start with a visual inspection to make sure it isn't something simple that can be easily fixed.
     
  12. Fred Kiehl

    Fred Kiehl Well-Known Member

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    Check the yellow connectors in the engine bay. They are noted to become extremely brittle, and often disintegrate spontaneously. If they are not the issue, then cleaning the sensor and tone ring may work. As a last resort, changing the sensor is not that difficult. You have to remove one screw, and beat the old one out with a hammer and drift. You can not remove it without destroying it. Inserting the new one is relatively simple...clean the hole, and put some anti-seize on the sensor before inserting it. There is one on the differential housing as well, and you should check the yellow connector for it as well. The connector is on the frame along the driver's side. rockauto.com may have both halves of the connector, and will ship worldwide. You can splice new connectors to the wires if they are damaged. Use heat shrink tubing to seal the cable from the elements after repairs.

    I have disabled my ABS on my 91, and do not miss it. I do not think that appearing in court with disabled ABS would be held against you. The ABS in the 93 is, at best, worse than not having it. I can out-stop the ABS in all situations, and I still maintain steering control with intelligent pedal modulation. The ABS on my 92 has left me in the middle of a couple of intersections, when I could have stopped outside of the intersection without it. Once it engages, you can not disengage it, and it will increase your stopping distance by about 20-30 feet at 50 MPH. I took the bulb out of my cluster so I do not have to look at it.
     
  13. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    Posts #11 and #12 are what members with this problem need to know. Sometimes just by doing these things and actually looking yourself expensive things can be repaired at little or no cost.
    All members can not afford to take their cars to the garage everytime something doesn't work.

    As far as the law goes about situations like this it's always a gamble but one many have to chance. To me ABS brakes are more helpful on wet or icy pavement.
     

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