6 Causes of an ABS Light to Come On (and What to Do)
Modern vehicles are equipped with what’s called an anti-lock braking system. The purpose of this system is to protect the driver by preventing the wheels from locking when braking. This way, you maintain control of the steering and the wheels don’t lock up, causing the vehicle to skid.
There’s also a warning light on your dashboard that comes on if there’s a problem with your anti-lock braking system. This light should be taken seriously, as it’s an early warning signal that you should have your braking system checked immediately. What does ABS mean? “ABS” stands for Anti-lock Braking System.
When you brake hard, one or more tires can lose traction. This is called locking. Tire locking occurs when the friction between the brake pads and brake discs is greater than the friction between the tire and the road surface. When your tires spin, you have more control over your car.
Additionally, your stopping distances are usually shorter because rolling tires have more grip than sliding tires. The ABS system is designed to apply and release the brakes on all four corners very quickly to prevent tires from locking up and slow your vehicle as quickly as possible while keeping all tires rolling.
6 Common Reasons Your ABS Light Comes On
There are many different reasons why your ABS light may come on. This doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem with the anti-lock braking system directly. There could be a problem with other sensors or components that it communicates with. Here are the 6 most common reasons why the ABS light comes on:
1) Low brake fluid level
Brake fluid plays a major role in controlling the brake pressure in the anti-lock braking system. There is a brake fluid reservoir that contains the anti-lock braking system fluid. Sometimes this container can have a leak, causing the fluid level to drop. Or there could be too much air in the system. Either of these can cause the ABS warning light to come on in the dashboard.
2) Speed sensor failure
Each wheel hub is fitted with a speed sensor that calculates the speed of the wheel’s movement. This information is sent to the anti-lock braking system. If at least one wheel is found to be rotating too slowly, the anti-lock braking system will increase brake fluid pressure to allow the wheels to rotate at a normal speed. However, if there is a problem with the speed sensor, the anti-lock braking system will detect it and a warning light will come on on the dashboard.
3) Defective ABS module
Anti-lock braking system modules can corrode over time. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons why anti-lock braking system problems eventually occur.
When the module corrodes, it will no longer receive information from the wheel speed sensors. This will turn on the ABS light on the dashboard. This does not require any significant corrosion. However, if this problem occurs, the module will need to be replaced.
4) Bulb Test
In some vehicles, a so-called bulb check is performed on the dashboard. This test is intended to allow the driver to check that the warning lights on his vehicle are functioning properly. Normally, it will go off on its own after a certain amount of time, but in some cases, there may be an abnormality in the lamp check, and the ABS warning light may remain on even after the lamp check is completed.
5) Worn Hydraulic Pump
When one wheel of the vehicle moves at a different speed than the other wheels, the wheel speed sensor detects this and notifies the anti-lock braking system.
When this happens, the system activates the hydraulic pump to increase brake fluid pressure, which helps maintain traction when the wheels touch the ground. Unfortunately, hydraulic pumps tend to wear out over years of use. This can cause the ABS light to come on and require an immediate pump replacement.
6) Blown fuse
Fuses are often overlooked components in your car’s electrical system. They protect your car’s electrical circuits by interrupting the circuit when too much current flows through them. This can be the reason why your ABS light comes on. To check if a blown fuse is causing the problem, find your car’s fuse box.
The fuse box is usually located under the hood or near the dashboard on the driver’s side. Look at the fuses for your ABS system and check for blown wires or fogging on the inside of the glass. Replace the blown fuse with a new fuse and see if the ABS light goes off.