ABS light will not shut off

crawdadsolstice · 07-08-2009, 06:07 PM

I was travelling today in a pretty heavy rain storm. I hit a few water puddles. I noticed that after this, the ABS light came on and stayed on. I thought it might reset itself after the car was restarted. That did nothing. I thought it might go out after the system dried. I let it sitf rom about 10 AM to 3 PM with no more rain, but when the car was again restarted, the light came back on. Does anyone know why this light is staying on? Does it require a reset of the alarm manually to resolve? Can this be done somewhere beside the dealer?

Thanks for your input!!

Crawdad (Steve)

snaponbob · 07-08-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdadsolstice

I was travelling today in a pretty heavy rain storm. I hit a few water puddles. I noticed that after this, the ABS light came on and stayed on. I thought it might reset itself after the car was restarted. That did nothing. I thought it might go out after the system dried. I let it sitf rom about 10 AM to 3 PM with no more rain, but when the car was again restarted, the light came back on. Does anyone know why this light is staying on? Does it require a reset of the alarm manually to resolve? Can this be done somewhere beside the dealer?

Thanks for your input!!

Crawdad (Steve)

One surefire test. Smash on the brakes and see if they lock up!! Whatever the results, take it to a GM store (if there is not a Saturn store in your area and have them check for the code. Should be a no charge warranty issue (hopefully).

Bosch · 07-08-2009, 08:01 PM

Hmm sounds like a sensor got wet/dirty/clogged/caked up and is having a heart attack.. You can always do a battery reset, and clear the memory if there is truly a real fault happening the code/CEL will pop right back up.. Then a trip to the mechanic is in order, since its brakes after all, you want to be sure.

But I do know of other cars that have similar issues for some reason, like a bad batch of sensors or something since they run through water or snow they get the same basic error code. They cycle for a few days then they are fine again..

crawdadsolstice · 07-09-2009, 09:04 AM

Thanks for the input!! I appreciate it. I will try some things to see what happens, as both of you have suggested.

Small Dealer · 07-09-2009, 12:55 PM

Always has been my understanding that when the light is on, the Anti-Lock Brake system is disabled. Should have regular power assisted brakes, just not the ABS feature.

As far as code clearing, it will cleear on it's own if the fault goes away, just takes 100 drive cycles.

Another item that can be effect by water, are the connectors in the system.

One to watch for in the Solstice is C408 at the right rear frame rail (#11 in the illustration). If water intrusion is found, dry out connector check for possible corrosion and repair as necessary.

Bosch · 07-09-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Small Dealer

Always has been my understanding that when the light is on, the Anti-Lock Brake system is disabled. Should have regular power assisted brakes, just not the ABS feature.

As far as code clearing, it will cleear on it's own if the fault goes away, just takes 100 drive cycles.

How I have always understood it, you have working brakes just NO ABS.. And wow that is a lot of cycles for it to clear on its own.. That is good to know, since my experience with my old truck and PT is nowhere near that many to clear a code/light once its fixed.

crawdadsolstice · 07-09-2009, 04:00 PM

More great information!! Thanks, SD!

I did try the brakes hard on the way home and found the ABS to not be functional, but the power assist brakes are working quite well.

SD, is that #11 connection only on the driver's side, or both sides? I will definitely have to check that (them) out. That could very well be the issue, or just the number of cycles have not been reached. Do I understand the cycles correctly? I am understanding a drive cycle as one instance of starting the engine. Is that correct?

Small Dealer · 07-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdadsolstice

is that #11 connection only on the driver's side, or both sides? I will definitely have to check that (them) out. That could very well be the issue, or just the number of cycles have not been reached. Do I understand the cycles correctly? I am understanding a drive cycle as one instance of starting the engine. Is that correct?

Only on the right (passenger) side of the car.

The term "drive cycle" is usually used when discussing emission readiness flags and the like. It involves warm up and driving speeds.

Think though here, it is probably closer to "ignition cycles". Probably involves starts and drive for short periods and certain speeds.

Will keep eye out for better definition.

JewJenk · 07-09-2009, 10:03 PM

Check your wires going from the harness to the wishbone on all four tires. There is a wire covered in protective loom that has a push fastener pushed into the upper suspension (wishbone) then the wire ends in the connector to the ABS sensors. If one of these comes loose or is not properly orientated then the wire will rub until the loom and wire are worn causing an open circuit and thus the ABS light on.

After I lowered my car I broke one of the push connectors and secured my left front by other means, but it was not properly orientated and the above happened resulting in my ABS light on..

Hope this helps

crawdadsolstice · 07-10-2009, 07:12 AM

Thanks again for the info, SD and JewJenk!

I guess I found out for myself this morning. I had a trip to Chicago planned for today, with a couple of stops before I hit the interstate. The first start, the light was on. The second start, the light went out and has not been back on since. When I saw the light out, I retested the brakes abd found them now at the point where I cannot squeal the tires during a hard stop on dry pavement, so the ABS must be working, since when I tried a similar move last evening with the light on, the brakes locked and tires squealed, and actually left a short mark on the pavemnet.

crawdadsolstice · 07-10-2009, 08:32 PM

I have not had an opportunity to look at the wiring yet, but when I was heading home from Chicago this afternoon, after it had rained while I was conducting my business, I started the car and the light came back ON. It stayed on until I made a quick pit stop about 50 miles later. When I restarted it that time, the light went out and stayed out.... More indications that I might now have a bad connection somewhere.